Summary of the pilgrimage by paulo coelho?

Answer 1

Paulo is a thirty-eight year old, intelligent man who feels he has successfully completed his training to become a Master in an ancient and mysterious religious tradition. Paulo has survived many trials and learned many lessons in order to reach the point of being awarded a new sword: an emblem of his achievement. However, Paulo has failed to learn one final and very important lesson: what he is to do with his sword. As a result of not understanding this lesson, Paulo must undertake one final journey. If he does not succeed, he will not receive his sword and the title of Master.

Seven months have passed since the night of the failed ceremony in Brazil. The Narrator and his wife share a meal at Bajadas airport before she continues on with her mission to hide the sword as instructed by the Master, and he travels to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to find Mme Lourdes and begin his quest. The Narrator tries to blame his wife for their presence in Spain, but she calmly states that if he truly did not wish to make the journey to find his sword then he would not have come.

As a parade files through the streets of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, the Narrator arrives at Mme Lourdes' home. After several knocks on her door fail to arouse an answer, the Narrator fears that he has failed in his task before the journey has begun. A small child bursts through the unanswered gate and directs the Narrator to a house across the courtyard.

As the men continue their travels over the Pyrenees Mountains, Petrus discusses the RAM practices. The guide explains that he does not worry over the responsibilities at home because each time one travels it is a practical act of rebirth. Every place, every language, every person is new. Petrus also comments that since everything is new, people only see beauty and feel happiness. This is the very reason why religious pilgrimages have been a way of achieving insight.

One afternoon while Petrus and Paulo rest in an olive grove an old man approaches them and tells the story of how love was murdered at a small church nearby. A young princess coming back from Compostela decided to give up everything and care for the sick and poor. The princess' brother came to bring her home, but when she refused he stabbed her out of desperation. As penance the duke was made to walk the road to Compostela and on his way back was filled with the same feeling that had overcome his sister. When the old man finishes, Petrus comments that the story is an example of the law of retribution. Petrus goes on to explain that the brother was "forced to continue the good works he had interrupted" because anyone who tries to destroy love must re-create it.

The evening before arriving in Puente de la Reina, Paulo and Petrus spend the night in a monastery where they are prohibited from speaking a word during their stay. Their accommodations are meager: a hard bed, clean sheets, a pitcher of water and basin for washing. Paulo observes the monks during the evening meal and learns that they only communicate with their eyes.

Paulo and Petrus stop at a local bar one afternoon where they discuss Christ's miracles. The barkeep accuses the men of blaspheming Jesus and brings a priest to confront the pair. When the priest sees the scallop shells on Petrus' knapsack he relaxes his accusations. The barkeep then tells Paulo and Petrus the story of a curse that has plagued the town for many years.

Paulo and Petrus decide to stay in the city of Logroso upon learning that a wedding is about to take place. While Petrus scouts out a hotel, Paulo engages in a conversation of politics with a local popcorn vendor. Paulo tells Petrus about the exchange, and the guide cautions Paulo to remember the popcorn man because the encounter is an example of mistaken behavior. Petrus further explains that people are always trying to convert others to their way of thinking. The guide then points to the stars as an example of the differences among people.

On the day following the wedding festival Petrus and Paulo sit fishing. Paulo asks to learn more about agape but Petrus says agape is something to be experienced, not discussed. Petrus states that if luck is on their side things will fall into place so that Paulo can live the definition of agape. As night descends the two men come upon a small building, which Petrus seems to know. The guide calls out a name but receives no answer. Petrus suggests they go inside anyway to wait. Inside Petrus begins to talk about the two manifestations of agape. The monk who lives in the hermitage is named Alfonso, and he exhibits the purest form of agape. Petrus explains that agape is total, consuming love such as Jesus had for humanity. As the two men set out one morning from a small village, Paulo is beset with a feeling of urgency coupled with tension and fear. Paulo tries to ignore the feelings, but Petrus demands that the pilgrim stop and confront the presence. Looking around the abandoned houses, Paulo sees the black dog he cast out of the old woman's house a few days earlier. Paulo locks eyes with the dog for several minutes before a nun crosses their path. Once the nun passes the dog lowers his eyes and runs away. Paulo is dizzy and believes that the nun gave him the strength to defeat the dog. Petrus allows Paulo to rest before they continue the journey. At two o'clock one afternoon Petrus and Paulo come across a medieval column supporting a cross; it is a road marker for pilgrims. Petrus tells Paulo to kneel before it so that they can offer a prayer concerning Paulo's personal vices. These vices are the only thing that could potentially defeat Paulo after he finds his sword. Petrus then speaks a lengthy prayer asking God to pity people who eat and drink but are still unhappy; who fear death; who consume themselves with affairs of the heart; for those who do not believe in anything spiritual, and for those who are concerned only with their own lives. When he finishes praying Petrus sits quietly staring across the surrounding wheat fields. One afternoon Petrus and Paulo stop to rest at a ruined castle. A shepherd and his flock pass by and seem to prompt Petrus to move on. The guide pushes Paulo to maintain a steady pace for two days until they reach a basin in the middle of a plateau. The basin contains a waterfall and a stream running across the basin floor. Petrus decides they should climb down the side of the basin to the pool below. For three days Petrus has kept Paulo marching at an intense pace. Unable to maintain the tempo, Paulo asks to rest. Petrus refuses to explain his reason for hurrying along, but Paulo decides not to press the issue. Finally, as the ruined village of Foncebadon comes into view Petrus slows the pace. Paulo realizes that not far from the village is a very important landmark, the Iron Cross. He desires to continue on to the attraction, but Petrus now refuses to move along. After visiting the Iron Cross, Petrus realizes that Paulo's wounds are more severe than originally thought. The men find shelter at a blacksmith's shop in a nearby village. Petrus and an old woman from the village care for Paulo's wounds by placing herbs on the cuts and making him drink bitter tea. After several days the blacksmith asks the travelers to move on because the people fear that Paulo will become rabid following his encounter with the dog. In Ponferrada Petrus secures a luxurious suite for the men to share. After dinner the two men walk through a locomotive yard. Petrus tells Paulo that their time together will soon end. Paulo will have to complete his search alone. Petrus instructs Paulo to close his eyes and perform the Breathing Exercise while listening to Petrus' voice. Petrus gives Paulo instructions for the completion of this journey, as well as future journeys. On the following day Paulo will join Petrus at a group initiation ceremony and then their ways will separate. Petrus then teaches Paulo the Dance Exercise, which will be performed at the ceremony. This is the last RAM practice Paulo will learn. In Villafranca del Bierzo Paulo is approached by a young girl of about eight years old. The girl asks if Paulo is a pilgrim and offers to take him to the Gates of Forgiveness. Paulo tries to pay the girl to go away, but she refuses the money. Paulo considers that maybe this girl has been sent to lead him to his sword and agrees to follow her. Paulo sits gazing out the window of his hotel following the completion of his journey. In a short while he will catch a flight back to Brazil where he will return to business of everyday life. Paulo thinks back on his experiences and contemplates writing a book to commemorate his journey along the Road to Santiago. Paulo recalls how he wrote the secret of his sword on a piece of paper and left it under a stone. Paulo also remembers how he had asked his Master how he knew that Paulo would arrive at the exact time he did. The Master said that he did not know leading Paulo to realize that people arrive at the right moment wherever someone waits for them.