The Inevitability of Suffering

Johnson portrays suffering as an inescapable part of human existence, whether through poverty, illness, loss (as with Pekuah’s kidnapping), or the decay of old age, suggesting that wisdom lies in enduring rather than escaping pain.

Imlac's experiences of being cheated and oppressed by others highlight the pervasive suffering caused by human malice and envy.

The philosopher's grief over his daughter's death demonstrates that suffering is unavoidable, even for those who preach invulnerable patience.

Nekayah concludes that no house is free from some fury that destroys its quiet, and that even the poor suffer from concealed indigence and the resentment of benefactors.

Nekayah's descriptions of family conflict, marital misery, and the emptiness of celibacy emphasize that suffering is an inescapable part of human existence.