Andrea M.

Arriaga Camacho

Dr. Millie Commander

Literature and Writing

29 August 2023

Writing Assignment for “The Parable of the Prodigal Son”

1. What is your reaction to the text?

Although The Parable of The Prodigal Son is a story with a happy ending, it is

also a story which reflects a utopian reality that not many get to experience. It was quite

nice and comforting to read about a father’s love and ability to forgive his son, but

realistically speaking, that is not something that happens as often as it should given that

we as humans have an outstanding ability to hold grudges. The most prominent thought

I had after having read the text was that I’d be great if everyone read the parable and

applied it to their everyday lives, but I’m certain that that’s near impossible. The next

best thing would be to start with myself and learn how to not dwell on the past and

embrace the change, just how the father did not overthink the past and embraced the

new version of his son.

2. Relate the text to your own life or to the life of someone you know.

As soon as I began reading the text I couldn’t help but be reminded of my

mother’s side of the family and her youngest brother, Joselito. He is the last out of three

kids so it is no wonder that his parents, specifically his dad, coddle him most of the time

and let him repeatedly take advantage of them, but unlike in the parable, he does not

learn from the past nor repent and ask for forgiveness. Joselito is quite honestly the

most greedy, stingy, and selfish family member I have, but for some odd and unknown
reason my grandparents tend to look past it and leave the disciplining to his eldest

sister, Maribel, despite both of them being well over 50. The reason that I see him in the

prodigal son is because like the son, he is the youngest, and he is avaricious, and only

goes to his family when he is hungry, has no money, or simply needs something.