Suffering happens to all human beings from the moment they start existing in the fatal world. People have wide and different views on the meaning and the reason to why human beings are subjected to suffering. Suffering means to undergo a strenuous or a painful situation which can leave damage or a loss. There are various reasons why people are subjected to suffering as can be portrayed in the story of Gilgamesh and Job (Cottingham, 134).
Firstly, Gilgamesh Epic is the most significant story of the Babylonians. It recounts the life, exploits and activities of a liked hero. Gilgamesh was a king who portrayed a person who initially had used his power in abusive way. He had little or no respect to his subject and thus many did not like him because of his tyrannical rule. Even the gods were not happy with him and they ensured that he was punished. Death of Gilgamesh friend Enkidu subjected this king to great pain. He sought to find the reason for this death and went on a quest to seek immortality. After his failure he comes to an understanding that his people needed appreciation for who they were and also to be valued as human beings. Suffering caused him to change his ways in a way his character would be more agreeable and that people would remember him for what he had done.
On the other hand, Job is portrayed as good and upright person before God and before men. He was a God fearing person and thus God had given him a lot of possessions. His character was agreeable with that of a perfect man. Job held God's ways in the uppermost hold and he ensured that everything he did was pleasant in the eyes of God. Job suffered severely but his suffering was as a result test that God had put before him (Cottingham, 44). Satan had requested for permission to test Job saying that Job only believed in God because God had blessed him. Following this, suffering in the worst way known by man was given to job. All his possession, including his loved family was taken away without a very good reason. Those near him advised him to curse God so that he may die instead of passing through a lot that suffering. Even all his body was subjected to physical suffering Job never cursed God; he believed that there was a reason for everything. This made God happy and Job was rewarded everything with another.
Gilgamesh story portrays suffering as an aspect that is caused by the power of love and death. Though Gilgamesh passed through hard moments it was suffering that gave him strength to move on. In the end Gilgamesh was stronger than he was initially and thus it can be seen that though suffering is not a desirable thing it contains a lot of lessons and somebody can effectively get past it if he remains strong (Gilgamesh, 77). Job's case show that there is no one who is exempted from suffering, and even someone who thinks that he is perfect can suffer. The reader of this book would believe suffering is a test of his faith in God and as long as he keeps faith, the suffering will end. Job's illness came about unexpectedly with no warning.
Both Job and Gilgamesh struggled to find a reason why their Gods did not look favorably upon them. Job and Gilgamesh tried to understand the reason why they existed and the place they held in the mortal world. They try to find immortality but neither of them is able to get what he wished for but in their suffering they come to understand the significance of existence and that human life is essential. Gilgamesh struggles and fight in trying to find a way in which one can live forever (Gilgamesh, 68). Firstly, he tries to give himself an immortal name by slaying the guardian of the Cedar Forest but after the death of Enkidu, his quest turns to that of human immortality. The truth is that human body is mortal and everyone is prone to die one day.
Gilgamesh knew in his heart that as much as he wished to live forever, eventually as long as he is a human death would strike. The idea and the thought that Gilgamesh would one day makes him to prepare for a journey of trying to find peace. He believes that this kind of peace can be obtained if he is successful in becoming immortal. To contrast Gilgamesh case with that of Job knows that, there is peace in immortality but he believe that this peace can only be achieved by a dead person.
Distinct from Gilgamesh, Job does not fear death and he fully accepts the fact that as a human being his days are not many. Job pleaded with God to kill him so that his suffering may lessen and though his request is not honored he never stop trusting and believing in God. Job passes every test that Satan put forth for him but in the process he loses everything dear to him, including his family. In the end, God rewards him by providing new property and a new family to him. On the other hand, Gilgamesh is irritated with human beings and decide to destroy them all i.e. what kind of progress, can you see in the idea of the divine as "caring" for human beings? In the story of Job God is posses incomprehensible total power and there is no society of other gods that can compete with him for command of the universe. In Gilgamesh story family of God is portrayed as quarrelling.
The two stories give meaning show that suffering is never in vain and it can be avoided. In the event that it becomes hard to explain about suffering this two story shows as that we can be able to explain the reason why we suffer. Though Gilgamesh and Job experienced suffered immensely they come out of suffering with a lot of lessons. Because of their suffering they have be documented as outstanding men of the old. Thus suffering is never experienced in vain, it is important in development of humankind including his moral character, believes, strength and even respect.