History Literature / BookOfEcclesiastes

One of the Books of Literature/TheBible. This book focuses on a weary and wise writer, known as [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep "The Preacher"]], often identified as King Solomon,[[note]](In fact, Qoheleth/Kohelet is the name/title given to the traditionally ascribed author/narrator, but given his title "Son of David, King in Jerusalem," he's probably also Solomon. ''Kohelet'' is the [[LostInTranslation Hebrew and original name]] of ''Ecclesiastes'' rather than a personal name, but it's not uncommon for something in K'tuvim (the last third of the Old Testament) to be anonymous.)[[/note]] lamenting on the one important question: what is the meaning of life if everything turns to dust?

One of the Books of Literature/TheBible. This book focuses on a weary and wise writer, known as [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep "The Preacher"]] (often identified as King Solomon), lamenting on the one important question: what is the meaning of life if everything turns to dust?

Contrary to the identification of King Solomon, scholars often state that this book actually is the ''youngest'' book in the Old Testament, possibly written under hellenistic influence as late as 200 BC. In any case, the Book takes a bleak tone focused on impermanence that will jar those expecting it to be written just like one of Literature/TheFourGospels.

* AllForNothing: One of the author's greatest fears. No matter what he builds or accomplishes in his life, he can't take it with him or maintain control over it when he dies. His legacy will be in the hands of people who might just undo it all for their own reasons...and because he'll be dead he can't stop them.
* AntiNihilist: A rare theistic example, although justified as it is from an ancient Jewish source. The author seems to spend large amounts of time going through the whole of human experience and showing how meaningless it all is, and how we can barely fathom the way of things, or of God, the evils that occur, and how no matter what you do we all die anyway; yet still finds time to point out that some things are better than others, to make the most of life, and above all to remember God.

* DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife: What Solomon laments about, but he finds them vanity. However, he eventually comes to this conclusion:

* DumbIsGood: Solomon muses over this trope and concludes that smart may be good but it sure is sad and it is temporary as we all die anyway.
* TheEeyore: Qoheleth/Kohelet, the traditional author/narrator of Ecclesiastes. Given his title "Son of David, King in Jerusalem," he's probably also Solomon. (''Kohelet'' is the [[LostInTranslation Hebrew and original name]] of ''Ecclesiastes'', but it's not uncommon for something in K'tuvim (the last third of the Old Testament) to be anonymous.)

* FeelingTheirAge: The first several verses of Ecclesiastes chapter 12 warns people to "remember your Creator in the days of your youth" before the days come when they start feeling their age in the various metaphorical descriptions mentioned in those verses: when their lose their sight, their teeth, their hearing, their physical strength, and [[TheLoinsSleepTonight their sexual desire]].

* ItsBeenDone: Says quite a lot that there's nothing new under the sun.

* RichesToRags: The Teacher says this in Ecclesiastes 5:13-14:
-->''There is a grave misery that I have seen under the sun:''
-->''when riches were kept by an owner to his hurt,''
-->''and those riches were lost in a misfortunate business deal;''
-->''and although he has a son,''
-->''there is nothing at all to put in his hand.''
* RightWayWrongWayPair: The contrast of the wise and the fool are described in some of the passages.

* TheSonsAndTheSpears: Ecclesiastes 4:12 - "Though one may be overpowered, [[BackToBackBadasses two can defend themselves.]] A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Sometimes used at weddings where God is implied to be "the third strand in the cord" that binds marriages between man and woman together.

-->''Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.''

* FeelingTheirAge: The first several verses of Ecclesiastes chapter 12 warns people to "remember your Creator in the days of your youth" before the days come when they start feeling their age in the various metaphorical descriptions mentioned in those verses: when their lose their sight, their teeth, their hearing, their physical strength, and even [[TheLoinsSleepTonight their sexual desire]].

* CessationOfExistence: Solomon, calling upon his life experiences, reasons that even "a live dog is better than a dead lion," because while the dog may be weaker than a lion, the dog can at least hope to God while the dead lion can do nothing, since death obliterates all memory and knowledge in Ecclesiastes 9:4-6. The whole things fits with the somber nature of the Jewish afterlife of Sheol.

* AllForNothing: One of the Teacher's greatest fears. No matter what he builds or accomplishes in his life, with his death everything will pass to someone else, and he has no control over what they do with his legacy.

* {{Polyamory}}: In his pursuit of pleasure, Solomon mentions that he "acquired a harem"; elsewhere in Literature/TheBible it's stated he had 700 wives and 300 concubines. And still, he admits his harem, like nearly everything he had acquired, was a vanity that did not profit him in the least.

* KarmaHoudini: "There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing." (Ecclesiastes 7:15, English Standard Version)

* FeelingTheirAge: The first several verses of Ecclesiastes chapter 12 warns people to "remember your Creator in the days of your youth" before the days come when they start feeling their age in the various metaphorical descriptions mentioned in those verses: when their lose their sight, their teeth, their hearing, their physical strength, and even their sexual desire.

* MonoNoAware: This book contains the Western equivalent of the concept. The author claims that everything created by human hands is doomed to be forgotten, but at the same time, the world isn't actually getting worse so you should make peace with it and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. In fact, in the original Hebrew the famous "all is vanity" is actually more like "Vapor, vapor, all is vapor!"

* MarketBasedTitle: Ecclesiastes has nothing to do with ecclesiastical matters (i.e. how to organize a church). Its original name was Koheleth, which means "The Teacher" and actually fits the content of the book.

* MarketBasedTitle: Ecclesiastes has nothing to do with ecclesiastical matters (i.e. how to organize a church). Its original name was Koheleth, which means "The Teacher," and actually fits the content of the book.

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* FeelingTheirAge: The first several verses of Ecclesiastes chapter 12 warns people to "remember their Creator in the days of your youth" before the days come when they start feeling their age in the various metaphorical descriptions mentioned in those verses: when their lose their sight, their teeth, their hearing, their physical strength, and even their sexual desire.

* FeelingTheirAge: The first several verses of Ecclesiastes chapter 12 warns people to "remember their Creator in their youth" before the days come when they start feeling their age in the various metaphorical descriptions mentioned in those verses: when their lose their sight, their teeth, their hearing, their physical strength, and even their sexual desire.