Veronika Decides to Die - Paul Coelho
Essay by review • October 30, 2010 • Essay • 408 Words (2 Pages) • 1,801 Views
Veronika Decides to Die - Paul Coelho
Plot Summary
In his brilliant novel about the aftermath of a young woman 's suicide
attempt,Paulo Coelho explores three perennial themes:conformity,
madness,and death.Twenty-four-year-old Veronika li es in
Slovenia,one of the republics created by the dissolution of
Yugoslavia.She works as a librarian by day,and by night carries on
like many single women --dating men,occasionally sleeping with
them,and returning to a single room she rents at a convent.It is a
life,but not a very compelling one.So one day,Veronika decides to
end it.Her failed attempt,and her inexplicable reasons for wanting
to die,land her in a mental hospital,Vilette.
Veronika 's disappointment at having sur i ed suicide is palpable.She imagines the rest
of her life filled with disillusionment and monotony,and vows not to leave Vilette alive.
Much to her surprise,however,she learns that a fate she desires awaits her anyway:
She is destined to die within a week 's time,of a heart damage caused by her suicide
attempt.Gradually,this knowledge changes Veronika 's perception of death and life.
In the meantime,Vilette 's head psychiatrist attempts a fascinating but provocative
experiment.Can you "shock"someone into wanting to live by convincing her that death
is imminent?Like a doctor applying defibrillator paddles to a heart attack victim,Dr.
Igor 's "prognosis"jump-starts Veronika 's new appreciation of the world around her.
From within Vilette 's controlled environment,she finally allows herself to express the
emotions she has never allowed herself to feel:hate and love,anger and joy,disgust
and pleasure.Veronika also finds herself being drawn into the li es of other patients
who
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