Coming home again
Book Description
Geoffrey S. Proehl invites readers on a profound exploration of one of humanity's most enduring spiritual themes: the journey of departure and return. Through careful examination of American dramatic literature, this scholarly work traces how the archetypal figure of the prodigal son has evolved across centuries of storytelling, from ancient religious texts to contemporary theater.
The author illuminates how this timeless narrative pattern continues to resonate in modern culture, appearing not only in plays by writers like Spalding Gray, Ntozake Shange, and Cherrie Moraga, but also in unexpected venues such as television talk shows and recovery programs. By connecting medieval iconography and Renaissance drama to today's therapeutic movements, Proehl reveals how the prodigal's path reflects our collective understanding of forgiveness, redemption, and the possibility of transformation.
This study offers valuable insights for anyone interested in how stories shape our spiritual consciousness. Whether examining temperance melodramas or contemporary domestic dramas, the book demonstrates how the theme of coming home again speaks to universal human experiences of alienation, growth, and reconciliation. Readers seeking to understand the deeper patterns that connect literature to personal healing will find rich material for reflection in this thoughtful analysis of American drama's treatment of family, loss, and the eternal hope of return.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~6 hours)
📄 Length: 221 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Domestic drama, American
- ✓ Explore American drama, history and criticism
- ✓ Explore American Domestic drama
- ✓ Explore Brothers in literature
- ✓ Explore Sons in literature
- ✓ Create spiritual family harmony
- ✓ Explore Fathers and sons in literature
- ✓ Explore Home in literature