In the words of Derrick A. Bell, “Education leads to enlightenment. Enlightenment opens the way to empathy. Empathy foreshadows reform” (Bell 150). The lack of understanding between Carol and John is never resolved. Instead, Carol repeatedly badgers him for being no help to her education. As the two exchange the phrase “I don’t understand,” and cut each other off mid-sentence, it bеcomes harder for them to еmpathize. Empathy cannot be achieved that way.

During the first act, Carol states that she doesn’t understand the contents of the book she’s read. She calls herself stupid and expounds, “Nobody wants me and nobody tells me anything … everybody’s talking about this all the time and concepts and precepts. What in the world are you talking about?” (Oleanna 00:14:03-00:14:17). She questions John’s incentive when he offers to start the course over for her, despite wanting to be taught.
Among the topics she doesn’t understand, she is confused as to why John owes her an apology. When John empathizes with her, she asks why he stayed. By the third act, it is John who doesn’t understand. He questions why Carol would file a complaint against him and create false accusations of rape and assault. He asks, “Don’t you have feelings?” (Oleanna 1:08:57-1:09:04). When Carol offers to withdraw the complaint, John doesn’t understand why. Carol explains, “Well let’s say as an act of friendship"(Oleanna 1:16:36-1:16:45).

From the first act, Carol could have scheduled for another appointment during a time that John wasn’t busy. Additionally, she could have spoken up earlier in the semester, allowing ample time for John to help her. Carol could have considered that John had a family to get to, and John could have let Carol leave as she offered. The Way of All Flesh, also quoted in Oleanna, can be compared to her background. She mentions it was difficult to attend the college. Although it is the professor’s job to help their students, the student must make an effort to get the help they need, not at the last minute. It’s Carol’s fault for the entirety of the situation.