John Patrick Shanley's Doubt A Parable

Easily one of most recognizable parables in the Bible, the parable of the prodigal son serves as an allegory for God’s unconditional love and mercy for sinners under the guise of a story about a son’s loss and redemption. To provide context about how parables are intended to work, this essay will begin on how parables function on two levels. On the surface, they are just short and linear narratives. However, upon a closer reading there is a deeper meaning behind them. Parables are meant to be symbolic stories that provide moral lessons. This particular parable was set up so that the Pharisees and scribes would understand the criticism that went with it as they were the intended audience.

Jesus used parables as they are easily remembered, the characters and subjects are clear and the imagery are rich in meaning. We can use the same parable incorporating contemporary imagery to tell the same message.

The classic story of the Prodigal Son is one of the best known parables in literature. A parable is often times described as a short narrative which teaches a moral; however, the plot is more realistic, than say a fable, and the characters are humans as oppose to animals or natural forces within nature. Parables are also presented in a more suggestive tone, which leaves them more open to interpretation. The play Prodigal Son told by Garrison Keillor differs greatly in terms of style compared to Lukes The Parable of the Prodigal Son told in the Catholic scriptures. Both of these parables convey the same moral, however, both are open to very different

“The Prodigal Son”, “The Boy who Cried Wolf”, or “The Mouse and the Lion” are all stories that are commonly well-known, however few people recognize them as parables. The parable is a figure of speech characterized by a short narrative, in prose or verse, full of symbols, allegory, and analogy to convey a moral or religious message. The word ‘parable’ comes from the Greek language and means ‘comparison, illustration, analogy’. The two thousand years old Buddhist story “The Elephant in the Village of the Blind’ portraying simple story, demonstrating universal moral, and using symbols and analogy is the evident representative of the parable.

Parables are stories written in the Bible for truth and life guidance. We have to understand that parables are implied by God to encourage his written word and carry his truths. God’s words can touch a heart of faith despite their external circumstance. The history of parables started with Jesus writing “the sower and the seed” in the book of Matthew. The sower and the seed was the seed is “the word.” The hard ground represents the person who is hardened by sin. Parables date back as far as

Parable, as defined by the dictionary, “A short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth,religious principle, or moral lesson.” The dictionary has a second definition for it, “A statement or comment that conveys a meaning indirectly by the use of comparison, analogy, or the like” (Collins English Dictionary). The use of parables dates all the way back to the time of Jesus, between 4 BC and 30 AD. They are a way of simplifying complicated ideals into a lesson people of all ages can understand and look to for guidance. Patrick Shanley’s play, Doubt, is set in Bronx New York in the year 1964. Around that same time, many aspects of the United States were changing and moving in a direction that left many Americans feeling uneasy.

Jesus’ use of parables was to fulfill Old Testament prophecy; Psalm 78:2, “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old-” (NIV). Additionally, Jesus used parables to teach the truth, basic moral, and spiritual principles using simple down to earth stories to reveal the message of the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven was the heartbeat of Jesus teachings; often his parables began with: the kingdom of God is like…. Jesus used parables to teach not of an earthly kingdom of God but of a spiritual kingdom, and those who chose to accept God’s kingdom would inherit eternal life. It is important to remember, that Jesus used parables not to replace to doctrine but to illustrate and confirm doctrine teachings.

While Jesus was not the first to use parables to teach a message or communicate understanding, Snodgrass (2008) provided insight as to how Jesus parables are unique among the parabolic literature in the ancient world among different cultures. The parables told by the rhetoricians in the Greco-Roman show that Jesus’ parables would not have seemed strange to hear and do not come close to that of Jesus but regularly have explanations and show that parables are effective because of their contexts. According to Snodgrass, (2008) “While there are some similarities such as the Greco-Roman parables in which they are, like Jesus parables, confronting people for their failures” (p. 46). His comparison between the parables of Jesus and those told in the ancient world tells us that Jesus’ use of the parables is the prophetic tradition of the Old Testament. He also mentions some comparisons among Jewish writings.

In all his teaching to the crowds Jesus spoke in parables; in fact he never spoke to them without a parable. This was to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah: I will open my mouth in parables;

A parable is a “simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels.” Parables are a form of teaching in Judaism, this is where Jesus made it a point in his ministry to gather common things that could be familiar to everyone and anyone who was wiling to hear him speak, for example bread and sheep. He made sure that the meaning of what was said was very clear in the context of His teachings. Parables in other words are an “earthly form of stories with heavenly meaning”. In Matthew (13: 13) Jesus says “Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.” This quote can be seen as Jesus’ way of communicating with his disciples, because many of them could not fully comprehend his teachings and what was being spoken. Another reason why He spoke in parables was so that “…unbelievers would be without comprehension”. Only those who were willing to follow Him and allow Him into their hearts, trusting in Him would understand His ways. His main deal was to be able to teach people, and hopefully in teaching them they would learn an d pass down what was taught to others. Just like in our society now and when it comes to books, magazines, etc Jesus used such things as words, pictures, and stories to help everyone learn and understand things in a certain way, because everyone learns differently he took that into consideration.

A parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral lesson. And that's exactly what Čapek's "The Last Judgement" is. After Kulger, the main character, is killed, he awaits his judgement for the afterlife. The experience is not at all what he expects. Through the literary use of flashback and irony, Čapek demonstrates that humans will always have to pay for their actions.

I believe that is a reason on why Jesus chose to talk in parables. He wanted people to learn a lesson that they wouldn’t forget. I believe Jesus was trying to teach us how to act in this parable. I have two reasons why that is. The first reason is that people act on what they see.

Parables are good because anybody from any religion, ethnic, background, country or upbringing would benefit from listening to them and would find them useful. They are the solution to most world moral issues, however, not everyone wants to listen

Another reason for Jesus teaching in parables is identified as Jesus knowing the best way to capture his audience, make them think deeply about what he has just said and then remember his teaching.

During Jesus’ life he was teaching in many different ways one of them was telling the parables. Parable is an earthly story with the heavenly meaning. That means that Jesus was making up a story in which there would be a real people, working of doing something that was common at that times. Sometimes he used the values whether material or spiritual, that were valuable in old times. So he was making everything to make the story look more realistic. But under the close of the poor man or woman and under the animal or a subject there was always something mach more complicated, something about his father, himself, and the people that were following the God or not.