The tragic and the transcendence in The Book of Job

Abstract

This paper analyzes the biblical narrative The Book of Job through literary, psychological, and theological-philosophical perspectives, aiming to identify where the tragic arises and how the transcendence happens. Drawing on Albin Lesky’s literary theory and Carl Gustav Jung’s psychology, the analysis positions the tragic hero within a spiritual journey, interpreted through Jean-Yves Leloup’s theological-philosophical lens. For Jung and Leloup, God and humanity share the same nature, and confronting the tragic can lead to this realization through the reconciliation of inner opposites – ultimately fostering the integration of the self. By elucidating this process of transcendent self-knowledge and linking the tragic hero to the contemporary individual, this study argues that the tragic is inherent to life, that within the tragic lies the potential for transcendence, and that such transcendence requires a profound journey of self-discovery. The goal is to offer a transcendent lens on life’s tragic experiences and demonstrate how tragic literature, particularly biblical narratives, when approached transdisciplinarily, can support self-knowledge and the overcoming of tragic events.