Is the given sentence redundant or some kind of emphasis?

Question

The below sentence is from one of a self-help book by IAN TUHOVSKY

Wouldn’t you have your own problems and your own life to worry about? Yeah, that’s right. People don’t even remember. They don’t care.They couldn’t care less.

He already mentioned "They don't care" then why it is followed by the sentence "They couldn't care less" which also has the same meaning "They don't care"?

Is this some kind of emphasis? or that is redundant? or is my understanding incorrect?

And my mind says the second sentence exactly means "They don't care at all" but the first sentence is just "They don't care". But I don't find any difference in these sentences, both looks same to me.

Answer 1

Yes, this is mostly for emphasis. They don't care and they couldn't care less are similar in meaning -- though not identical. The latter is more emphatic -- and it's also a very common phrase. (https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/couldnt-care-less)

The author is trying to make a point that people don't even remember the problems you have. They don't care. They really don't care.

One could say it's a little redundant, but the author is very much trying to emphasize how unimportant your issues are to someone else. Repetition can be a form of emphasis.