VividScope

I recently revisited The Winner Stands Alone by Paulo Coelho, a novel I first read years ago. The beginning can feel weighed down by somewhat lengthy descriptions. Yet, the narrative eventually picks up momentum. It evolves into a gripping exploration of obsession, power, and moral decay.

The protagonist, Igor, is a man determined to reclaim what he believes is rightfully his. By the end, he finds himself alone. He has destroyed everything. This includes the life of his ex-wife, Ewa. He has also destroyed several others he refers to as “parts of the Universe.”

Reflecting on Igor’s journey, it’s hard not to see parallels with our own tendencies as human beings. At some point, we all show a kind of desperation, a need to possess or achieve something at any cost. When success eludes us, we often rationalize our setbacks. We convince ourselves that we never truly wanted what we were chasing. Sometimes, we believe our failure was, in some twisted way, a victory. This is precisely how Igor operates—justifying his heinous actions as necessary steps toward a greater good or personal triumph. But in reality, this is a form of escapism, a refusal to confront uncomfortable truths about our limitations and desires.

We aren’t fugitives by nature. But we often behave like we are, avoiding the difficult truths that challenge the narratives we’ve built around ourselves. We project strength, pretending we’re unshaken by setbacks, but when faced with real adversity, many of us falter. Igor, for all his outward indifference to violence and consequence, reveals his vulnerability when he recalls his first victim, Olivia. In his mind, she becomes a guiding spirit, justifying his escalating brutality. In much the same way, we create internal narratives. They are false allies, if you will. These narratives allow us to persist in misguided pursuits. We convince ourselves that our actions are justified, even when they aren’t.

This tendency to justify failure, to shift blame or diminish our original goals, is a significant flaw in our character. It’s a weakness that, if left unchecked, could destabilize not just individuals but entire societies. We need to recognize this pattern and confront it. We are not helpless; we have the capacity to face challenges head-on and work toward meaningful solutions. The key is to reject the mindset that allows us to become like Igor. We should avoid becoming isolated, destructive, and consumed by our own delusions.

Ultimately, the lesson is clear. We must believe in our ability to overcome adversity. We must do this without resorting to self-deception or destructive behaviors. We are not Igor, and we should strive to never become him.