Destined Journeys: Decoding Free Will in Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist Through Narrative Stylistics
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17507/jltr.1606.14Keywords:
destiny, narrative stylistics, prolepses, heteroglossia, focalizationAbstract
This study delves into the nuanced exploration of destiny and free will within Paulo Coelho's acclaimed novel, The Alchemist (1988), meticulously employing the framework of narrative stylistics. Through a detailed examination utilizing various narrative techniques and literary devices such as, prolepses, heteroglossia, focalization, causation and an array of narrative stylistic elements, this research critically examines the interplay between fate and individual agency in Santiago's transformative odyssey. By intricately dissecting narrative structure, dialogue, symbolism, character perspectives, and language use, the study unpacks the narrative's portrayal of destiny as both predestined paths guided by omens and the manifestations of characters' expressions of free will through their deliberate decisions and actions. In presenting this argumentative stance, this investigation illuminates Coelho's masterful creation of a multi-dimensional narrative tapestry that artfully interweaves themes of destiny and free will, ultimately urging readers to introspect on life's complexities and the pivotal nature of the choices that chart their courses.
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