The Prodigal Son Critical Analysis example essay topic

608 words
Luke chapter 15 verses 11-32 tell the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The theme of this parable would be best described as man verses man. The parable is about a young boy who goes against his father's wishes and takes his inheritance and goes out into the world. He leaves his older brother who decided to stay at home with his father to live and work. The younger brother left home and went out into the world. He went out into the city with the money to buy all kinds of indulgences ranging from alcohol to harlots, anything his heart desired.

As long as he had money he had many friends that surrounded him daily. There came a famine across the land. He had spent all his money on the quality of life he had desired. When the famine hit he had nothing, he had no money to spend, no friends to take him in, he had nothing. He was too proud to go back home an admit to his father he was wrong so he took a job feeding pigs. He even resorted to eating the same cornhusks and slop he was feeding the pigs.

The younger brother then had a revelation. One day while he was feeding the pigs he said to himself "How many hired servants of my father have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!" (Kennedy 232) He thought of going home to his father's house and becoming one of his father's many servants. He thought and thought and finally decided he would go home and tell his father he had sinned against God and him and was no longer worthy of being considered his son. Before he could even get home his father saw him coming and ran out to meet him. His father then yelled out to one of his servants to bring the best robe and the kill the fatted calf and prepare the feast. Before the son even had a chance to speak his father had welcomed him home with open arms.

His father was so happy his son had came home he didn't care about all the sins his son had committed he was just happy his son was lost but now is found. It took a lot of courage for the son to come back home and admit to his father he was wrong and his father recognized this and welcomed him home with open arms and no conflict, however, the elder brother was not so happy. He came in from a hard days work out in the field to see his little brother having a feast for him in his honor and he had been in the city sinning against his father and God, when he, the elder brother, had stayed home with his father like a good son would do. He was angry at his father at first for letting his little brother just walk back into their lives as nothing had ever happened. The father looked at his elder son and explained to him that when we sin against God does he not forgive us, the courage it took for his brother to face himself and conquer his inner pride was punishment enough. He explained to both brothers even though they were different the same lessened had been learned by both.

Pride is a foolish thing and should never come between people and that forgiveness and love are the keys if you want to a happy life.