The English writer, G.K. Chesterton, once said about the Book of Job:
"Job does not in any sense look at life in a gloomy way. If wishing to be happy and being quite ready to be happy constitutes an optimist, Job is an optimist. He is a perplexed optimist; he is an exasperated optimist; he is an outraged and insulted optimist....He shakes the pillars of the world and strikes insanely at the heavens; he lashes the stars, but it is not to silence them; it is to make them speak."
What do you think Chesterton means by calling Job a "perplexed optimist"? What is an optimist? What does Chesterton's analysis imply about the importance of doubt and suffering for any optimist?
I think what Chesterton meant by calling Job a "perplexed optimist" is Job is so shocked about what has happened to him (aka losing his children and having full body sores) that he is optimistic. That so many bad things have happened to him that it baffles him, and it couldn't get any worse. An optimist is someone who is confident and hopeful about a successful outcome of something. Which pretty much means that they believe that everything will be okay. Chesterton's analysis to me about the importance of doubt and suffering for any optimist is that even if they are suffering, no matter how badly, that they would still be hopeful for a good outcome. That they don't blame anyone for what's happening to them. Even if they scream and yell I think all they want is get whoever has done this bad thing to them to listen. Aka- "to make them speak." (Aka Job trying to make God speak to him)
ReplyDeleteWhen Chesterton calls Job a "perplexed optimist," I think he means that Job is so confused and bewildered about his immediate loss of his most valued things in life, that he is optimistic and hopeful. The reason why Job is so perplexed is because he can't think of anything he did wrong or why he all of the sudden began suffering. An optimist is a person who has hope and confidence about the future of the successful outcome of something. I think Chesterton's analysis implies that for any optimist, doubt and suffering needs an explanation. The optimist needs to know why the suffering has been happening to them.
ReplyDeleteI think that Chesterton meant that job was so confused by what was going on to him because he knew he did nothing wrong that he still remained optimistic which is why he dubbed him a perplexed optimist. An optimist is someone who always looks towards the bright side of things. Chesterton's analysis implies that that doubt and suffering strengthen a true optimist because they are always able to see through the bad to see hope and good fortune. An optimist won't point fingers went something goes wrong because they know that something good will happen eventually.
ReplyDeleteI think Chesterton meant that Job was very confused about what just happened to him that he didn't know what to think because he didn't do anything bad. Also, Chesterson meant that Job stayed with the "glass is half full" attitude through the tough times. An optimist is someone who has a positive outlook on life. Chesterton's analysis implies and optimist needs to know why these awful things are happening to him or her. Also, I think that even if the suffering is very bad, the optimist fights through it and doesn't let it get them down. Optimist are able to see good things out of bad things.
ReplyDeleteI think when Chesterton said that Job is a perplexed optimist he meant that Job is completely baffled right now but he is still hopeful and confident that theres a reason for what happened and it will work out. An optimist is someone that is hopeful and confident about what is to come. Chesterton's analysis imply about the importance of doubt and sufferings for any optimist means that sufferings have to be explained to any optimist and I believe and optimist should not have doubt.
ReplyDeletei think that Besterton meant that Job is confused at what is happening to him, and why there's so much suffering, but he is also optimistic. He believes that he didn't do anything wrong. An optimist is someone who thinks positive about things. Chesterton implies that even though they are suffering and doubtful about what they did wrong, an optimist will always think positively about what is happening to them and think that when their sins are payed for, they will not suffer anymore.
ReplyDeleteChesterson calls Job a perplexed optimist because he is confused, but holds steadfast to the chance that he will find peace with God and again become happy. An optimist is any person with consistent positive outlooks on things, even in adverse conditions. Chesterson's analysis shows the importance of doubt and suffering for an optimist. This is because without doubt or suffering, it is easy to be happy. However, when people are presented with these adverse conditions, it reveals optimists. This is because optimists, unlike most, will retain hope and a positive outlook on situations, even when in doubt or when suffering.
ReplyDeleteChesterson see's Job as a perplexed optimist becuase it isn't the normal optisism, it's kind of a different form. Perplexed means confused and Job is confused as he tries to makew out why God is punishing him. He is not negative about it and looks forward to when it will be righted so he is optimistic. Optimism is when you always look on the brightside and you always expect the best possible outcomes to come to you. I don't really agree with Chesterson saying Job doesn't look at life in a gloomy becuase I think he does it's just he isn't blaming God. It is obvious he is sad about what's happening and although i think he is being optimistic on the future I still think he was sad. Even an optimist suffers and it is hard even as an extreme optimist to never doubt. You can't categorize yourself as an optimist without suffering is what I think Chesterson is portraying. It is an optimist that has the choice of doubting that it will turn out alright and you can only be a real optimist if you choose to look past tyour suffering and focus on a better future.
ReplyDeleteI think that when Chesterton referred to Job as a "perplexed optimist", he meant that he was puzzled at the random suffering that was thrust upon him, but all the while he maintained his optimistic outlook on life and had high hopes that God would pull through. An optimist is someone who can look at a difficult situation and sees the positivity within the situation. Optimistic people view the glass as half full rather than half empty displaying their never ending faith that things will end up in a positive way. Chesterton's analysis shows the importance of doubt and suffering for an optimist because it displays they have to question themselves and beliefs but in the end always finds the positivity and hope.
ReplyDeleteI think that Chesterson see's Job as a "perplexed optimist", because he is in awe of God, more than having fear of him. Also, I think that when he says "perplexed", Chesterson means something like "uncertain", or "confused". This is basically what Job is, at one point in his story. He is confused about why he is being put through some rough trials in his life, when he is a pious, and good man. An "optimist" is a person who always sees everything in a more of a positive manner. This is what Job is most of the time, when he is going through his main life trials, given to him by God. Chesterson's analysis implies that the importance of doubt and suffering is significant to an optimist because those are the things that really test if that person is a real defined optimist. Doubt and suffering are the aspects of life that optimists are supposedly good at avoiding, or undergoing, and those aspects, when multiplied to a certain high level, are what test Job to his fullest capabilities.
ReplyDeleteI think that Chesterton refers to Job as a "perplexed optimist" because Job is bewildered and does not understand why he is suffering, when he has done nothing wrong. An optimist is someone who always thinks of the glass half full rather than half empty, thus someone who expects the best of things and knows even if something bad happens good will always come. Chesterton's analysis implies about the importance of doubt and suffering for any optimist because, like John Berdon said optimists can show people and themselves the good things out of bad situations.
ReplyDeleteWell what he may mean is that Job's optimism might be a bit complexed. He of course was a little sad when he heard the news, but he remained determined to find the answer. This means he had hope that the answer would explain all the preceding events. That something would answer his question, thus, "make them speak," and everything else would have reason once more.
ReplyDeleteAn optimist is someone who looks on the bright side of situations even when they aren’t always perfect. A perplexed optimist might mean looking on the bright side but still being confused as to whether or not the situation is actually hopeful. A perplexed optimist might have doubt about whether or not everything is actually going to be alright. Some might consider it important to suffer as an optimist because it is that hard times that really test how positive a person can be. Anyone can be happy when everything is going well. It’s the hard times that really test a person’s character.
ReplyDelete