The Railroad Tracks
The narrator becomes obsessed with railroad tracks and how apart they are. In the novel, we come to learn that the railroad tracks are 143.5 centimeters or 4 feet 8 1/2 inches apart. When the narrator asks one of the platform staff to explain to him why the railroad tracks have those specific measurements, the person who has been asked responds, “that’s just the way things are,” At one of Mikhail’s dinners, the narrator brings up the train tracks. He finds that the reason that they are 143.5 centimeters apart is because of the Romans and people never bothered to change it since then. Mikhail makes the comparison of railroads to marriage. He believes that just like the measurements of the railroad tracks remain unchanged just like the rules of marriage. According to Mikhail, in marriage love is not allowed to change and it is a performance that you put on for your neighbors and friends, nobody challenges these rules because that is the way that they have been for years.
Mongolian Creation Myth
The Mongolian Creation story according to the novel talks about a doe and a wild dog. Both understand that that they are very different but need each other’s qualities when they join forces they need to learn how to love. The way that they will learn how to love is by ceasing to be who they currently are. The dog then focuses on finding someone to rebuild the world with rather than just surviving. Love grows out of contradiction and is preserved through confrontation and transformation. This represents the relationship between the narrator and Esther because they both have to grow and let their love change for one another.
Story of the Circle of Love
Mikhail tells the story of a farmer who gave him a bunch of grapes. Brother Porter then gives those grapes away to someone he was thankful for, the Abbot. The Abbot then gives them to an ailing monk who was sick. The ailing monk gives the grapes to Brother Cook who had take good care of him. Brother Cook proceeds in giving the grapes to Brother Sacristan who was considered to be a saintly man. Brother Sacristan gives the grapes to his younger novices and finally the grapes came back into the hands of Brother Porter. Brother Porter felt that the grapes were meant for him and enjoyed them. Mikhail claims that those who feel the energy of love are connected. By giving love to others love will find its way back to you.
Stories of the Greek Heroes Theseus and Ulysses
Our protagonist sees himself as Theseus. He believes that just. Like Ariadne in the story, his wife Esther has given him the freedom to roam and find adventure while having a string that leads him back to her again. Towards the end of the novel, our himself protagonist no longer sees himself as Theseus but rather a character in another greek story with Ulysses. Instead of our writer seeing himself as the hero he sees himself as the monster’s companion, Nobody. He then proceeds to choose Nobody as his new name. Just like Ulysses, our narrator has to change his name in order to make it through his journey and return to his wife. Both stories of Theseus and Ulysses are similar in the sense that they both have lovers waiting for them at the end of their journey. This is significant because it demonstrates a change of ego in our main character. He now sees himself as someone who has to fight back to the woman that he loves.
Blood Cloth as a Symbol
Mikhail takes out a cloth with black stains; he explains that a soldier somewhere removed his shirt and cut it into pieces. He requested for the pieces to be distributed to anyone who is able to understand the message of death. It is revealed in the story that the narrator never received this special cloth from Esther during their time together. Many people that were brought to the restaurant were given a cloth as symbol of their relationship but also as a symbol of love. Esther believes that a soldier understands that real love in his last moments because he is not concerned with himself but with his family and loved ones. Paulo Coelho is trying to persuade the audience that true love is unconditional and selfless.
Dirty Face
Our narrator tells the story of two firemen who go into a forest to put out a fire. After the fire one has the face dirty while the other has it clean. Our narrator asks Marie which one is more likely to wash his face. Marie responds by saying the one with the dirty face, but the real answer is the one with the clean face because he sees himself through the gaze of the other. Our narrator then proceeds to explain his analogy by comparing himself to the fireman with the dirty face and how all the women he has loved have seen themselves through his gaze. Therefore, because he is unconfident, they have also become unconfident and insecure. The narrator warns Marie to not let this happen to her.
