Final answer:
The father's statement that it was fitting to celebrate because his son was dead and is now alive is true, referencing the metaphorical loss and return of a family member.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the given passage, there is no mention of the younger son being dead and coming back to life. The passage describes the husband's journey to mourn the death of his father, the burial ceremony, and his return home with his mother and stepmother. The passage does not provide any information about the younger son's death or resurrection.
The statement that the father said it was fitting to celebrate because the younger son was dead and is now alive is true. This expression is a metaphorical way to describe the return of someone who was lost to the family, much like the younger son in the biblical parable of the Prodigal Son, who returns to his father after a period of wasteful living.
In the parable, the son is not dead, but rather, he is metaphorically dead to the family while he is gone. The father's declaration of his son being 'alive' again signifies the restoration of the familial relationship and the joy that comes with reconciliation.