Because of the emotion provoked by Khaled Hosseini in his novel, The Kite Runner, it has been very difficult for me to justify the intense suffering that faces Amir, Hassan, their fathers, wives, mothers, and Hassan's son. But is it my role to justify their suffering? Perhaps Hosseini is insisting that there is a balance to suffering that may not seem to balance out, while in fact a single smile can, in an instant, take and individual back to the place and time before suffering. Suffering may never be justified, but an individual (in this case, Amir) can be refined. He may gain honor and true life. Can there be life without suffering? Hassan seemed to live much more than Amir in their childhood. Could that be because Hassan suffered? Amir had to travel back to his past to complete his suffering. Perhaps God allows suffering in order to develop thought within our minds. It's what makes us human.

To be edited... thoughts need to develop!

Suffering develops the individual. Without suffering, we are all just people with happy lives. This concept is portrayed in William Shakespeare's The Tempest. Prospero was brutally robbed of his dukedom and raises his daughter, Miranda, on an island void of suffering (in essence). The difference between these two characters develops Shakespeare's opinion of suffering. Suffering drives Prospero to all of his actions. He is constantly seeking for justification of his suffering, and he is much less content. Miranda is content to live simply. Her only drive to action is in search of more happiness.

Suffering is the only thing that leaves us room to be redeemed. This may be why God allows suffering.

In Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, much of his commentary refers to the suffering of his characters: suffering of the poor, suffering of the rich. Does our suffering serve a redeeming purpose? Dostoevsky believes that this is a just world, and suffering is either the punishment of sin, or a test of will, goodness, and faith. Therefore, in response to my "big question", God allows suffering to refine our souls and yet we do simultaneously cause our own suffering. We (humanity, as a whole) create our own suffering and God allows it to continue.

Falstaff suffers. Falstaff suffers from himself. I think that in the case of Falstaff's lowly state, Shakespeare indicates that Falstaff chooses to suffer. Therefore, why would God not allow it? I believe that some times people are so pitiful that they chose to suffer. I have succumb to this on some occasions. In these cases, I think it only natural that we suffer the consequences of our actions. In some cases, these consequences are positive and others are quite negative and are easily characterized as suffering. It's free will... and we have to face the consequences of being free.

In Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts, each one of the characters seems to suffer much heartache. Osvald discovers much about his past, which brings him mental suffering as he wrestles with his past. Regina suffers from her past as well as the intimidation and abuse from those around her. But why would God allow these characters to suffer? Did they deserve their suffering? I believe that in this play, it is shown that in some cases we have tendencies (such as Osvald to be permiscuous... "inherited" from his father?) to sin, which may bring on suffering. But in other cases (such as Regina) suffering seems totally unwarrented. I think that Ibsen is investigating the effects of generational sin in this play. Perhaps he is questioning the reality that we may be required to suffer for the sins of our parents. Is this fair? And why would God allow this?

Sophocles addressed this issue in the Exodos of his play, Oedepus Rex. I know that it is very cliche to say that the purpose of suffering is "so that we learn a lesson", but I am not trying to say that that is the purpose of suffering. Like Rob said in class (about the Matrix), I think that Sophocles was attempting to say that even a life of truth (no matter the level of disgrace you have aquired) is much more worth living than a "successful" life of ignorance. We all mess up and it is best to confront them. Perhaps God allows suffering to "test" our ability to face those issues.
Just a thought.

My big question is still taking form.
Why does God allow suffering? Do we cause our own suffering? Why do people insist on blaming "God" for all of their misfortunes?