Transcending from Ineptitude to Emotional Stability Women as Paragons of Resilience in Select Novels of Paulo Coelho

Abstract

Human beings have evolved as individuals with high intelligence quotient. newlineHowever, the stressful life of modern man has led to lack of emotional balance and poor newlineimpulse control. The gulf existing between these is widely seen as the reason behind the newlineincreased number of crimes, suicide, divorce and mental disorders in the society. Inorder newlineto overcome the above problems, emotional intelligence (EI) is essential for all newlineindividuals, especially women, who are largely affected by such problems. There is an newlineimpending need for women to equip themselves with competencies to face the challenges newlineof life. The mixed abilities suggested by Daniel Goleman on emotional intelligence newlineconsisting of self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills newlineprovides the needed solution and is applied to this study. Among writers who have newlinerepresented modern man s emotional turmoil in their works, Paulo Coelho the renowned newlineBrazilian writer and socio-spiritual scientist has depicted the emotional turmoil faced by newlineespecially by women. The novels The Devil and Miss Prym (2000), Eleven Minutes newline(2003), The Witch of Portobello (2007), Adultery (2014) and The Spy (2016) chosen for newlinestudy, have women as protagonists. newlineEmotional intelligence competencies are essential life skills that enable women newlineprotagonists to encounter crisis in their personal and social milieu and undertake quest in newlineorder to become self-conscious individuals. Self-consciousness enables them in identity newlineachievement and ensure congenial personal and social relationships. The research will newlineassert the imperative need for women to develop the five emotional intelligence newlinecompetencies and reiterate the role of emotional intelligence as a life skill to mould women in their day-to-day life.