Answer:
Writing in what some consider a “universal language”, Paulo Coelho constructs works of art through literature using many various symbols to highlight key elements in his novels. In his stories The Alchemist, The Devil And Miss Prym, and By The River Piedra I Sat Down And Wept, we can see Coelho’s ability to use characters, objects, and nature as representational symbols that support major themes.
In many of Coelho’s works, his characters come to life through their interactions with one another; often they do not have names, rather titles of the roles they play in their respective communities. This detail transforms the characters into symbols that strongly intensify the development of each story’s message. For example, in The Alchemist, most characters that the main boy –Santiago—meets do not have names, rather labels that describe their function. Santiago encounters multiple characters who are simply referred to as old men; they do not have names with which they are identified, but rather their identity as aged men is emphasized. In this way the fact that they are old implies some symbolism of the wisdom that comes with years of experience. These men mentor the young traveling boy, symbolizing the wisdom that we seek while we pursue our own dreams. In The Devil And Miss Prym, similar symbolism is found in the characterization of minor characters such as the hotel landlady, the mayor, and the priest. While no names are given to these characters, the role that they play in the action of the novel is again emphasized just as it was in The Alchemist since we must focus on the importance of their job, rather than interpret a name or personality. Then, we are more able to link each behavior to the character’s title, suggesting a more universal meaning.