The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-17

An English Clergyman Considers IT'S Merits
NJ q Problem Play.

Ths Rss. FORBES Phliips IN the Ntnetssnh Century.
The author Of Job" with great daring, but with
realistic and human touch, Introduces a comedy
scene into q situation Of surprising pathos, You
have the hero staggering under successive blows
smitten with sore boils and In pitiable condition,
and upon this scene come EllphaE. Bildad and
Zophar. They come. too. with the proclaimed
intention Of comforting him. The nrst note Of
comfort they strike Is to announce that he Is so
altered they do not recognize him. This would
scarcely add anything Of the nature comforting 10
Job In his state Of mind. He meets this with silence,
and very mssteTly indeed 10 that silence with which
these men regard each other. One appreciates the
nsIon Of II all. and the situation Is again solemn
and impressive. But the master Is . genius for
light and shade. The men who come to comfort
remain TO argue that, after all. II 10 JOBS own fault.
and in 40 many words tell him that II serves him
right. They are shocked At his language. and at
once YOU are plunged into the debate. and here
the author OF the drama exploits TO the full his
problem: why do the righteous suderf"
The debate Is symmetrically planned. We have
nrst one and then another up against Job. Al
have been trained In q school which taught that
a~nnlcuons are Gods testimony for SIN: but job 10
conscious that he Is not q sinner 70 the extent OF
meritlnr such punishments as have come upon him;
hence YOU have . nne situation. He must bold 10
a belief which Is impossible. or deny the justice ~
his Maker. Further. that God who knows him 10
be innocent Furnishes him as II he were guilty. and
10 therefore reg ardless OF justice In the cosmic
ordering Of things The author gets his chance
now TO attack the accepted beliefs OF his day, Of
advancing ideas that are outside popular theology.
and he DOES so with . daring that proceeds on is
way building up q strong story.
In the nnSt cycle OF speeches hts friends occupied
themselves with presen ting what. we may take II,
is the accepted theology Of the day. God dispensing
10 every man according to his morals, not aroi-
trarily. but with mathematical accuracy. giving
each man what he deserves, Therefore. Job In his
suffering 10 the mark Of Divine diSpleasure. What,
then. has Job doner They urge him to confess
Job meets this with a denial. and protests his inno-
cenee. They Imply bluntly that he 10 q liar. Here
ia the dramatist's art In perfection. The audience
is admitted into the secret. the actors are not.
ANY stage manager who knows anything about HE
art would say: This is rood work; this is drama.
The situation Is no mere house Of cards. All the
characters are strong. and the dialogue OF each 10
10 the point and vigorous. Al the same time there
are Just those touches which one expects In a play.
The men are no mere puppets repeating speeches.
You have real characters Of nesh and blood. diverse
and OF different temperament. EliphaB is most
courteous and inclined V be concliatory. while
maintaining bis own position. Bidad Is arbitrary
and accusing. Zophar Is insinuating and pToNok-
ing. job Ia as some phtlosophic Titan who would
scale the height where God 10 enthroned. and tear
away the veil that conceals Him from mortal gaZe.
The characterlzation 10 excellent. but II is the
charaetertEation Of public presentation. Again
and agaln you get expressions which imply hot
Interruption which would be natural In spoken
debate. Behold now" Hear Il and know II"
BE content. Look upon me-" Blldsd complains
of Jobs long sDesches-"Hcw long wilt thou speak
these things.". and. again. Hold your peace, let
me alone; and Suffer me that I may speak '
Look straight at me! Is II likely ! shall lie 10 your
facet" Chap. VI. "a.
Every now and then the high tide OF eloQuence
10 broken by some humorous or irenic allusion which
only q dramatist would use, and use with the dis
tinct object OF providing fresh interest for his audi
ence. Job asks: Am q whale or q SEQ that thou
settest q watch over met" And there would be a
ripple Of laughter when job remarks TO his antAg-
oniets; N doubt but We are the people. and wisdom
will die with you" And an outburst Of merrlnent
when he adds, Miserable eonfOrters arc ye all"