The way in which I have arrived at the reading of Paulo Coelho's The Witch of Portebello is just as magical and mystical as the essence of the book itself. It is the perfect book to read following The Elixir and the Stone, a book discussing magic and magi of the world. Coelho has already been an inspiration through his other works, The Alchemist and The Pilgrim. This is yet another inspirational work about a mysterious woman who have come to be known as a witch. Just as things generally are in life, the truth remains unknown and obscure even till the very end. Only a few, in fact, only one or two people, will come to a clear understanding of the presence of supernatural forces and how they influence the world.
A reader may find themselves a bit lost during the beginning chapters due to the way the novel is constructed. The narration is told through the first person, but not in the sense a reader is mostly likely to be acquainted with. It is rather suitable in the sense that the different narratives, told from the points of view of people who knew, or were acquainted with our protagonist, Athena because it emphasizes her mysteriousness. Since the narratives were scripts from interviews made after the death of Athena, the different narratives are like pieces of a puzzle, whose wholesome image can only be seen at the very end, when the last piece is fitted unto the puzzle.
Perhaps the plot may seem too surreal, since it deals in large with supernatural intervention, however, if scrutinized below the superficial level, Athena and all the other characters are all what we call characters of the 'every-man' . Athena epitomizes the ones who have found the means to communicate with the supernatural world. Not understanding her own destiny and gift, she walks through the first haft of her life with a strong desire to fill up the 'empty space' in her life. Once the 'empty space' has been filled up, she becomes a psychic, a means through which the supernatural is able to communicate to us, ordinary people.
The others, some believing in Athena, some in fear, and others in doubt, are still, all typical of who we are. If we come across something beyond our understanding, what is it that we feel but doubt, fear, yet still believing in it?
Therefore, through the narratives of these different characters, we are not merely putting pieces of a puzzle together to form a picture of someone else's life, but we are, in fact, fitting pieces of a puzzle that defines who each of us are. We may attempt to define the different 'miracles' in life as mere luck or coincidence, as some may choose to call it, but the truth is that each and every one of us is capable of performing magic. Most of the magic that have been conjured up, may only effect the individual, but when one becomes so powerful that their magic affects the lives of others, either in the positive or negative way, they are in danger of being accused of as charlatans, or even heretics.
The truth is, religion offers sanction for those whose souls are in need of support. What the majority dismisses as the occult, mysticism, or even witchcraft, is something that is somewhat innate in all of us. The major religions are not deemed as magical because they are generally accepted by the public. When one prays, repents, meditates, sings and dances in rituals, or even simply walks into a sacred building, how can one deny the magical power behind the influence that these actions have on them?
Is it not magic when a prayer is answered? Is it not magic when you pray that a terminally diagnosed patient be miraculously cured, and somehow comes true? Is is not magic that when you sincerely ask for something, you actually come to obtain it?
Magic is ubiquitous. Religion may offer one an explanation for these supernatural happenings, but one cannot deny the existence of magic that continuously influence our daily lives. Athena looks for salvation through religion, but when they shut the door upon her, she is forced to conjure up the magic herself. Scriptures and rules were written by people. People attempting to come up with explanations. Few of us are able to surpass the level of depending on these explanations and embrace the magic as it is.
Athena did. However, her power has become so extreme that there was only one way in which the story could end. The reason for that, is because people are not quite ready for such an extremity.
In short, Paulo Coelho has once again found an interesting way of inspiring his readers through a plot that may seem beyond the understanding of his ordinary readers, but somehow reached into the depth of each of our beliefs, our hearts, and our souls.
