Hypatia · Chapter
XXVII: The Prodigal's Return explained
Raphael Aben-Ezra, having returned to Alexandria, attempts to prevent Hypatia from delivering her lecture, which he fears will provoke a violent Christian reaction.
What happens
Raphael Aben-Ezra, having returned to Alexandria, attempts to prevent Hypatia from delivering her lecture, which he fears will provoke a violent Christian reaction. He finds himself trapped in the labyrinthine palace, unable to reach Orestes or the guards. He finally reaches Hypatia and tries to persuade her to abandon her pagan beliefs, sharing his newfound Christian faith and describing his encounter with St. Augustine. Hypatia, however, resists his arguments, clinging to her philosophical ideals and dismissing his conversion. The chapter ends with her rejecting his plea, setting the stage for the impending confrontation.
Themes in this chapter
Philosophy vs. Faith
The central conflict of the chapter is the debate between Hypatia's Neoplatonic philosophy and Raphael's newly embraced Christian faith, representing a clash of worldviews.
Love and Redemption
Raphael's return and his desperate attempt to save Hypatia are motivated by his love for her and his desire to redeem past wrongs, while his own conversion is a personal redemption.
Innocence and Disillusionment
Hypatia's steadfast belief in her gods and her dismissal of Raphael's warnings reflect a form of innocence that is about to be shattered by the violent reality of the mob.
Characters to notice
- Raphael Aben-Ezra
Returns to Alexandria as a changed man, having converted to Christianity. He desperately tries to save Hypatia from danger and shares his new faith with her.
- Hypatia
Dismisses Raphael's warnings and his new faith, remaining steadfast in her philosophical convictions. She is determined to deliver her lecture despite the danger.
- Philammon
Present in the scene as Raphael leaves him with a desperate plea to stop Hypatia, highlighting his role as a witness to the unfolding events.
- St. Augustine
Mentioned in Raphael's account of his conversion, where he played a role in Raphael's marriage and offered profound insights on wedlock and faith.
- Synesius
Mentioned as one of the two bishops who helped arrange Raphael's marriage, acting as a matchmaker.
Key passages
“Quem Deus vult perdere—!”
Whom God wishes to destroy—!
Raphael's exclamation of despair, quoting the Latin proverb, as he realizes the impending doom.
“I told you that, like Diogenes, I went forth to seek a man. Did I not promise you, that when I had found one you should be the first to hear of him? And I have found a man.”
I said I was searching for an honest man, like Diogenes. I promised you would be the first to know when I found him. I have found one.
Raphael tells Hypatia that he has found a true man in Jesus Christ, fulfilling his earlier promise.
“What if I had discovered that the spiritual is not the intellectual, but the moral; and that the spiritual world is not, as we used to make it, a world of our own intellectual abstractions, or of our own physical emotions, religious or other, but a world of righteous or unrighteous persons?”
What if I found that the spiritual realm is about morality, not intellect, and that it's a world of righteous and unrighteous people, not just our own ideas or feelings?
Raphael explains his new understanding of spirituality, contrasting it with their old philosophical views.