The Prophet - themes, characters, 20 quotes, summary, free pdf

Contents

1. About Gibran Khalil Gibran
2. The Prophet Themes
3. The Prophet Characters
4. The Prophet Summary
5. The Prophet Quotes
6. Article Summary
7. Download The Prophet

The Prophet

The Prophet: themes, characters, 20 quotes, summary, free pdf

About Gibran Khalil Gibran

Gibran Khalil Gibran was born in 1883 in Lebanon. He is from "Bsharri", home-schooled by his mother due to their poverty. Then he moved with his family to America and learned there. Gibran established the pen association with Michael Naima and other thinkers. He has risen high because of his books in Arabic and English, he learned the art of drawing from his first arrival in America and became a skilled painter, as he also learned drawing from the painter Rodin. He died in 1931 of tuberculosis.

The Prophet Themes

Khalil Gibran's "The Prophet" is a collection of poetic essays covering a wide range of subjects and themes. The prominent themes of the book include:

1. Love: This is perhaps the most recurring theme in "The Prophet." Gibran explores various aspects of love, including romantic love, self-love, and love for humanity.
2. Marriage: Gibran offers insights into the nature of marriage, including the importance of mutual respect, communication, and understanding between partners.
3. Joy and Sorrow: The book deals with the nature of joy and sorrow and how they are linked. Gibran suggests that in order to fully appreciate life, we must embrace both joy and sorrow.
4. Freedom: Gibran discusses the importance of personal and political freedom and the responsibilities that come with it.
5. Self-knowledge: The book emphasizes the importance of self-knowledge and self-understanding for a fulfilling life.
   
6. Beauty: Gibran explores the concept of beauty, both natural and human, and how it enriches our lives.
   
7. Death: The book offers insights into the nature of death and how it is a natural part of life. Gibran suggests that we should not fear death but embrace it as part of the life cycle.

Overall, "The Prophet" is a deeply philosophical and spiritual book that offers wisdom and insight into the human condition. Its themes and messages continue to resonate with readers around the world.

The Prophet Characters

1- Al-Mustafa: He is the main character in the book and is also called Al-Mukhtar (The Chosen). He has lived in Orphalese for 12 years and became the wise man of this legendary city. 2-Almitra: She is a woman who used to ask Al-Mustafa to answer the questions of the villagers and believed in him very much.

The Prophet Summary

About The Prophet

"The Prophet" by Gibran Khalil Gibran is a masterpiece of literature that was originally written in English in 1918 and has been translated into over 50 languages. The book explores philosophical and spiritual views, and delves into deep topics within the human psyche, such as friendship, love, marriage, life, and death.

Despite its widespread popularity, the book has received both positive and negative criticism. Some have deemed it superficial and shallow, while others have criticized it for distorting religious traditions. Nonetheless, "The Prophet" remains a timeless work that continues to inspire readers around the world with its profound insights into the human condition.

 The Prophet Summary

The protagonist of the book is a man known as Al-Mustafa, who travels to the fictional land of Orphalese and resides there for twelve years due to his inability to return to his homeland. Al-Mustafa becomes the wise man of the land and is given the title of "The Prophet" because he answers all the questions and dilemmas that the people of Orphalese had been unable to solve, including those relating to the human condition and life.

When the ship that had been waiting for him during his stay finally arrives, Al-Mustafa feels sad to leave the people of Orphalese, whom he had grown to love and care for. The elders of the village try to convince him to stay, but he is unable to do so. Instead, he delivers a speech to them about the necessity of patience in life and the promise of returning to them in a different form.

Overall, "The Prophet" is a poetic and philosophical work that explores the complexities of the human experience and offers insights into the nature of life and the universe. It has been widely translated into numerous languages and continues to inspire readers around the world.

The Prophet Quotes

1- “For what is evil but good tortured by its own hunger and thirst?”

2- “To belittle, you have to be little.”

3- “And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.”

4- “The timeless in you is aware of life's timelessness. And knows that yesterday is but today's memory and tomorrow is today's dream.”

5-“Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.”

6- “You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts.”

7- "The eye through which you see God is the same eye through which God sees you."

8- "The timeless in you is aware of life's timelessness."

9- "For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one."

10- "And if it is a fear you would dispel, the seat of that fear is in your heart and not in the hand of the feared."

11- "Let there be spaces in your togetherness."

12- "The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain."

13- "For thought is a bird of space, that in a cage of words may indeed unfold its wings but cannot fly."

14- "For even as love crowns you, so shall it crucify you."

15- "Work is love made visible."

16- "And what is fear of need but need itself?"

17- "Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself."

18- "But the time of sleep has passed, and the dream is over, and we are not now at the dawn of awakening; for the noonday sun is above our heads, and our waking has turned into full day, so we must part."

19- "Love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation."

20- " Your children are not your children; they are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, and even though they live with you, they do not belong to you."

Article Summary

Khalil Gibran's "The Prophet" is a timeless masterpiece that explores diverse aspects of life and spirituality. The book is a collection of poetic essays on a wide range of subjects, including love, marriage, joy, pain, freedom, self-awareness, beauty, death, and spirituality.

Gibran's writing is both profound and poetic, offering perspectives on the human condition that continue to resonate with readers around the world. His exploration of the issues of love and marriage emphasizes the importance of mutual respect, communication, and understanding between partners. The book's discussion of joy and sorrow suggests that both are necessary to appreciate the beauty and complexity of life.

Gibran's thoughts on freedom and responsibility underscore the importance of personal and political liberty while emphasizing the need for responsible behavior. His emphasis on self-knowledge and self-understanding is a recurring theme throughout the book. His exploration of the concept of beauty in both nature and the human form enriches the reader's understanding of the world.

Finally, Gibran's thoughts on death and its place in the cycle of life offer readers a philosophical perspective on the meaning of life. "The Prophet" is a book that offers wisdom, insight, and inspiration to readers seeking a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them.

Download The Prophet

If you have any inquiries, kindly leave them in the comments section.