The Prodigal Son And The Rich Brother Research Paper

In the story “The Parable of the Prodigal Son” and “The Rich Brother”, there was a prodigal brother in each story. In both stories, selflessness was flipped between the older and younger brothers. The story “The Parable of the Prodigal Son” was written in a biblical era, but “The Rich Brother” was written in a more modern time frame. There are many differences and similarities related to the brother in the two stories.
I would like to discuss the setting in which “The Parable of the Prodigal Son” and “The Rich Brother” were written in. The “Parable of the Prodigal Son” was written back in the biblical time frame. This sets a different meaning to how the story is perceived and the view it gives on what was expected of family during biblical times. Sons were expected to obey their fathers and the older son was to inherit more of the estate than the younger sons. During this time people worked hard for their success in life and tended to be less wasteful of their belongings and food. The people working the land to provide food for their families caused them to be more

The two older brothers were similar in both stories but had some differences. In the “Parable of the Prodigal Son” the older brother was the more respectful son and brother. He represented self-righteousness in the story. He showed obedience to his father and viewed things in the way of the law or reward. In the story it says “… these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment; and yet thou never gavest me kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf” (Luke 15:11-32). The eldest son was angry with his father’s acceptance of the youngest son retuning home. In the end his true feelings showed of how he focused on himself and failed to see the value of his brother returning