Job and Gilgamesh: A Comparison of Inevitable Suffering
It has been said that pain is inevitable but suffering is optional. But is it? When looking at extraordinary pieces of literature such as the biblical Book of Job and the Epic of Gilgamesh, describing such physical and emotional pain and the mental and spiritual suffering that the main characters endured, it tells us that their suffering was just as inevitable as their pain. However, the two men dealt very differently with the tragedies lived and their consequences; and that made all the difference in their trajectory. What differentiated their suffering was the simple fact of being able to accept their humanity. In a world controlled by gods and goddesses, humans, regardless of their efforts, cannot earn, or even justify their existence. Job understood and submitted himself to that fact, while Gilgamesh resisted it.
How often the words “I’m only human” are used are used to describe someone’s lack of control or ability? That is because most people understand that as humans, they are inclined to have restriction on what they can or cannot do, they are inclined to feel pain and are allowed to suffer because of it, even the fictional human heroes, gifted with supernatural powers, do. It is a condition of human life, as are the losses, weaknesses and conflicts. But along with humanity comes limitations to understanding and reason, and where reason stops and what seems inexplicable begins is also where the human mind ceases to understand and goes on to try and create ways to justify or earn their existence, as did Gilgamesh.
When faced with loss and the suffering that came from it, Gilgamesh became overwhelmed by the fate of humankind and the thought of death became unbearable. His humanity and his decreed destiny began to agonize him. Job, however, when faced with senseless tragedy, peacefully