A STUDY OF SUSTAINING INTIMACY WITH GOD AS A SYMBOL OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE IN BY THE RIVER PIEDRA I SAT DOWN AND WEPT

Abstract

Ever since the creation of Man and consequently evolution of Faith on earth, theologians, philosophers, scholars, writers and common man have been interpreting the reality i.e. God according to their own personal experiences and requirement of the time and age in which they lived. In today’s world, one of the most controversial ideas is the doctrine of faith as true aspirant of God’s love. Many consider that God is their personal legacy and many think that He lives beyond their traditional horizons. This idea about God’s intimacy has caused inter sects and inter religion discourses as well. Nevertheless, one thing has been assured in the selected text that human beings beyond the restriction of race, religion and creed, have been striving to maintain closeness with God and whether interpreted and called in any condition, is always Benevolent and Benign to believers. This research paper attempts to analyze this doctrine and consequently explores its implications, propositions and connotations in Paulo Coelho’s novel By the River Piedra I Sat down and Wept (1999) in the backdrop of new criticism. Close reading technique has been used to analyze the text of the novel. The researchers have tried to find out themes, relations, characters, incidents and ideas and symbols in the text that convey the presence of the idea that God is the symbol of unwavering love and always benign to believes. The study sums up that human faith beyond its religion, social and traditional attachment is the true aspirant of God’s love in all sorts of crises and difficulties and God in spites of various names and connotation associated with Him is always benign and kind to the believers.

Keywords: Faith, Believer, Holy Spirit, Divine. Benevolence, Human Efforts, Love, Feminine Face, Benign