Vocabulary Help.

[CousinEddie]

I am looking for a character trait that is "pity/empathy shown with selfish intentions.

Basically, it is describing the narrator of The Scarlet Ibis.





He is embarrassed that his brother cannot walk. He helps him walk in the hope of having a brother that can do things with him that normal brothers can. So he helps him walk but in doing so pushes him too far.

 

[soulskier]

hmmmm, so people that only help others for their own benefit?

 

[CousinEddie]

Yeah kinda. I was thinking of just saying "...the narrator is empathetic with selfish roots."

how's that sound?

 

[iFlip]

I cannot think of a word that fits exactly what you are looking for. If in the right context, the word "coyly" may work for you.

 

[Wall_Nut]

Well said, mix up the diction a bit perhaps?

"The narrator's empathy had selfish roots"

"The narrator's empathy had it's roots in selfishness"

"Selfishness was the driving force behind the narrator's empathy"