Introduction
Classic literature often grapples with the timeless theme of steadfastness, portraying characters who firmly adhere to their beliefs despite facing difficult trials. In this exploration, the analysis turns to the lenses of two eminent scholars, Aristotle and Polybius, to illuminate the intricate dimensions of the characters’ unwavering commitment. The paper aims to scrutinize the steadfastness of Job, Antigone, and Oedipus through Aristotelian and Polybian perspectives, shedding light on the divine connections and political foundations that underpin their narratives.
Oedipus, the tragic protagonist in Sophocles’ “Oedipus Rex,” is portrayed as a determined and unwittingly fated king of Thebes (Adade-Yeboah, Ahenkora, & Amankwah, 2012). His relentless pursuit of the truth about the plague gripping his city leads to a tragic unraveling of his dark past and destiny. In addition, Antigone, a central character in Sophocles’ play “Antigone,” is shown as a courageous and principled woman willing to go the extra mile to maintain her steadfastness (Kirkpatrick, 2011). However, Job is a notable biblical figure in the Book of Job. He epitomizes strong faith and resilience, navigating profound adversity with a steadfast commitment to God despite losing wealth, family, and health in a divine trial of faith (Gasser, 2021, p 25).
Aristotle’s ethical framework and Polybius’s insights into political structures will be instrumental in dissecting the characters’ resilience amidst tribulations. It is the best way of providing a deep understanding of their steadfastness. Through this exploration, one can uncover how these classical figures navigate the intersection of personal conviction, divine trials, and the political landscapes that shape their unwavering commitment.
The Steadfastness of Job from the Book of Job
Job is a fascinating example of absolute faith in what he calls ‘The Lord,’ the provider of everything. The righteous tale of Job’s life focuses on steadfastness, which stands for the strong-willed adherence to following the course laid down by God and having the desire to do His Will (Balentine, 2021, p 121) as an embodiment of being a good disciple in the name of Christ! Job, a pivotal biblical figure portrayed in the Book of Job, is initially characterized as a man of exceptional wealth and righteousness. Described as prosperous, Job stands out for his firm devotion to God and moral uprightness.
However, the core of his faith is rigorously tested through a divine challenge initiated by Satan. This trial unfolds as a sequence of adversities that progressively strip away Job’s material wealth, leaving him bereft of his immense possessions and worldly prosperity (Gasser, 2021, p 25). Moreover, the tragic loss of his ten children compounds his suffering, presenting an emotional and familial dimension to the tribulations he endures. As if that was just the beginning, Job is afflicted with distressing physical ailments.
Greenstein (2019, p 44) shows that his diseases were severe, including disfiguring sores that plagued his body from scalp to soles. Despite these profound trials, Job’s steadfastness becomes the narrative’s focal point. This illuminates the strength of his faith and the enduring nature of his commitment to his beliefs.
While Job’s trouble begins with the saddening news of losing his wealth, it subsequently extends to inflict pain in every aspect of his livelihood. These events happen so suddenly that he does not have time to regain his economic well-being. After losing his wealth and family, Job suffered physical affliction, leaving him in immense pain. At some point, his wife even advised him to curse God and die to escape his sudden troubles and the pain he was experiencing. According to Mitchell (1987, p33), Job’s wife said, “How long will you go on clinging to your innocence? Curse God, and die.”
In retaliation, Job calls her a foolish woman who has lost her mind (Theology of Work, 2023). He claimed that he had accepted good fortune from God and had to accept lousy luck similarly (Mitchell, 1987, p33). In addition to this disguise and rejection, Job’s friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Namathite, came to mourn with him upon hearing the news of his troubles. The three barely recognized him from a distance, signifying the intensity of the boils that had struck his body. They sat with him for seven days and seven nights without saying a word, sprinkling their heads with dust and ashes.
The intense suffering and the profound losses that befell Job created a crucible of despair and anguish, fostering an environment where even the most devout might question their faith. Losing everything—his wealth, children, and health—put Job in a tough spot where anyone might start questioning their faith. A typical person, subjected to such unremitting adversity, might naturally grapple with the contradiction between a righteous life following God’s wishes and his relentless trials.
Despite his steadfastness, Job could have questioned why a benevolent God, whom he deemed the giver of all things, allowed such overwhelming tribulations to befall him. He even loses the support of his friends after several days of battling his problems (Mitchell, 1987, p. 67). The three good friends who had initially sat with him for seven days and nights to comfort him start engaging in philosophical debates about Job’s condition that triggers aggression (as so did in the death of the 6-year-old in Illinois) amidst them. Moreover, Job perceived these discussions tensely as acerbating his suffering, leading to arguments that prompted them to depart.
