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Short Summary of the Novel
"Eleven Minutes" is a
novel written by Paulo Coelho and it was published in 2003. The story follows
the journey of Maria, a young girl from Brazil who travels to Geneva,
Switzerland to become a prostitute. Through her experiences, Maria discovers
the harsh realities of the sex trade and the dehumanizing nature of
prostitution. Along the way, she meets a variety of people, including a painter
and a Swiss man who becomes her lover. Through these relationships, Maria
begins to question her choices and starts to search for true love and
self-acceptance. The novel explores themes of love, identity, and
self-discovery, and it provides a powerful commentary on the human condition.
Main Characters of the Novel
Maria
In the novel "Eleven
Minutes" by Paulo Coelho, the main character is Maria. She is a young girl
from Brazil who is searching for her place in the world. She is initially drawn
to the idea of becoming a prostitute and travels to Geneva, Switzerland to
pursue this career. Throughout the novel, we follow her journey as she
experiences the harsh realities of the sex trade and the dehumanizing nature of
prostitution.
Ralf Hart
Another important character in
the novel is Ralf Hart, a painter whom Maria meets early on in her journey.
Ralf is an older man who becomes a mentor and friend to Maria, and through
their conversations, she begins to question her choices.
Carl
Maria also has a romantic
interest in the novel, a Swiss man named Carl. He becomes her lover and Maria
finds a sense of connection with him. The relationship with him brings new
understanding to Maria about the nature of love and sex.
Additionally, the novel also
includes other characters such as the other prostitutes Maria encounters and
their clients, who serve to illustrate the different facets of the world of
prostitution.
All of the characters in the
novel play an important role in Maria's journey as she struggles to come to
terms with her past, her choices and her identity.
Main Themes of the Novel
The novel "Eleven
Minutes" by Paulo Coelho explores several themes, including:
Love:
The novel explores the different
types of love and the idea that true love is not just about physical attraction
but also about a deep emotional connection.
Identity:
The main character, Maria,
struggles to find her place in the world and her true identity. She questions
her choices and the path she has taken, and ultimately comes to understand who
she is and what she truly wants.
Self-Discovery:
Throughout the novel, Maria goes
on a journey of self-discovery, learning about herself and the world around
her.
Prostitution:
The novel provides a powerful
commentary on the dehumanizing nature of prostitution, the exploitation and the
negative impact it has on the lives of those involved. It highlights the harsh
realities of the sex trade and the various issues surrounding it.
Spirituality:
The novel touches on the idea of
spirituality and the search for something greater than ourselves. Maria's
journey to find herself leads her to question her beliefs and values, and to
explore spiritual concepts such as love and acceptance.
Redemption:
The novel also deals with the theme of redemption and the possibility of starting over. Maria's journey is one of redemption as she seeks to find meaning and purpose in her life, and to make amends for her past mistakes.
Setting of the novel
The novel "Eleven
Minutes" by Paulo Coelho is primarily set in Geneva, Switzerland. The
setting is significant as it provides a contrast to the main character Maria's
home country of Brazil. The novel begins with Maria in Brazil and follows her
journey as she travels to Geneva to pursue her dream of becoming a prostitute.
The city of Geneva is portrayed as a place of opportunity and new beginnings,
but also as a place where Maria must confront the harsh realities of the sex
trade.
The novel also includes some
scenes that take place in Maria's home country, Brazil, where Maria reflects on
her past, her family and how she ended up in the place she is.
The setting of the novel serves
to illustrate the theme of identity, as Maria struggles to find her place in
the world and to understand who she is. The contrast between her home country
and her new surroundings in Switzerland adds to the sense of dislocation and
confusion that Maria experiences as she navigates her new life.
Main Quotes of the Novel
"Eleven Minutes" is a
novel that explores various themes and ideas, so it contains many quotes that
can be considered as main quotes. Here are a few examples:
"It is said that, as a
child, every person is an artist. The problem is to remain an artist as we grow
up."
"When someone leaves, it's
because someone else is about to arrive - I'll find love again."
"Love is an untamed force.
When we try to control it, it destroys us. When we try to imprison it, it
enslaves us. When we try to understand it, it leaves us feeling lost and
confused."
"The truth is; everyone is
going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for."
"The two hardest tests on
the spiritual road are the patience to wait for the right moment and the
courage not to be disappointed with what we encounter."
"Love can consign us to hell
or to paradise, but it always takes us somewhere."
"The only way of finding the
limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible."
"The simple things are also
the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them."
These are some of the most
important quotes from the novel, but there are many others that explore similar
themes, and that provide additional insights into the characters and the story.
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