Parable of the prodigal son By: Nelly Hernandez Long ago there was a man with two sons. One day the youngest one decides to ask his father for his inheritance; so the father splits everything between his two sons. Once he received the money the son leaves to a distant land begins to waste his money on wild living. When he goes broke a severe famine hits the country and he finds himself in tough circumstances. In great need of money he takes a job feeding pigs. He finally comes to his senses, in humility he recognizes his foolishness and decides to return to his father asking for forgiveness and mercy. Once there his father receives him with open arms, overjoyed with the return of his lost son he asks the servants to prepare a huge feast. When the older son finds out about the celebration he gets jealous and starts to question his fathers actions. The father then tells him, “son you are always with me, and all that’s mine is yours, but now we must celebrate because your brother was dead and has come to life; he was lost and now he has been found.” Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. In chapter 4 of Great Expectations Dickens makes an allusion to “The parable of the prodigal son,” by saying,: “Swine were the companions of the prodigal.” This allusion is meant to teach Pip a lesson and point out his faults. Judging him of being glutton, meaning extremely greedy. Dickens, Charles. Great Expectations. New York: Dodd, Mead, 1942. Print. Poynter, Edwards John. "Google Images." Google Images. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Aug. 2012. <http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1>. Torres, Emmanuel. "The Prodigal Son." The Prodigal Son. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Aug. 2012. <http://students.ou.edu/T/Emmanuel.Torres-1/ProdigalSon.html>.