In the Old Testament we find different descriptions of mourning for men and women. The differences arise from the social roles and expectations of one person and the other. The descriptions include physical expressions such as tearing clothes, putting on sackcloth and sprinkling ashes on the head, but also acts of humility and deep mourning such as fasting and loud lamentation. The emotions and intensity of grief are vividly portrayed in both genders and illustrate the human experience of loss. The common and individual elements point to a deeply personal and communal grief that allows for the expression of loss and the search for solace. In our paper, we will focus on the exploration of emotions in the grieving process, particularly in the context of Old Testament female figures. We will first present an understanding of these emotions and then discuss specific emotions based on the Old Testament and various female characters.
|
