Last Name 1
Student Name
Mr. Freeburger
AP English Literature
17 March 2017
Why Do the Righteous Suffer? The Changing Face of Suffering in Literature
In literature, biblical allusions to the book of Job often allow the authors to explore
complex questions of the human condition, remaining relatively centered around the question,
Why do the righteous suffer? As time and literature progress, more stories have begun to
introduce answers that contradict those of the original Bible story, and this difference can often
be explained by the historical context under which the work was written. The answers to the
questions posed by the book of Job shift from suffering being a manifestation of Gods vast
power and that this gives life its meaning, to suffering representing the absurd hostility of the
world, which proves life to be meaningless. Evidence of this changing biblical allusion can be
found in the works of King Lear by William Shakespeare, Moby-Dick by Herman Melville, and
J.B by Archibald MacLeish.
King Lear is a play in which the allusions made to the book of Job are in very true
fashion to the original story, and these allusions mostly come to the same conclusions about
suffering. A parallel between King Lear and the book of Job can be easily made upon analysis of
Lears misfortunes. Wherever there is disproportionate or undeserved suffering, the questions
raised by the book of Job surface in one way or another, and King Lear is no exception.
Although not completely innocent as the biblical Job was (the events of the play do start from
Lears own mistake; Lear is a man more sinned against than sinning (Shakespeare III.ii.60).
Lear is often frustrated by his misfortune and struggles to understand it throughout the play,
Commented [FAC1]: Make sure you include a creative
and informative title
Commented [FAC2]: This introduction could be
strengthened by including a brief introduction to the
Biblical story.
Commented [FAC3]: A clear explanation about a change
that has occurred over time. You may be arguing for how
your archetype has stayed the same, but you will still
need to provide an explanation for why it has not
changed.
Commented [FAC4]: This thesis statement is two
sentences because there is too much information to
express clearly in one sentence. It separates the
insightful conclusion (the changing view of the meaning
of life as portrayed by the Biblical allusion) with the
works that will be used.
Commented [FAC5]: The topic sentence makes it clear
how this paragraph will connect to the thesis. This
paragraph will prove that King Lear will parallel the
original story in theme, setting a baseline for the rest of
the essay.
Commented [FAC6]: This quote is incorporated
smoothly into the writing by using paraphrase to work
the direct quote into the original sentence.
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much as Job did in the biblical story. In the story of King Lear, beyond worse, and even further
beyond the visible worse, there is always still worse (King Lear). The disproportionate and
vast extent to Lears suffering is one of the most notable things about the play. After banishing
his daughter, Cordelia, from the kingdom, his other daughters begin to betray him, he begins to
go mad, his loyal friend is blinded and later murdered, and his daughter Cordelia is executed. As
in the book of Job, Lears suffering is continued throughout the story by a series of unexpected
disasters. Repeatedly, Lear is faced with constant intensifying disaster at the moment when
disaster seems to be over (King Lear). One after another, as horrible things happen to Lear,
they seem to increase in magnitude of absurdness, closely paralleling the biblical Job story and
portraying the ever-reaching hand of God in matters of divine justice. Although Lear makes a
mistake that is the source of his own suffering, his punishment is astonishingly disproportionate
to the mistake that he has made.
Lears suffering, like that of Job, is an image of suffering that is vast and all-reaching,
much like the original telling of Job. In the storm scene, the emptiness of the setting and the
strong image of one person alone against the elements gives it a universal, god-like, and cosmic
power of significance (Hamlin). The purpose of Lears misfortune is, therefore, not only as
punishment for his actions but as a display of Gods power. The focus of the storm scene is not
on Lears mistakes but on the specifics of his suffering and how the storm, which can easily be
interpreted to represent God, is indifferent to how he has been wronged.
Lear struggles with the same questions that Job does, and with no avail, also as Job is left.
If God really has no mercy, is there any meaning to life and the afterlife? Lear asks himself this
question in Act III, Is there any cause in nature that makes these hard hearts? (Shakespeare
III.vi.75-76). The cold night is used as a symbol for the apparent coldness of the world and of
Commented [FAC7]: This quote is incorporated into the
text, but it could be more transparent if the author would
have introduced the source. According to King Lear is
beyond worse
Commented [FAC8]: The direct quote is followed by
author commentary that transitions from the support to
a new claim.
Here, also, elements of the plot are revealed without
becoming overwhelmed with plot summary. Only the
relevant plot points are discussed in order to support the
claim.
Commented [FAC9]: Again, each quote/piece of
support is connect back to the topic sentence and thesis
without explicitly stating This means in some fashion.
Commented [FAC10]: A conclusive end to the
paragraph that connects to the thesis.
Commented [FAC11]: This concise paragraph hits all of
the requirements of a successful paragraph, proving that
paragraphs cannot be measured by length but by ideas.
The idea in this paragraph is relevant to building the
argument that Gods power causes suffering and gives life
meaning.
Commented [FAC12]: This transitions from the
previous idea, to the new topic of this paragraph.
Commented [FAC13]: This introduces the quote using
the literary elements (character or plot) to work the
direct quote into the commentary of the paper smoothly.
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God in King Lear. Pondering his fate, while alone on a cold night, he exclaims This cold night

