Miss Brill: A Pathetic Character Miss Brill is a pathetic character; that is, she arouses sympathy and compassion. She provokes this pity by being a seemingly old, lonely lady. Her habit of listening in on other people’s conversations seems harmless because her sole purpose is only to bring added joy to her life. She allows herself occasional special treats, which demonstrates in what small ways a person may try to make their life more fulfilling. Genteel Miss Brill is an observer of life, one who sits on the sidelines and watches. This is most likely because she has no life of her own. Her favorite thing to do is to put on her fur, go to the park, and listen to othe