Transgressions had not marked his life, yet God’s actions contradicted the fundamental tenets of justice and divine order. The intense pain, rejection, and misunderstanding from those closest to him could have made Job doubt if God’s plan was just and kind. This is why even his wife shows no faith in God, as Job had suffered enough. Nevertheless, he was faithful and hopeful that all those temptations would not allow him to turn his face from God. Instead, his faith remained intact despite persuasions from his friends and family to curse God.
Examining Job’s profound questioning of God in the face of immense suffering through the lenses of Aristotle and Polybius provides insightful perspectives on the philosophical underpinnings of his steadfastness. Aristotle’s ethical framework, which Aristotle (1885) emphasizes the pursuit of virtue and moral integrity, illuminates Job’s righteous life and adherence to God’s wishes. This is showcasing a commitment to a virtuous path despite undeserved afflictions. In this context, Job’s questioning can be seen as a moral inquiry into the justice of divine actions.
However, Aristotle (1885) shows that this aligns with Aristotle’s emphasis on understanding the ethical dimensions of one’s experiences. In addition, Job’s cyclical trials, marked by repeated losses and relentless suffering, resonate with Polybius’s ideas on the recurrent nature of human affairs. The philosophical frameworks of both Aristotle and Polybius provide a detailed understanding of why Job, despite his commitment, grappled with questioning God. It reveals an exploration of virtue, ethics, and the cyclical nature of human trials (Polybius, 2003). This sheds light on the intricate layers of Job’s philosophical and existential inquiry in the face of profound adversity.
At the end of his suffering and immense loss, Job’s possessions and former glory are restored to exceed his former economic status (Mitchell, 1987 p103). There is an equally deep note of maturity (Growth and Development) in Job’s integrity. He does not respond to suffering with bitterness or anger but through inner reflection and a sincere desire to learn why this is happening. His conversation reaches out into profound metaphysics as he grapples with human pain and the nature of divine mercy alongside his companions. However, these conversations do not portray Job’s firmness as sheer steadfastness alone but as a deep journey searching for oneself and spiritual evolution.
Oedipus from Sophocles’ “Oedipus Rex”
When considering the case of Oedipus, the image of being steadfast is quite different, as portrayed in “Oedipus Rex” by Sophocles. Oedipus’ loyalty to discovering the cause of the plague that struck Thebes by exploring his past accurately illustrates self-discovery and enlightenment (Vanzo, 2023, p 4). But his relentless search for them is a sign of this man’s persistence that can be seen at first sight and may look praiseworthy.
Nonetheless, in the case of Oedipus’ determinism, an ironic twist emerges, presenting itself as steadfastness. This shows that he is another character with a rash and unthinking side. He remains determined to root out the truth, but this tenacity causes him not to realize quite how deep a part he is willing to play in the calamities of the city (Vanzo, 2023, p. 3). The rigidity of willpower, however, is transformed into a blind obstinacy that makes Oedipus incapable of realizing how much he is guilty.
This reluctance on the part of Oedipus to admit his responsibility turns out to be the tragedy of his character. It begins as an admirable determination in him but turns out to be a sword with two edges, which results in his downfall (Sophocles, 2020b, p 84). Instead, Oedipus’s consistency turns into a tragic flaw portraying the intricacies of human nature that lie in the gray area between firm commitment and steadfastness (Burian & Shapiro, 2010). The example of his story is a moving message that overwhelming steadiness without any sense of self-realization and modesty may result in a tragic outcome.
Oedipus’s consistency, initially perceived as admirable, becomes a double-edged sword, leading to his tragic demise. Even though Oedipus’s persistent pursuit of truth aligns with Aristotle’s notion of admirable determination (Aristotle, 1885), showcasing an initial commitment to resolving the crisis afflicting his city, Polybius’s concept of politics suggests otherwise. His steadfastness is interrupted as it transforms into a blind obstinacy.
This is emblematic of a political leader unwilling to acknowledge the consequences of his actions (Polybius, 2003). This lack of self-realization and modesty becomes Oedipus’s tragic flaw, echoing Polybius’s warnings about the potential downfall of leaders who fail to navigate the complexities of political decisions with humility. The narrative serves as a poignant message about the delicate balance between firm commitment and the necessity for self-awareness in navigating political challenges, offering a cautionary tale about the potentially tragic outcomes when determination veers into obstinacy.