will turn us all to fools and madmen (Shakespeare III.iv.75). The manifestation of Gods vast

power as Lears suffering is apparent here. The main difference between the story of Job and

Lear at this point is that it really provides no answer, which while examining the historical

context of the setting of King Lear is easily explained.

Shakespeare and his audience would have easily noticed the important similarities

between Lear who has lost everything and Job; the audience therefore would have been alive to

the concern with the problem of evil and divine justice (Hamlin). The pagan setting of King
Lear gives strong insight into why such a strong and absurd punishment resulted from Lears
actions. The removal of the Christian faith from the setting creates a strong fear of the Pagan
Commented [FAC14]: This is a great example of using a
conclusion sentence and the following topic sentence
together to create a smooth transition.
The first paragraph concludes with the historical context
and the second paragraph picks it up with the audience of
the play. Its a new topic but theres a clear connection to
the previous idea.

world, one in which there is no religious faith to offer explanation and the world just seems

awfully cruel. According to literary critic Hannibal Hamlin, We are asked to imagine a world in

which there is no knowledge of Christian teaching, in which there is a savage struggle for

survival (Hamlin). In effect, the allusion to Job with an absurd twist subliminally encourages

Christianity to the audience.

In Moby-Dick, the development of the themes from Job changes in that suffering is

portrayed as more random and meaningless than in the book of Job or in King Lear. The way Commented [FAC15]: While the primary source that is
being analyzed changes here, the transition is smooth
because we learn how the analysis of the new work will
that Melville describes the whale indicates that it should be viewed as superior to mankind, like a relate to the previous analysis.

God, a creature demanding respect: There was another thought, or rather vague, nameless

horror concerning him, which at times by its intensity completely overpowered the rest; and yet

so mystical and well nigh ineffable was it, that I almost despair of putting it in a comprehensible

