Literary notes about Prodigal (AI summary)
The term “prodigal” is often used by authors to capture a sense of extravagant or wasteful behavior, whether that be financial extravagance, moral laxity, or an extravagant way of living. In many works, it describes individuals who squander resources or behave recklessly with what they possess, as seen when characters are castigated or pitied for their liberal spending ([1], [2], [3]). The word’s rich biblical resonance further colors its meaning, evoking the classic narrative of the prodigal son whose return is marked by remorse and forgiveness ([4], [5]), while other writers employ it more metaphorically to depict nature’s lavish abundance or even human character in moments of overindulgence ([6], [7]).
- I was never foolishly prodigal, except by intervals; but till then I was never concerned whether I had much or little money.
— from The Confessions of Jean Jacques Rousseau — Complete by Jean-Jacques Rousseau - Ay, but he'll have but a year in all these ducats; he's a very fool, and a prodigal.
— from Twelfth Night; Or, What You Will by William Shakespeare - Adj. wasted &c. v.; at a low ebb. wasteful &c. (prodigal) 818; penny wise and pound foolish.
— from Roget's Thesaurus by Peter Mark Roget - Luke Chapter 15 The parables of the lost sheep and of the prodigal son.
— from The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Complete - Luke Chapter 15 The parables of the lost sheep and of the prodigal son. 15:1.
— from The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Complete - We can plainly see why nature is prodigal in variety, though niggard in innovation.
— from On the Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection by Charles Darwin - Here the matter was settled over the breakfast, at which Henchard heaped the young Scotchman's plate to a prodigal fulness.
— from The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy
