The Prophet: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Prophet: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the figure of Almustafa, a mystic prophet who shares profound wisdom with the inhabitants of Orphalese before departing for his homeland. Having lived among the people for twelve years, Almustafa is revered as the "Chosen" and embodies qualities reminiscent of Jesus of Nazareth. His teachings span over two dozen topics, ranging from love and marriage to death and the nature of good and evil. The individuals seeking his insights represent various roles in society, emphasizing the universality of his messages. Almustafa employs simple yet paradoxical language to connect profound truths with everyday experiences, encouraging listeners to recognize their intrinsic knowledge and harmony with nature. Central to his philosophy is the belief that understanding leads to personal transformation, where individuals can embrace their potential by aligning with the forces of the universe. The character of Almitra, a seeress, serves as a pivotal connection between the Prophet and the community, witnessing both his teachings and his departure. Through her perspective, the narrative explores themes of longing, wisdom, and the journey of self-discovery. Ultimately, the text invites readers to reflect on the nature of existence and their relationship with the world around them.
The Prophet: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Kahlil Gibran
First published: 1923
Genre: Poetry
Locale: The city of Orphalese
Plot: Prose poem
Time: Ielool, the month of reaping
Almustafa, a prophet of God who has come down from the hill to embark on the ship that will take him to the land of his birth. He has dwelled among the Orphalese for twelve years, has fathered children, and has known long days of pain and long nights alone. He has acquired the love of the people, who regard him as the “Chosen,” but he is a seafarer and traveler, and it is time to depart. In his demeanor, his language, and his relationship to his listeners, Almustafa bears a close resemblance to Jesus of Nazareth. By using a biblical setting, the book lends moral force to what the Prophet says. Almustafa is a mystic whose wisdom has been gleaned from much observation. In nature, he sees a revelation of all of his truths, and he takes from nature a rich array of imagery to convey his teaching. Whereas Christ spoke in parables, Almustafa employs paradoxical examples to illustrate his thoughts and find understanding and acceptance, yet his simple language makes his teachings accessible to all those who come to hear him speak. He delivers his wisdom on more than two dozen topics. The seeress Almitra asks him to speak of love and marriage. A mother wants the truth about children; a rich man, of giving; an innkeeper, of eating and drinking; a mason, of houses; and a hermit, of pleasure. Other subjects include the ordinary—clothes, talking, and buying and selling—and the lofty and timeless—freedom, good and evil, beauty, pleasure, friendship, time, and, inevitably, death. The people who seek the wisdom of the Prophet are only names of types or occupations: a ploughman, an elder, a lawyer, a weaver, an orator, a rich man, a scholar, a poet, and an astronomer. The subjects on which the Prophet speaks are but individual manifestations of the great forces that drive nature and define all things. As he speaks, he connects the everyday experiences of his audience to the powers of the Infinite, telling his listeners that he does not bring knowledge to them; rather, he shows them what they already know and feel but do not yet see. The Prophet drives home the principle that the best life is one in harmony with nature. The individual, as part of nature, partakes of its boundless forces. As it endures, so will the souls of all who open themselves to nature and understand their affinity to it. Endless is being, he tells them, and endless is their ability to see beauty, to feel passion, and to give and receive love; endless also is their ability to receive knowledge from nature and to understand it. He assures the people that they already possess the powers of the Infinite, but because they see narrowly and see only the surface of things, they are out of harmony with the forces, interfere with them, and thereby miss the great potential of their being. Each evil thought, feeling, or action is the result of their not seeing the deeper truths. With understanding comes conversion, the Prophet implies, for people are what they think they are, and if they think they are good, they will be. One must see the truth to receive its benefits. The Prophet's final act is to give the people that understanding. Once he has conveyed this message, his mission is fulfilled, and he is ready to return to his birthplace. The implication is that he has reached the end of his days not only in Orphalese but in this world. In the beginning, the narrator speaks of the “deeper secret” that the Prophet “himself could not speak,” but by the end, it has been revealed in the truths he has spoken.
Almitra, a seeress who comes from the temple and is the first to bid the Prophet speak his thoughts; she is also the last to speak to him as he departs. Through her eyes, readers see the Prophet disappear into the mist.