The Concept of Time and Perennial Philosophy in Paulo's Aleph

What is it about?

This essay is about how different concepts of time are depicted and experienced via Aleph (a magical point in space), and how these diverse depictions of time tend to underline the existence of a specific experience of time among peoples, or followers, of different religions--in a broad sense. Of course, the two central figures of the novel are Brazilian Paulo Coelho, who is the narrator, and a Turkish girl, called Hilal. Therefore, we can claim, in some sense, that the novel stresses the shared experience of time between Christianity and Islam. This shared experience, I have argued, tends to portray an underlying (perhaps universal) truth about our lives as human beings whether we belong to a certain religion or not.

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Why is it important?

The depiction of time and our experience of time is an important aspect of the novel. I have tried to explain this experience from a theological perspective as well as from a secular (that is, philosophical) perspective.

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