Comparison Of J. B. And The Book Of Job

Many ideas and interpretations are represented through out the entirety of

literature. One of the many aspects that come with that are reinterpretations of those

books or ideas in a multitude of forms, along with a multitude of ways. An excellent

example of reinterpretations would be the bible, considering all the different readings that

may be found saying almost exactly the same information. The only difference between

the separate versions is the wording and sometimes the image that the readings may or

may not give off. That being said a very talked about reinterpretation would be J.B.

written Archibald MacLeish. The book itself is a variation upon The Book of Job from

the bible. The two writings have a large variety of similarities,
the writer chose to write the piece as a play, giving it the modern feel that

some might say was needed. An amazing aspect of the writing is that it is able to stand as

a story on its own from the biblical version. As one may assume the biblical version is

able to also stand on its own. Both of the writing have a very similar feel but they also

are able to in a way flow together with the similarities that the two pieces share. Both

J.B. and The Book of Job reiterate that we as man are not on the level in which God is. In

other words we suffer as man because we are human and not heavenly or godly. Since

the writings are simply different versions of one another they have similar problems and

events within each. In J.B. Nickles says to Mr.Zuss, “If God is God He is not Good, If

God is good he is not God; Take the even, take the odd, I would not sleep here if I

could.” Upon saying this he is in a way making fun of the situation that not only is

present but that will also be in the future. That having been stated the situation in which

Nickles is almost mocking is very similar to that of Job from the biblical side of the

story; both of the men are going to suffer great losses and go through a terrible trial,
Both of the men who play prominent roles in the stories

chose to go on the higher road of righteousness and in a way give a higher meaning to

not only their life but also to God in the eyes of those surrounding; which then leads in to

“If we do our part He does His” (J.B.) as stated by Sarah J.B.’s wife. By using this as an

explanation for things it ties into the overall idea of the two writings. Meaning if we

allow God to lead us in the ‘correct’ path (or the one he chooses for us) we as man will

go where we are needed in life. Or if you look at Job and J.B. both men are raised and

almost groomed to knowing that with good actions come the plentiful grace of God, and

with bad actions comes the lack of a plentiful life. The men have been able to understand

and appreciate all that is around them that is a beneficiary. Leading someone to believe

that these men have grown and almost become accustomed to the sole good within their

lives, not fully realizing the possibility of a detrimental accident or problem of sorts that

may very well happen within their lives. When one man experiences so much good one

can only assume that they have the philosophy of “It isn’t luck when God is good to