“The illusion which man has that his will is free is so deeply rooted that I am ready to accept it. I act as though I am ready to accept it .I act as though I were a free agent. But when an action is performed it is clear that all the forces from the universe from all eternity conspired to cause it, and nothing I could do could have prevented it. It was inevitable. If it is good I can claim the merit; if it is bad I can accept no censure”

And delve for a moment on the lines obsequiously; the gloomy; black and moist atmosphere adds to my nervous tensions and here’s a déjà-vu I recall the lines of .Paulo Coelho in the “The Alchemist”...

“When you want something, the whole universe conspires in helping you to achieve it”

One speaks of inevitability in life and the other speak so of human endeavour ,though both claim of an unknown forces conspiring to cause it ;one has no-regrets as he speaks of the unavoidable and one suits man to be driven by his free will. In Maugham’s graphic novel the insouciant character Cronshaw who speaks the above words, is aware of the notion of free will; but he shelves himself inside the veil of inevitability. But in the Coelho’s version he aspires to craft the inevitability in the inspirational sense; by stating that if you want something the omnipresent unknown powers help you to achieve it.

I get into a conundrum, if we read Maugham’s quote it inexplicably states that “Life has no meaning” it’s just like the randomness of the spilling rainwater as it hits the ground; what has to happen will inevitably happen. Though Coelho inspires us that what we want will be ours; and the unnamed forces will help us in achieving the same. Yes Maugham’s lines are not meant to be inspirational or express a philosophical take on things; they basically characterize what the fictional characters of the novel feel and he as it being his semi-biographical account; yet they do embody the inherent truth which we clamour to find and do not till the very end. But Coelho gives us the inspiration to strive ahead in life and make a meaning out of it with a sense of want.

Yes to state; Life is meaningless; it’s the objects and the sense of want that drives it...till this desire is living you live; else you are nothing but anonymous in the universe of the unknown.

I turn the page and start to read ahead with alacrity...