# The Prophet explained — The Prophet > Chapter companion for The Prophet by Khalil Gibran. ## What happens Almustafa, the chosen and beloved prophet, has waited twelve years in the city of Orphalese for his ship to return. On the day of his departure, the people gather and entreat him to speak before he leaves. Almitra, the seeress, asks him to share his wisdom. Almustafa delivers a series of poetic discourses on the fundamental aspects of human life, including love, marriage, children, giving, work, joy and sorrow, and death. After his teachings, he descends the temple steps, boards his ship, and bids farewell to the people. As the ship departs eastward, Almitra stands alone on the seawall, watching him leave. ## Themes in this chapter ### Love and Transformation Almustafa's discourse on love emphasizes its power to transform and guide, even through pain and growth. ### Joy and Sorrow Duality Almustafa teaches that joy and sorrow are inseparable, each giving depth to the other. ## Character check-ins ### Almitra The seeress who asks Almustafa to speak and stands alone on the seawall as he departs. ### Almustafa The prophet who has waited twelve years, delivers teachings on life, and departs by ship. ## Key lines > When love beckons to you, follow him, Though his ways are hard and steep. When love calls, you must follow, even if the path is difficult and challenging. _Almustafa's opening advice on love encourages surrender to its transformative journey._ > Your joy is your sorrow unmasked. And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears. Joy and sorrow are two sides of the same coin; the source of your laughter is also the source of your tears. _Almustafa explains the deep interconnection between joy and sorrow in human experience._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prophet_se/chapters/the-prophet - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prophet_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prophet_se/chapters