How does the author of "The Parable of the Prodigal Son" convey its meaning?I'm trying to figure out what literary devices are used to show the...

[I have tried to find a separate group for this excellent
parable, but unfortunately it appears that such a group does not exist, so I will leave
this question in The Bible group, though of course this parable
comes in "The Gospel of Luke" in the New Testament.]

When
we think about understanding this parable, it is important to realise how it functions
allegorically. On a literal level, the return of the younger son who has done so much to
harm is father, and yet receives unconditional forgiveness, clearly suggests that those
who repent their mistakes should be forgiven unconditionally. However, it is important
to consider what various characters and aspects of the tale symbolise to unlock the
meaning of the parable. We can safely assume that the younger son symbolises the human
sinner. His employment as a swineherd represents the way that humans can become
associated with unholy things (remember that pigs are considered unclean to Jews) and
the elder son's anger and resentment clearly symbolises his envy at his younger brother.
The long suffering father can be said to symbolise
God.

However, it is also important to realise that Jesus
said this parable to an audience that consisted of "sinners" and also the religious
elite of his day. Indeed, it is in response to hearing the disapproving murmurs of the
Pharisees and teachers of the law that Jesus tells this parable. Therefore we can
speculate that Jesus is challenging their notion of forgiveness by placing the tax
collectors and other sinners in the role of the younger son, and the Pharisees in the
role of the elder son. The elder son expresses just the same kind of dissatisfaction and
envy with the father and the Pharisees do to Jesus about his treatment of the sinners.
Vital to the parable though is a sense of parallelism. Both times the father goes out to
seek his son. However, whilst the younger son comes back and joins his father's house
once more, the elder son is left arguing with his father in the fields. The response to
the father's final words is left up to the Pharisees and teachers of the law. They can
either join their father and make merry, or remain in the cold.