The Prophet and the Book of Proverbs Through the Lens of Lacan and Barthes

	Abstract This essay examines The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran and Proverbs from the Bible through the theoretical lenses of Jacques Lacan and Roland Barthes. It explores how Lacan’s concepts of the Imaginary, Symbolic, and Real shape the interpretation of these texts, with Proverbs anchoring meaning in a structured moral framework and The Prophet embracing ambiguity and fluidity. Barthes’ theory of the "death of the author" further underscores how The Prophet invites multiple readings, making it a "writerly" text, while Proverbs maintains strong ties to historical and theological interpretations. Ultimately, both texts demonstrate the power and limitations of language in conveying life’s deepest truths.
	Resumen Este ensayo analiza El Profeta de Kahlil Gibran y Proverbios de la Biblia a través de los marcos teóricos de Jacques Lacan y Roland Barthes. Se explora cómo los conceptos lacanianos de lo Imaginario, lo Simbólico y lo Real influyen en la interpretación de estos textos, donde Proverbios establece un marco moral estructurado, mientras que El Profeta adopta la ambigüedad y fluidez. La teoría de Barthes sobre la "muerte del autor" resalta cómo El Profeta invita a múltiples interpretaciones, convirtiéndolo en un texto "escribible", mientras que Proverbios mantiene vínculos más sólidos con interpretaciones históricas y teológicas. En última instancia, ambos textos ilustran el poder y las limitaciones del lenguaje para transmitir las verdades más profundas de la vida.
	Resumo Este ensaio examina O Profeta de Kahlil Gibran e Provérbios da Bíblia sob as lentes teóricas de Jacques Lacan e Roland Barthes. Explora como os conceitos de Lacan sobre o Imaginário, o Simbólico e o Real moldam a interpretação desses textos, com Provérbios ancorando seu significado em um quadro moral estruturado e O Profeta abraçando a ambiguidade e a fluidez. A teoria de Barthes sobre a "morte do autor" enfatiza como O Profeta convida a múltiplas leituras, tornando-o um texto "escrevível", enquanto Provérbios mantém fortes laços com interpretações históricas e teológicas. Em última análise, ambos os textos demonstram o poder e as limitações da linguagem na expressão das verdades mais profundas da vida.

Khalil Gibran’s (2019) The Prophet and the Book of Proverbs (The ESV study Bible: English standard version, 2008) are rich, symbolic texts that offer wisdom on life's profound questions to those seeking answers about earthly human existence. By applying the ideas of Jacques Lacan and Roland Barthes, we can uncover deeper layers of meaning in the prophet’s and King Solomon’s exploits, adding complexity to the comparison of these two works. Lacan’s psychoanalytic framework, with its focus on the Symbolic, Imaginary, and Real, allows us to explore how each text constructs subjectivity and desire. Meanwhile, Barthes’ theory of the "death of the author" and his concept of the multiple layers of a text offer a way to analyze these works not just as expressions of authorial intent but as multilayered structures that invite interpretation from various cultural and personal perspectives.

Lacan's concept of the Symbolic Order, which involves language, law, and social structure, is clearly evident in the Book of Proverbs (Acuña-Solano, Literary Reflective Journaling: The Book of Proverbs, 2024). As pointed out by Felluga (1998), once humans enter “into language and accept the rules of society,” they are ready to delve into “intersubjective relations, knowledge of ideological conventions, and the acceptance of the law”—topics that are amply covered in both books. However, Proverbs frequently articulates moral rules and norms that reflect a symbolic structure designed to govern human behavior. For example, Proverbs 1:7 states, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge," positioning God as the ultimate authority and source of meaning within the Symbolic Order. Solomon's wisdom, traditionally seen as divine, acts as the Law that individuals must internalize in order to find their place in the moral universe. From a Lacanian perspective, Proverbs situates its readers within a framework that dictates a clear moral code, one that helps them navigate the complex desires and conflicts inherent in the Symbolic realm of their existence, ultimately addressing individuals’ craving to make sense of earthly existence.

