Citation: Dutko, Joseph Lee. 2023. Mythoi, Monomyth, and a Missing Mother: The Archetypal Significance of the Prodigal’s Quest in Luke 15:11–24. Religions 14: 997. https:// doi.org/10.3390/rel14080997 Academic Editor: Rick Boyd Received: 8 July 2023 Revised: 28 July 2023 Accepted: 1 August 2023 Published: 3 August 2023 Copyright: © 2023 by the author. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/). religions Article Mythoi, Monomyth, and a Missing Mother: The Archetypal Significance of the Prodigal’s Quest in Luke 15:11–24 Joseph Lee Dutko Independent Researcher, Parksville, BC V9P 2C9, Canada; josephdutko@gmail.com Abstract: The parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 elicits profound responses and emotions in various times, places, and cultures. Why has it stood the test of time as one of Jesus’ most famous parables? One possible answer is that the story carries enduring appeal because of the underlying structure of the parable, a recurring pattern in literature called the monomyth. Peeling back the layers of the parable, one may uncover the foundational archetypes of the parable that make it timeless. Hidden significance of the parable may be illuminated by comparing its narrative to the hero quest of Joseph Campbell and the monomyth archetypes of Northrop Frye and Leland Ryken, both of which emphasize a cyclical movement that unifies all of literature. Also important are the specific archetypes within the general monomyth archetype, such as father and mother, bread and water. The parable also contains the four elements (mythoi) of the circular monomyth: romance, tragedy, anti-romance, and comedy. Using archetypal and myth criticism, this article demonstrates that the parable has enduring attraction because its underlying archetypes appeal to a deep layer of the human psyche and to what is elemental to the human experience. Keywords: Luke 15; Prodigal Son; parables; archetypes; monomyth; myth criticism; archetypal criticism; hero quest 1. Introduction: Archetypal Symbolism and Myth Criticism The parable of the Prodigal Son told by Jesus 1 and recorded in Luke 15:11–24 2 is considered by many to be Jesus’ most famous parable. The casual reader is often touched by the forgiveness and compassion the father bestows upon his returning son at the end of the story. However, many interpretations have failed to consider the powerful contributions underlying archetypes make to the impact of the story. 3 Could it be that the story has maintained popularity throughout the centuries because of its use of a recurring archetypal pattern that unifies much of literature and unconsciously appeals to the reader? Without considering the entire cyclical movement of the Prodigal, and not just his return, one cannot feel the full psychological impact of the story. Mary Ann Tolbert comments that the Prodigal Son parable “must speak convincingly to some deep layer of the human psyche in order for it to have maintained its prominence in Christian tradition” (Tolbert 1979, p. 96). The purpose of this paper is to peel back the layers and attempt to uncover that deep layer through identifying underlying archetypes of the parable that give it its enduring appeal. 4 When the Prodigal embarks on his quest for independence and happiness, he is actually unaware that his journey has a deeper meaning. Although the Prodigal is at first answering a pseudo-call of his own desire for happiness and independence, he will later discover the true call of the journey, which is to undergo an enlightening experience that will lead to his transformation and return. But first, he must be prepared and humbled through trials in order to understand the deeper call of his quest. Before we begin the journey of the Prodigal, a few preliminary terms and concepts concerning archetypal symbolism and myth criticism must be discussed. Archetypal criticism is mainly a 20th century literary theory that has its roots in the works of Carl G. Jung (1875–1961) and J. G. Frazier’s The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion Religions 2023, 14, 997. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14080997 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/religions