Paulo Coelho’s Eleven Minutes: A Heroic Adventure

Abstract

Eleven Minutes is the novel written by Paulo Coelho who is the prominent author of Brazil. This novel has a greater influence of quest-forming adventure of hero of the myth. In this context, Maria, the protagonist of the novel, unlike the hero of mythical narratives fulfills three phases of typical hero’s acts- departure, initiation, and return in her journey to accomplish her goal. In this text, Maria being very optimistic to complete her dream of fame and fortune, departs from her country and enters into the foreign country, Switzerland. She has to encounter different sorts of trials and ordeals on her way. But unfortunately, she has to choose the socially low graded profession of prostitute to accumulate a large sum of money so that she can change her dream into reality. When she earns enough money from prostitution, she leaves this job and seeks union with Ralf Hart. Then she returns home as a grand mythical figure with heroic deeds, unique and adventurous. Thus, the work is based on quest (mythical journey and ordeal) with profound attainment through heroic deeds.