form (Melville 204). Ahab sounds a lot like the biblical Job when he expresses his feeling of the Commented [FAC16]: This quote is incorporated into
the text by introducing the idea, prompting the reader for
what to look for while reading the quote.
meaninglessness of life: From storm to storm!... Born in throes, tis fit that man should live in
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pains and die in pangs! (Melville 369-360). The story of the blacksmith is an addition example
of the unfairness of life, a mini Job story in and of itself. He was an artisan of famed
excellence (Melville 401), but one night randomly he is robbed of everything that he owns. The
randomness and meaninglessness of suffering is exemplified in both stories of Ahab and the
blacksmith.
Suffering in Moby-Dick is manifested into unexpected dangers and disasters that seem to
come from nowhere. The white whale is a representation of God, and it represents (to Ahab) the
suffering of all humankind, putting the whole chase within the context of the book of Job (all of
the subtle demonisms of life and thought, all evil, to crazy Ahab, were visibly personified and
made assailable in Moby Dick (Melville 108)). Ahab sees the injustice of undeserved suffering,
that life is full of sorrow, that misfortunes strike unfairly, and that nature is hostile and Moby
Dick becomes for him the symbol of evil and suffering in the world (Truesdale 60). Using
Moby Dick as a symbol for God, many of the scenes from The Sphynx can be viewed from the
perspective of questioning the existence and the intentions of God. Ahab questions the whales
head attached to the side of the ship and claims that, if it really was there the whole time, that it
should have seen the arbitrary way in which suffering strikes (Truesdale). It would have seen
dead sailors, it would have seen dead lovers who jumped from a flaming ship, it would have also
seen that suffering strikes as randomly as lightening. (Truesdale 64).
Nature is depicted, by itself without the presence of religion, as hostile and shark-like
(Truesdale 68). The scene in which the sharks all take turns at taking bites out of the dead whale
provokes strong imagery that is a reflection of the evil in nature, and without religion, this evil
is left to flourish (Truesdale 69). The imagery of animals heartlessly devouring prey is used to
portray the voraciousness of humans as well as nature (Truesdale 69). With natures default
Commented [FAC17]: Claims are never supported with
one example alone. Anything can happen once, but if you
are making an argument, you need to prove that there is
a pattern, thus using at least two examples for each claim.
Commented [FAC18]: This is not the nest way of
incorporating quotes into your writing.
Commented [FAC19]: One should avoid ending a
paragraph with a direct quote. This paragraph needs a
sentence that explicitly connects the points made back to
the thesis and/or transitions to the topic of the next
paragraph. Based on the next paragraph, the conclusion
should mention nature in some way.
Commented [FAC20]: While it is not a concrete rule,
generally speaking, direct quotes should be avoided in
topic sentences.
Commented [FAC21]: Less sophisticated writers would
replace The imagery of animals heartlessly devouring
prey with the word This. A good rule of thumb is to
never begin a sentence with this (or any other vague
pronoun). Instead, specifically define what this is, as
this author has done.
Commented [FAC22]: Note that when the quote comes
in the middle of the sentence, it is still cited at the end.
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being chaos and evil, with devout faith in God, it is assumed that we will find meaning in life

through struggle and hardship (Truesdale). The relationship between nature and God is exhibited

throughout Moby-Dick, and the senselessness of nature without the presence of religion that is

portrayed through Ahabs repeated encounters with disaster help to explain Melvilles stray from

the original Job story to absurdness. Commented [FAC23]: This is a good conclusive
sentence that makes a clear connection to the thesis.
Melvilles incorporation of nature as the books manifestation of undeserved suffering

can be explained through the novels historical context. At the time that Melville was writing

Moby-Dick the United States was acquiring land and making laws to oppress and enslave the

Native Americans and African Americans in the area (Bender). Here begins a connection

between extreme, unwarranted suffering and the historical context of Moby-Dick. The Fugitive

Slave Act was passed in 1850, and the Sioux tribe had just signed a treaty relinquishing much of

their land to the USA. There is evidence that shows Melville was writing because of the

influence of Nathaniel Hawthornes Mosses from an Old Manse (Bender). Melvilles

connection to the activism surrounding Native American oppression puts an interesting spin on

the allusion to Job in Moby-Dick, as it partially explains the shift to increasing absurdity to the

Job story. The preposterous suffering that the native people were subject to for no reason at the

hand of the all-powerful United States Government is an interesting parallel to Job.
Finally, the play J.B. by Archibald MacLeish is one giant allusion to the book of Job, and
is even nicknamed J.B. a modern Job tale by many writers of literary criticism on it. It is a
direct allusion to the biblical story. J.B., the character in the play who is supposed to represent
Job, endures much suffering during the play, as the real Job did, increasing in severity, and
raises the question of why suffering is a part of the human existence. Despite being a direct
Commented [FAC24]: The conclusion here is not as
strong as the conclusion for Lear. Saying that it is an
interesting parallel provides too much author bias. A
better conclusion would have compared to Lear or
explained how the historical context contributes to the
connection between suffering and meaning.
Commented [FAC25]: One giant allusion is a bit too
colloquial.
Again, this transition between primary sources is weaker
than the previous. Unlike before, we get no sense of how
this work will compare to the previous ones. The paper
stops abruptly and starts over abruptly, disrupting the
sophisticated flow that was previously established.

