Flora and fauna: Sources of Inner Amity and Harmony in Paulo Coelho’s The Pilgrimage and The Alchemist

Abstract

Nature has always been the main force behind the existence and survival of human life. Paulo Coelho, the widely acknowledged novelist and modern spiritual writer, has portrayed nature as nurturer extending power, strength and reason to make human life meaningful. Flora and fauna offer unconditional love and support to the protagonist (the writer himself) as and when he seeks them with complete devotion. Amalgamation of magical realism with numerous experiences makes the protagonist’s outer and inner journey purposeful. In this novel the plants and animals, including birds, play the role of guide, protector and sometimes nurturer. The elements of the natural world enlighten the path of the seeker towards achieving his goal. Nature as a pathway leads man to attain wisdom and ultimately leads him to a harmonised life.