The Prodigal Son in English and American Literature

The Parable of the Prodigal Son, one of the best-known stories in the Bible, has captured the imagination of commentators, preachers, and writers. This book explores the reconfiguring of the character of the Prodigal Son and his family in literature in English. It considers diverse literary periods and genres in which the paradigm is particularly prevalent, such as Elizabethan literature, the work of Shakespeare, the novels of female Victorian writers, the American short story tradition, novels focused on the lives of ordained ministers, and the poetry of Elizabeth Bishop and Iain Crichton Smith. Drawing on scholarship from biblical and literary studies, it aims to demonstrate the remarkable potency of the parable in generating new, and at times contradictory, meanings in different contexts. These include issues left open in the parable, such as the Prodigal Son’s motive for leaving and his response to his father’s welcome, which are given multiple expressions, both positive and negative. Historical and literary criticism are brought into dialogue to explore this remarkably resilient and nimble character as he dances through drama, novels, and poetry across the centuries.