Obsession and Crime:Coelho’s The Winner Stands Alone
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Department of English
Abstract
This research studies the theme of obsession leading a person towards crime in
Paulo Coelho’s The Winner Stands Alone(2009).The activities of the central character,
Igor have been explored through the perspective of psychoanalysis.Due to the
obsession, Igor tries to return back to his own ex-wife for which he commits a series of
murder that is mysterious in nature. There is a kind of mania or mental disorder due to his obsession.Igor goes to Cannes Films Festivals in order to gain back his ex-wife by
demonstrating the extreme brutality towards the innocent women.Feeling of being
betrayed or hatred brings the devastating effect in the psychology of Igor. He has
extremely fallen in love with his wife though he is so brutal and full of evil nature. To kill
someone without any major cause is nothing for him.
Ewa knows the actual brutal nature of Igor who without any reason kills a beggar
in the name of elimination of poverty.She cannot tolerate and runs away with an
emerging fashion designer. Igor,on the one hand, takesheraction as the betrayal on his
family life and, on the other,he feels humiliated. He feels himself as a loser.The only
goal in his life is to bring her back by demonstrating his brutality. He is psychologically
distracted and much more guided by emotional love toward his wife that even makes him
kill his ex-wife and her new husband.This research concludes that extreme obsession of
love towards his ex-wife leads Igor to abnormal criminal activities.