Paulo Coelho’s novel, The Devil and Miss Prym, touches on good and evil, and what the difference is between the two, and/or even the similarities. It might read like an adult fairy tale, but that does not lessen the intensity, or diminish the ability to provoke thought about the subject matter, about people, and how far their greed will take them. It also leaves us to wonder about purity of heart.
Miss Prym, is at the forefront of the novel, along with her interactions with a stranger who comes to town. She is given a chance to change the town for decades to come, but will she? And, the residents, once they learn the secret, how will they react? Will greed or fear motivate them? Or, will it be a combination of both? I won’t elaborate on the plot, as you must read this book yourself, and inhale the contents, and take in all of the word-visuals brilliantly written.
Prym could be interpreted as “Prim”, and with Miss Prym’s innocent and pure appearance, her visual essence and illumination might not actually be the way it appears, and her inner core and soul might reflect/hide another radiance.
“There is no such thing as good, virtue is just one of the many faces of terror, the voice said.”
What is the difference between good and evil, and do we, as individuals incorporate some of each, in ourselves. Can one flourish without the other. And, is evil produced from fear of the consequences we will receive, or motivated by other forces, external or internal? What about goodness? Is the state of goodness motivated by fear or guilt? These are just some of the questions Paulo Coelho leaves us to ponder in his masterful novel, The Devil and Miss Prym.
I recommend the novel to everyone.
August 6, 2012 – 18 Av, 5772
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I needed a book to read … your review is enticing. The English last name Pym also comes to mind.
Yes, I had not thought of that. Thank you