Essay 2

For my second essay, I want to focus on J.B., by Archibald MacLeish, and how it is a more relatable story compared to the Book of Job. By creating a stronger bond among JB and his family, and by describing JB’s inner emotions more clearly and thoroughly, MacLeish creates a more sympathetic character. Under the circumstances, audiences are more likely to feel more compassion and feel more understanding towards JB’s struggles because of how JB’s relationship with his family is described in such detail. Readers can also see themselves more in the character of JB rather than Job because JB expresses more human emotions, and that resonates more with the audience. By creating this very likable and more easily associable character, readers are able to have more sympathy for JB rather than the more distant character of Job.