On the other hand, The Prophet complicates the relationship between the individual and the Symbolic Order (Acuña-Solano, Literary Reflective Journaling: The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, 2023). Almustafa, Gibran’s prophet, speaks in poetic and often ambiguous language, creating an Imaginary space where the self and the other can blend. According to May-Hobbs (2023), “The Imaginary is the level on which the self-perceived ego appears as it does in the mirror, rather than as the Real.” This idea of the mirror is present, for instance, when Almustafa discusses love and says, “When love beckons to you, follow him, though his ways are hard and steep.” Here, love is personified as an abstract force, evoking a Lacanian reading of desire and the Imaginary (the mirror), where one’s relationship with love is not bound by societal rules or laws but by a more fluid, personal, and imaginative interaction. This highlights the Lacanian tension between the Imaginary and the Symbolic—The Prophet often resides more in the Imaginary realm, creating spaces where readers can interpret its meanings in relation to their inner emotional worlds, perhaps offering guidance on how to navigate humanity’s emotional storms.

Moving to Barthes, both The Prophet and Proverbs offer rich material for textual analysis based on his theory of multiple layers of meaning. Barthes argued that texts are not static vessels of authorial intent but open to a plurality of interpretations. As posited by Bookish Bay (2025), “the author’s role ends once a work is created. It calls for a critical analysis of texts, with a focus on the reader’s role in the creation of meaning.” In Proverbs, the layers of the text are tightly bound to its cultural and theological contexts, yet they remain open to the reader’s insights and interpretations (Acuña-Solano, Literary Reflective Journaling: The Book of Proverbs, 2024). The "wisdom of Solomon" is deeply rooted in the Israelite tradition, with its rules of justice, behavior, and piety. However, even within this structure, there are layers to explore—Barthes would point out that Proverbs contains deeper symbolic resonances, particularly in its metaphorical language. For example, Proverbs 10:11 states, "The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life." This metaphor operates on multiple levels: a literal teaching, a symbolic portrayal of virtue, and a cultural reference to water as a life-giving force, central in arid regions. The reader can peel back these layers and discover how language constructs morality and order.

The Prophet, however, exemplifies Barthes' idea of the "death of the author," where Gibran’s personal biography fades, allowing the text to exist independently of him and remain open to infinite interpretations (Acuña-Solano, Literary Reflective Journaling: The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, 2023). “By rejecting the centrality of the author’s intent, Barthes proposed a more expansive method of literary analysis. Readers are encouraged to engage critically with a work, examining its themes, symbols, and structure without deferring to the presumed intentions of its creator” (Bookish Bay, 2025). The poetic and metaphorical nature of The Prophet creates multiple layers of interpretation. For example, in his passage on freedom, Almustafa says, "You shall be free indeed when your days are not without a care nor your nights without a want and a grief." This statement is imbued with ambiguity, leaving room for the reader to project their own understanding onto the text.

Barthes’ notion of "readerly" versus "writerly" texts suggests that The Prophet is a “writerly” text, meaning that its meaning is co-created by the reader, who actively engages with its metaphorical and symbolic layers to generate personal meaning rather than passively consuming a predetermined interpretation (Acuña-Solano, Literary Reflective Journaling: The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, 2023). “According to Barthes,” Felluga (1998) states, The Prophet, like other complex texts, “has multiple entrances and exits.” Barthes, therefore, chooses to cut up the texts he analyzes into "contiguous fragments," which he calls lexias or "units of reading" or "starred" segments. The chapters of The Prophet are indeed “contiguous fragments” that the reader is meant to interpret in a sort of half-somnolent reverie.

Lacan’s notion of the "Real" also plays a role in both texts, though in different ways. The Real, according to Lacan, is that which resists symbolization and language. In the absence of the Imaginary, the human being “encounters the Real as terrifying or unbearable, without structure or harmony” (May-Hobbs, 2023). In Proverbs, the Real is perhaps glimpsed in the divine—an unknowable, omnipresent force that lies beyond human understanding yet influences every aspect of existence (Acuña-Solano, Literary Reflective Journaling: The Book of Proverbs, 2024). Proverbs often gestures toward this in its focus on God’s inscrutable plan, as in Proverbs 16:9: "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." Here, the Real interrupts human efforts to create order, emphasizing the limitations of the Symbolic and the Imaginary in fully grasping divine wisdom.

In The Prophet, the Real manifests in the deep existential truths that language attempts to capture but can never fully articulate (Acuña-Solano, Literary Reflective Journaling: The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, 2023). Almustafa’s reflections often highlight life’s paradoxes, where human experiences like love, joy, and sorrow intersect and resist simple categorization. Why does this happen? It happens because, as stated by May-Hobbs (2023), “the Real appears as a force of amorphous perturbation—as that which horrifies and disturbs. Resistant to symbolization and lurking at the edges of ordinary reality, Lacan describes the Real as something brutal and overwhelming.” When Almustafa says, “Your joy is your sorrow unmasked,” Gibran evokes the Lacanian Real by acknowledging that certain truths lie beyond our ability to fully comprehend them. These moments in the text create a space where readers confront aspects of their own lives that cannot be entirely symbolized through language, aligning with Lacan’s concept of the Real as that which exists outside structured meaning.