Antigone from Sophocles’ “Antigone”
In Sophocles’ “Antigone,” one witnesses the birth of a heroine – the bold, unique, and remarkable personality known as Antigone. Her steadfastness is evident in her unrelenting decision to bury her brother Polynices, contrary to a royal order barring that act, making it an embodiment of an indomitable spirit (Karakantza, 2022, p 5). The strong sense of responsibility towards one’s family and an ardent adherence to one’s moral principles drives Antigone’s steadfastness. She acknowledges the need to respect her dead brother by giving him a fitting grave and readily faces the dire effects of disobeying orders from King Creon (Van Den Berge, 2017). She shows tremendous maturity and a solid will to die to keep her values.
Through her, the continuing strength of personal conscience and moral duty is evident as that of royalty. As the play unfolds, “she is steady like a rock,” maintaining unwavering determination in her views and relations (Joseph, 1981). She exhibits an unparalleled combination of moral courage and unyielding determination, contrasting with Job’s belief and Oedipus’s pursuit of righteousness.
Through Antigone’s actions, the spectators face problematic ethical problems resulting from divided loyalties and responsibilities (Sophocles, 2020a, p 33). Through her determination and unaltering principles, she embodies the conflict between personal conscience and statutes (Sophocles, 2020a, p 41). Accurate determination implies the bravery to stick to an individual’s beliefs, even if it includes rebellion against an authority in command.
Overall, the character of Antigone in the play “Antigone” of Sophocles manifests itself as uniquely steadfast, with an unwavering adherence to family obligations and moral standards. She is very mature and committed to giving her brother an honorable burial no matter what comes out of it. Indeed, that is why Antigone’s story holds so much importance, for it offers a clear representation of how adherence to moral principles leads to an impressive outcome whenever moral predicaments and social expectations face one, thus elaborating on the thematic elements of being steadfast.
Comparing the Steadfastness of Job, Antigone, and Oedipus
While the steadfastness of Job, Antigone, and Oedipus all emerge out of unshakeable dedication, this is manifest otherwise, reflecting their particular personalities and situations. In the first case, Job’s unrelenting faith and confidence in God give him that mature character and commitment to remain steadfast in faith (Greenstein, 2019 32). However, his perseverance and belief brought about his tragic fall. Nevertheless, he rose again with more glory and blessings from God, a reward for being faithful. Likewise, Antigone’s strength lies in her resolute adherence to her beliefs and family obligations, revealing a remarkable blending of maturity and tenacity (Karakantza, 2022, p. 3).
In the work of Sophocles, “Antigone,” she is depicted as an independent woman dedicated to family traditions and moral principles, with courage for death. It is only towards the end that Antigone finally starts showing some doubts concerning her decision to stand against Creon. On the other hand, Oedipus wavers because he refuses to accept his deeds. Oedipus’ reluctance to admit his responsibility ends tragically for him despite having begun as an admirable course.
Moreover, the steadfastness showcased by Job, Antigone, and Oedipus is linked to specific forces guiding their decisions. In Job’s case, he is driven by the need to serve his creator, God. He endures all adversities to maintain a closer tier with the God he serves (Greenstein, 2019, p. 32). This is why he is willing to accept rejection and disintegration from family and friends but continues serving his purpose as a good servant.
However, Antigone is committed to upholding moral principles. Any higher power forces do not hold her, but her decisions are influenced by the desire to make ethical judgments and restore a sense of justice (Karakantza, 2022, p. 3). Her defiance of royal orders shows this, and she chooses to follow the family tradition that allows her to bury her brother. She knows what is right and is ready to fight everyone in her way.
Nonetheless, Oedipus’s determination is not linked to any form of deity or moral need. He decides to pursue truth, a significant decision pushed by his determination to gain knowledge (Vanzo, 2023, p. 3). All three characters’ steadfastness manifests commitments to fulfill specific duties. Oedipus, the one with a unique ambition, is not tied to any higher powers. However, Job and Antigone’s steadfastness is meant to severe deities, with Job placing all his commitment to God and Antigone on traditional values.
Conclusion
The steadfastness of Job, Antigone, and Oedipus, examined through the philosophical lenses of Aristotle and Polybius, unveils a rich tapestry of human resilience and existential inquiry. Job’s unwavering commitment to God, analyzed in light of Aristotle’s ethics and Polybius’s cyclical view of human experiences, illuminates the moral complexities of enduring profound tribulations. Oedipus, as portrayed by Sophocles, becomes a cautionary tale about the delicate confusion between determination and the necessity for self-awareness.
His case echoes Polybius’s warnings about the perils of unchecked steadfastness in political leadership. In Sophocles’ narrative, Antigone emerges as a symbol of moral courage, steadfast in her commitment to familial duty and ethical principles, providing a nuanced perspective on the thematic elements of unwavering resolve. Each character’s adherence to their principles emphasizes the rich and subtle nuances of such an ideal, making examining belief, responsibility, and consequence possible, opening up many different layers to the theme of steadfastness.
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