I’d
wanted to read this book since a long time. Few books have garnered the kind of
acclaim that 'The Prophet' has. Poetic prose always has a charming ring to it,
that is absent in other fictional genres.
The
uniqueness of the book lies in the way it is read. It is an easy read, but a
deep one at the same time. One cannot just read and turn the page like one does
with other fiction. It prompts us to stop and think, taking time to absorb some
of the wisdom in the prose.
The
backdrop reminds us of that of Plato’s ‘Republic’ for two reasons. The first
one is the narrative, in the form of questions and answers. The whole setting
where a ‘guru’ preaches to the people, is reminiscent of Socrates, the "master of life," who presents all of
Plato's theories.
The second reason and also the most commendable aspect of the book is the range of
topics that are elaborated. Most tenets of life that are important to human
existence are touched upon. The unique touch is having people of varied
backgrounds and professions seeking the insight that is distinct to them and
their lives. The quotes have a timeless quality that transcends barriers of
geography and culture. Random but important matters pertaining to our lives,
such as giving, eating and drinking, clothes, buying and selling, crime and
punishment, laws, friendship teaching, beauty, time, pleasure, religion, and
even death are elaborated upon by the character, who is the prophet.
The structure of the book has an easy simplicity. Each
chapter is devoted to one topic. The chapters are short and succinct. This
makes it easy for readers to go back to the book at any point and read one or
more chapters without the need to remember where they left off earlier. Every
reader is sure to find at least two chapters that would connect to real life
experiences.
Another distinctive aspect is the inclusion of pictorial
representations, before each chapter begins. These are drawn by the author
himself and are meant to add on to the succeeding theme of the chapters.
Overall, it is one of the rare ones that is both religious
and spiritual in its essence but highly relatable, even if one is not inclined
to be either of them.
I rate the book a 4 out of 5. Hope you found my review
useful.
Happy reading, stay safe, readers.
***
Book photography: Chethana
The pictorial representations before each chapter is a beautiful and unique aspect of this marvelous and timeless literary work from Kahlil Jibran.
ReplyDeleteThese simply bring the chapters alive in our thoughts,imagination and inner sensibilities.
I agree. This is a truly unique and enlightening piece of literature.
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