Page 63 - 2019

Ph.D
(Social Sciences & Humanities)
DISPLACEMENT OF THE PROTAGONISTS IN
THE SELECT NOVELS OF PAULO COELHO

Ph.D. Scholar : Ankitaben Anilkumar Desai
Research Supervisor : Dr. Usha V. Kaushik

Regi. No.: 14146071001
Abstract :
Displacement refers to the movement of an individual or a group of people from one
place to another. Present research work aims at exploring Displacement in the novels of
Paulo Coelho. This research is based on descriptive, conceptual and analytical research
methodology. Most of the relevant information has been taken from the novels such as,
The Pilgrimage (1987), The Alchemist (1988), The Fifth Mountain (1996), By the River
Piedra I Sat Down and Wept (1994) and Eleven Minutes (2003), reference books, research
articles published in the national and international journals and websites.

The present research work is divided into five chapters. The first chapter is the
introductory chapter which serves as the base to the following chapters. It gives a brief
history of Brazilian literature. It also provides a discussion about the concept of
displacement and origin of displacement. The chapter also studies the problems of the
displaced community which helps to analyze the novels in the light of displacement. It
also gives detailed information about Paulo Coelho’s life and his works. It ends with the
rational and significance of the present study. The second chapter, Displacement for
Identity Quest attempts to study the first two novels of the author: The Pilgrimage (1987)
and The Alchemist (1988). It depicts the journey of the protagonists. It exhibits the
transformation of the protagonists at the end of their journey. The third chapter,
Displacement for Survival is an attempt to study The Fifth Mountain (1996). It illustrates
the life of the protagonist in a foreign land. It attempts to show the physical and mental
agonies of the protagonist. The fourth chapter, Displacement in Search of True Love
studies By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept (1994) and Eleven Minutes (2003). It
discusses the journey of the female protagonists in search of love. It depicts their
struggle in a host land. It attempts to exhibit the pain and sufferings of the protagonists
during their journey. Displacement and other issues such as identity quest, survival,
racism and discrimination have been analyzed through the characters. Fifth chapter,
Conclusion presents the results and findings of the research. It has been observed that
journey plays an important role in one’s life. The researcher has also tried to show the
agonies of the displaced protagonists in a foreign land. It has been observed through the
study that displaced individual or community has to face problems such as survival,
alienation, identity crisis and discrimination.
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