Answer:
O The symbol of the butterfly helps readers understand the importance of change in a person's life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sentence "The main character's change from being overly critical to compassionate helps readers understand that empathy is needed to understand others" connects an element of a story, the main character's development, to a theme, the importance of empathy. It shows how a change in a character's attitude can reveal a deeper meaning about human relationships and behavior. The other sentences also provide information about different elements of a story, but they do not directly connect them to a theme.