Prologue

What is the purpose of a prologue?

A prologue sets the scene for a story. It provides a context that helps the reader to appreciate what is about to come. It defines the relationships that are important and gives the important details that help the events in the story to make sense.

As it sets the scene, the prologue invites the reader to join in the great adventure that is about to begin. It gives glimpses of what is ahead, just enough to grab your interest without spoiling the plot. It suggests that there is a great story ahead that you never could have dreamed up yourself.

This thing we call "life" is really a prologue.

We work and struggle and fight to make our prologue the greatest story ever, rejoicing or despairing as the fortunes of the characters change in swift succession. We do not realize that all of this is only the buildup. It isn't even the first chapter. There is no use crying over a fortune that is lost before page 1. Clearly, that isn't where the true story lies.

Our life seems so brief when we look back on it. That's because it is brief. It's meant to be. It's only the prologue. We are supposed to read it, learn to identify with the important characters and appreciate the context, and then move on to the real story. The details of our lives, when we look back on them, will seem compressed as if written in a history book.  Don't grieve over that fact, any more than you would grieve over not knowing the details of George Washington's daily struggle. As we are swept up in the main story, many seemingly insignificant details in the prologue will take on a new dimension. Other bits, which seemed incredibly important at first, will only receive a one-line mention. 

So read the prologue, but don't obsess over it. You wouldn't rave to a book club about how much you enjoyed the prologue, nor would you be wise to criticize a 1000-page book simply because you found the 4-page prologue depressing. It's important, but it's only the beginning. Focus on the main themes, learn to identify and appreciate the author's style, and you will be well on your way to enjoying the real story.