Greetings, literature-loving dharmosets! Last week the series had a guest poster who tackled a close reading of one of Edith Wharton’s best known works, The House of Mirth. This week we’re going to crawl into the WayWayback machine to address one of history’s most baffling short stories.
Why do people suffer? If there is a God, and he does have a ‘plan’, why do people who believe in him find themselves suffering the same indignities as people who don’t?
I have no interest in the religious side of this question (I’m an atheist), but the it makes for fascinating art. If you think religious texts aren’t appropriate fodder for literary analysis… well, then this ain’t the essay for you!
Otherwise, join me below for a trip through ancient Edom.