Barthes would further argue that The Prophet deconstructs conventional structures of meaning through its reliance on paradox and ambiguity (Acuña-Solano, Literary Reflective Journaling: The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, 2023). Rather than offering definitive truths, Gibran presents ideas that, like Barthes' concept of a "plural text," invite multiple interpretations. Unlike a traditional "work," which is seen as having a singular, intended meaning, a "text" is inherently open-ended, allowing for diverse readings shaped by the reader’s perspective and cultural background. The Prophet resists closure, embodying the idea that meaning is not fixed but always in flux. Similarly, while Proverbs offers structured wisdom, it also contains symbolic depth that can be revisited and reinterpreted in various contexts, from the personal to the communal.

In conclusion, examining The Prophet and the Book of Proverbs through the lenses of Lacan and Barthes reveals how these works explore layers of meaning, subjectivity, and the symbolic structures that shape human life. While Proverbs firmly situates its readers within a moral and symbolic framework, The Prophet encourages a more fluid, imaginative engagement with the world, residing between the Imaginary and the Symbolic. Barthes' theories of textual layering and the “death of the author” help us see these works not as static vessels of wisdom but as dynamic, living texts that continually invite reinterpretation. Ultimately, through the perspectives of Lacan and Barthes, both works illustrate how language constructs meaning but also reveals its limitations in capturing life’s deepest truths.

References

Acuña-Solano, J. (2023, November). Literary Reflective Journaling: The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. Literary Refelctive Journaling. San José, Costa Rica.

Acuña-Solano, J. (2024, September). Literary Reflective Journaling: The Book of Proverbs. Literary Reflective Journaling. San José, Costa Rica.

Bookish Bay. (2025, January 17). Death of the Author. Retrieved from Bookish Bay: https://bookishbay.com/death-of-the-author-theory-by-roland-barthes/#:~:text=The%20concept%20of%20the%20%E2%80%9CDeath,elements%20within%20the%20text%20itself.

Felluga, D. F. (1998). Introductory Guide to Critical Theory. Purdue University.

Gibran, K. (2019). The Prophet. New York City: Clydesdale Press.

May-Hobbs, M. (2023, September 2023). Jacques Lacan: Explaining the Imaginary, the Symbolic, and the Real. Retrieved from The Collector: https://www.thecollector.com/jacques-lacan-imaginary-symbolic-real/

The ESV study Bible: English standard version. (2008). Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Bibles.

Discussion Questions:

Use the following questions to guide a discussion on the essay:

1. How does The Prophet challenge traditional structures of meaning compared to Proverbs?
2. In what ways does The Prophet invite multiple interpretations, according to Barthes’ theory?
3. How does Lacan’s concept of the Imaginary apply to Almustafa’s teachings in The Prophet?
4. What role does the Real play in Proverbs, particularly in relation to divine wisdom?
5. How do paradox and ambiguity function in The Prophet to resist fixed interpretations?
6. How does Proverbs maintain its authority as a moral and theological guide despite Barthes’ idea of the death of the author?
7. How do both texts illustrate the limitations of language in expressing existential or divine truths?
8. How do cultural and historical contexts influence the way readers interpret Proverbs?
9. What are some examples of “contiguous fragments” in The Prophet, and how do they shape the reading experience?

Six Research Topics for Further Study

If readers are interested in exploring these ideas further, they can research the following topics:

1. Lacan’s Three Orders (Imaginary, Symbolic, Real) in Religious Texts – A deeper analysis of how different religious and philosophical texts fit into Lacan’s framework.
2. The Role of Metaphor in Theological Writings – Investigating how metaphor shapes meaning in wisdom literature.
3. Barthes’ Death of the Author and its Implications for Interpreting Sacred Texts – Examining how removing authorial intent changes our understanding of religious works.
4. The Psychology of Wisdom Literature – How texts like Proverbs and The Prophet influence moral and ethical decision-making.
5. Comparing The Prophet to Eastern Philosophical Texts – Analyzing whether Gibran’s work aligns with Buddhist or Taoist thought.
6. Reader-Response Theory and the Interpretation of Wisdom Literature – Investigating how different audiences interpret Proverbs and The Prophet based on their backgrounds.