WOMAN AS A ‘TRANSFORMER’ IN PAULO COELHO’S THE ZAHIR

Paulo Coelho is an eminent Brazilian writer of the present times. His novels reflect his deep understanding of mythology and mysticism and are a blend of tradition and modernity. Woman plays a significant role in the metamorphosis of the protagonist in Coelho’s novels. This paper intends to study the role of woman in his novel The Zahir, in the light of Campbell’s theory of Initiation in his seminal work The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Campbell’s theory of Initiation accords a central position to woman. She performs various roles and becomes instrumental in bringing about the transformation of the hero. The more the hero initiates into his adventure, the more fascinating does he find the woman, changing herself in accordance with the needs of the hero as dictated by destiny Initially, woman in The Zahir seems to hold a subordinate position. She is even regarded as a mere commodity by the hero. But as the narrative develops, the role of the woman, true to Campbell’s remark undergoes a series of transfigurations, the deeper the hero initiates into his inner quest the subtler the woman becomes. From a mere commodity the woman transfigures into a guide, from a guide into a divine energy, capable of bringing about the inner transformation of the hero.