Hecuba Book Of Job Analysis

The above passages from “Hecuba” and The Book of Job exhibit moments of suffering induced by the forces of beings in positions of power and influence. In such suffering Job and Hecuba are plagued by grief and loss of nearly all that was significant to them, save for their own lives. Of course, Hecuba and Job beg the question of “why”; why are they enduring such grief and suffering despite being relatively ‘good’ in a moral sense. The answer is never clear, if such an answer exists for these circumstances, the lack of apparent reason or justification for the losses of Job’s family, wealth, and possessions and Hecuba’s last remaining daughter only heightens their despair to the point where they would rather not live than suffer. Both Hecuba and Job are spared from death and/or sacrifice and in turn suffer through grief and misery at …show more content…
This is not Hecuba’s first loss, she has lost her children to the Greeks, her husband, and her dignity after becoming a slave-woman to the Greeks. The onset of tragedy after tragedy without return, closure, or compromise from the inflicting force (in this case, the Greeks) or a higher being such as God undoubtedly worsens Hecuba’s despair. It is not surprising that one in Hecuba’s situation would begin to question, and perhaps even speak against God for causing her to “suffer even greater loss” by sparing her life and allowing her to suffer excruciating pain and misfortune. Rather, Hecuba declares she “should have died” and cites God because “He saves [her] life that [she] may suffer even greater loss” and has set the premise for her lowest point of misery; wishing to be saved from her own suffering. This allegation Hecuba sets forth communicates the idea that her worst suffering is driven by the misery and nature of endured suffering in itself, with death being the most resolute option to cease her