allusion to the biblical story, J.B. comes to conclusions that are fundamentally different to the
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original themes of Job. The continuing theme of the absurdity and meaninglessness of suffering

is displayed in J.B., as well as an additional element of personal choice in suffering. Commented [FAC26]: These two sentences should have
been edited to be at the beginning of the paragraph in
order to create a productive transition.
J.B. is subject to repeated, undeserved suffering, and yet chooses not to let this suffering

affect the outcome of his life. J.B. makes declaration of personal independence from God, and Commented [FAC27]: Declarative topic sentence.

by doing this, begins to stray from the original story in the book of Job (McWilliams). The

notion that one can choose to be affected by suffering adds precious little to what has already

been said more beautifully in the Bible (McWilliams). The final resolution of the story is that

J.B. elects to ignore the suffering around him and enjoy his life with his wife, Sarah. This

portrays that the acceptance of the meaninglessness of suffering can, in effect, can set one free.

The idea of defying God, ignoring suffering, and continuing with ones life is fundamentally

different from works before it, adding an aspect of personal control to the developing idea of

absurd suffering. Acceptance of fate, despite its possible divine consequences in the afterlife is

encouraged by J.B., as many of the events going on in his world didnt lead themselves to easy

conclusions. Commented [FAC28]: While the topic of this paragraph

is very close to a plot summary, the author does a good
job at focusing the summary on the development of the
The hopelessness and senselessness of the world is subliminally expressed through relevant theme and avoids merely summarizing the plot.

Nickles, a cynical character who speaks bitterly, comparing the world to a dung heap and a

cesspool (Bily). Nickles argues with Zuss, a more optimistic character about suffering in the

world and mocks J. B. for thinking God cares about his suffering. Nickles presents a cynical
view of the world and argues a strong case for the senselessness of the world and suffering in
general. There is no justice in the world, and happiness and suffering are not deserved, but dealt
randomly.
During the first part of the play, a circus tent covers the acting area. This represents J.B.s
innocence, before he has seen the true wrath of God. During the last part of the play, this tent
Commented [FAC29]: Unlike the previous paragraph,
this one feels too much like plot summary. The author
could have easily added a few concluding sentences that
helped connect this negative view of life with the thesis
statement.
Commented [FAC30]: This paragraph is lacking a solid
topic sentence. Based on the existing topic sentence, we
expect this paragraph to be solely about a circus tent.
The topic sentence should answer a How or Why
question: How does the tent connect to the thesis? Or
Why does the tent symbolize the connection between
suffering and meaning?
Commented [FAC31]: Unlike before, the author begins
this sentence with This making the writing a bit choppy
and lacking a sophisticated coherence of ideas.
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disappears. Its absence gives the effect of exposing J. B. to the indifference and meaninglessness

of the world (Campbell). J. B. is a play that alludes to the book of Job in order to express that

although it is possible to live a good life despite that unjust suffering persists in our world. The

absurdity and randomness of the suffering depicted in J.B. is a sharp contrast from the original

story in an attempt to reach and speak to the audience watching the world seemingly fall apart

from their T.V. screen during WWII.

J.B. was attempting to speak to Americans who were witnessing tragedies around the

world from a distance, with a familiar story to help explain the apparent meaningless of the

tragedies of WWII. J.B. attempts to give an answer to Jobs questions that is sufficient for the Commented [FAC32]: Note how these paragraphs are
connected through the historical context of WWII,
creating an effective transition.
time period, that despite the horrible, absurd suffering going on around them, that good things

can still happen. In the play itself, it is stated that "Millions and millions of mankind" have been

