Maria's Journey of Self Discovery in Coelho's Eleven Minutes

Abstract

The present study is concerned with the question of Maria’s choice and freedom. As the novel begins, Coelho mentions that Eleven Minutes is about a prostitute named Maria. From a small town in Brazil, she travels to Rio to Geneva where her life gets transformed unconditionally. A young teenager transforms into a professional prostitute. Being a woman and a prostitute, her image is depicted negatively. But Coelho twists Maria’s image to show and represent, her story. She has no choice and therefore becomes a commercial sex worker. She offers her body to her clients for their satisfaction for monetary returns. With the emergence of Ralf in her life, she is able to view a different world. He treats and respects her as his lady love and teaches her the art of making love. He teaches her that sex and love are two different things and one must not be confused about it. While making love, He is able to penetrate the inner soul of her. Readers of Eleven Minutes tend to get confused with her falling in love because a prostitute has no right to fall in love in a patriarchal society. The author corrects this and says that it is her choice to fall in love. Nobody has the right to dictate what to do and what not to her. She may sell her body to several men but she is independent to fall in love and give him her soul. Therefore, this work focuses on the role of Maria as a prostitute and how the author strongly supports a woman's right to have sex, to love and to be loved.