The prodigal by Elizabeth Bishop

Content

Based on the biblical story of the prodigal son. In this poem the subject lives in a barn and suffers from alcoholism something bishop struggled with personally. We see the exile and Lonliness created by the prodigal due to his physical isolation but also due to his alcoholism. This could be a methaphor for bishops own alcoholism and the problems it led to. The poem ends on a happy note with the subject returning home and achieving redemption.

biblical story of prodigal son

retold and recreated to show the deterioration but also the redemption of the alcoholic

Themes

Redemption, nature, endurance, identity

The brown enormous odour he lived by was too close, with its breathing and thick hair, for him to judge

Shows the squalor he lives in, assonance slows down to line with means you have to trudge through it possible representing the mud. This line shows how he cannot step back to looks at his life much like he cannot step back and judge the smell.

Glass-smooth dung

A lovely but disgusting image which shows his setting and heightens our sense of revulsion. Also suggest we can find Haiti in yeh mud mane much like in the filling station.

Even to the sow that always ate her young- till, sickening, he leaned to scratch her head.

He retains his humanity, the pigs/ outcasts have become his friends.

but sometimes mornings after drinking bouts (he hid the pints behind a two-by four)

his self-deceiving nature is brought into light

The sunrise glazed the barnyard mud with red the burning puddles seemed to reassure.

The comfort he gets from nature and reassurance it reminds him of hope and he can see another life for himself and shows the endurance and resilience of the human spirit. He is still moved by the beauty of nature showing us the importance of nature for everyone,

With pitch forks, faint forked lightenings , catching light

Fork and light repetition reminds us of mobs, shows the society waiting outside, maybe how society treats alcoholics alliteration also draws attention to this line. Very effective line to describe how the man views the outside world and why he does not return and he finds comfort in his life with the pigs, shows the comfort alcohol brings. Lack of forgiveness in society

but it took him a long time finally to make his mind up to go home

Ends on a postive note, portrayal of the resilience of the human spirit and the hope for alcoholics rejoining society much lik ethe biblical story. Doesnt end with a rhyming couplet shows that the story is not neatly package up and over. Family is not as easy for Bishop

Structure

Two sonnets, could portray pros and cons or two sons in biblical story and the nature.

Contrast

Juxtaposition of hope and fear. The boy faces the decision to live in these rancid conditions or face his fear and shame.