PAIN AND SUFFERING

Isabelle Allende Interviewed by Andrew Denton

How has the author suffered in her life?
She Divorced her husband. She left her country because of assignation attempts on her life which forced her to move to Venezuala where she felt isolated and out of place having lost her home. Her daughter also died

How has she coped with the pain and suffering?
She started to write books in her isolation hoping to reunite herself with her Chilean heritage. She looks at it from a different perspective and uses her pain and suffering to overcome her fears.
How has she benefited from her pain and suffering?
It can be a bad thing but as Isabelle shows that through her pain and suffering she has gotten to where she is today. Before her pain she tried unsuccessfully to change things in the world but felt desperately hopeless. After the painful events in her life she has emerged as a world famous author putting out her views and making a difference.

Is pain and suffering always a bad thing?
It is not always a bad thing. During the period of time of pain and suffering it can be bad to people but afterwards it can be a rewarding and learning experience which can make a person stronger and help them appreciate the better things in life. Of course it always depends on the person and the situation and how that person is able to deal with it which will affect the outcome.