"Burned, crushed, broken, mutilated (MacLeish I.ii.12). It is also mentioned that those who died

did so because they were "Sleeping the wrong night wrong city London, Dresden,

Hiroshima," a very absurd way to approach these tragedies (MacLeish I.ii.23). These three cities

are where the most innocent civilians died on both sides of the war, and puts into context the

absurd world view of the play. This explains the pessimistic, but not hopeless change to the Job

story conclusions. J.B. is described as Essentially the Book of Job transplanted into the

twentieth century, J. B. asks how man, with dignity and hope, can love and serve a god who

allows so much evil to exist in the world coming off of the tragedies of WWII (McWilliams). In

this play, MacLeish is questioning whether this concept of God, the God of the Old Testament,

the God of Vengeance (McWilliams) belongs in a world in where Germans murdered millions

of Jews in gas chambers and Americans destroyed the Japanese at Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Commented [FAC33]: There should be at least one
(McWilliams). more sentence that connects the example and the
paragraph back to the thesis or to the previous works
discussed. Again, one should avoid ending a paragraph
with a direct quote.
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The function of allusions to the book of Job serve an important purpose that has evolved

and changed to meet the needs of the audience of the works that include them. The works of

King Lear by Shakespeare, Moby-Dick by Melville, and J.B. by MacLeish, all provide evidence

of this changing complex questioning of the human condition and suffering. The changes made
by these works of literature to the original story of the biblical Job really parallel the changes and
developments to the role of religion in society. The usefulness of allusions to Job and what
Commented [FAC34]: This is a good transition from the
body of the essay into the conclusion. However, because
the previous paragraph made no explicit connections
between the three, this paper would have been better
served if an additional paragraph was written that
explicitly made connections between the three sources.

conclusions these allusions reflect how much society can relate to Job and how what is going on

in the world can fit into this ancient tale of suffering. As disasters seem to happen closer and

closer together, society needs allusions to Job that reflect the same terrifying reality of suffering

that is seemingly constant and random to provide humanity with hope that the disasters of the

past, present, and future do not occur for nothing. Commented [FAC35]: This is an excellent conclusion
because it
1) Expands outward to make the analysis relevant to
the reader
2) Strikes a tone of hope or despair (hope in this case)
in order to give it a sense of relevance and closure.

Bibliography
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Bender, Bert. "Moby-Dick, an American Lyrical Novel." Studies in the Novel 10.3 (Fall 1978):

346-356. Rpt. in Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism. Ed. Russel Whitaker and

Kathy D. Darrow. Vol. 181. Detroit: Gale, 2007. Literature Resource Center. Web. 20

Feb. 2017.

Campbell, Shannon O. ""The Book of Job" and MacLeish's "J. B.": A Cultural

Comparison." ERIC. English Journal, 30 Nov. 1971. Web. 14 Mar. 2017.

Cynthia Bily, Critical Essay on J. B., in Drama for Students, The Gale Group, 2002.

Foster, Thomas C. How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining

Guide to Reading between the Lines. New York: Quill, 2003. Print.

Hamlin, Hannibal. "The Patience of Lear." Shakespeare and Religion. Ed. Ken Jackson

and Arthur F. Marotti. Notre Dame: U of Notre Dame P, 2011. 127-160. Rpt. in

Shakespearean Criticism. Ed. Lawrence J. Trudeau. Vol. 163. Farmington Hills,

MI: Gale, 2015. Literature Resource Center. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.

The Holy Bible, New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan House, 1984.

Print.

James L. McWilliams III, Archibald MacLeish, in Dictionary of Literary Biography,

Vol. 7: Twentieth-Century American Dramatists, Part 2: K-Z, Gale Research, 1981, pp.

58-61.

"King Lear." Shakespearean Criticism. Ed. Michelle Lee. Vol. 93. Detroit: Gale, 2006.

Literature Resource Center. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.

MacLeish, Archibald. J.B.: A Play in Verse. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2008.

Print.

Melville, Herman. Moby-Dick. New York: Gilberton, 1969. Print.

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Shakespeare, William. King Lear. New York: Signet Classic, 1998. Print.

Truesdale, Barbara L., M.A. "The Problem Of Suffering: The Questions of Job in Moby-

Dick, and The Sound And The Fury." Diss. The Ohio State U, 1991. Print.