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"Tears of the Prodigal Son" is a religious-moral work by Ivan Gundulić, written in the form of a poem, based on the biblical parable of the prodigal son from the Gospel of Luke.
It consists of three parts – The Transgression, The Realization and The Repentance – in which Gundulić traces through verses the inner spiritual drama of a young man who, having left his father’s home, sinks into sin and ruin, but in the end, through painful repentance, finds his way back to God.
In the first part (The Transgression), the son abandons his father, squanders his inheritance and surrenders to a life of debauchery. The second part (The Realization) brings a moment of inner turning point: the son, faced with misery, shame and spiritual emptiness, realizes the depth of his fall. The third part (The Repentance) describes his sincere repentance, return to his father and forgiveness that symbolises God’s infinite mercy.
Gundulić expresses the universal themes of sin, repentance and redemption in a unique way, emphasizing the transience of earthly pleasures and the greatness of God’s love. The style is rich, solemn and full of biblical images, and the language is melodious, expressive and aimed at a strong emotional impact on the reader.
"Tears of the Prodigal Son" goes beyond a personal story and becomes a symbol of human weakness, but also of hope for salvation through repentance and faith. The work reflects Gundulić's deep Christian worldview and represents the pinnacle of Baroque religious poetry in Croatian literature.
One copy is available
