20 Things You Didn't Know About A Serious Man
5. Doesn't This Remind You Of Something?
The story of Larry Gopnik's ever-increasing misfortunes acts as an allegory for the Book of Job, given that both characters are men of faith who go through various struggles and begin to question their faith in the process.
The only difference is in execution - the Biblical tale is uncompromising in its bleak nature, while the Coens' film is a dark comedy that handles a man's breakdown in an unexpectedly humorous manner. It has been noted by a number of religious scholars that Job was self-righteous and prideful and his trials and tribulations served as a way to remind him of his place in relation to God (a fairly harsh approach if you ask this writer).
It can be interpreted that Larry is self-righteous to a degree, and his attempts to find spiritual guidance from the Rabbis is similar to Job's own consultation of his friends - an attempt to make sense of these divine events without introspection.