While some readers found reading ?Moon Palace' a moving experience, others felt that the string of coincidences seemed too unbelievable. In this article, I will attempt to present my interpretation of the author's aim in writing it. The protagonist MS, receives a response to the orbituary he sent to Art world by the editor, that states:"I don't know who you are either, Mr Fogg, but it sounds to me as though you've created an elaborate hoax. That doesn't mean your story isn't compelling, but I think that you might have better luck publishing it if you dropped the charade and submitted it somewhere as a work of fiction" (chapter 6). The editor goes on to underline the inconsistencies in the plot and advises M.S not to continue his attempts publish his writings in the form of an obituary. There appears to be a connection between this recommendation and what the author Paul Auster wanted to express in this book. It is evident that the plot is punctuated by numerous coincidences but such coincidences might be a part of the definition of a work of fiction.
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Sommaire de l'exposé
The numerous coincidences existing in the novel make it unbelievable
If coincidences are at the center of Paul Auster's novel, it is mainly to underline the parallel between the three main character's experiences
Extraits de l'exposé
[...] It was a node of impenetrability, and it seemed that nothing but some crackpot solution could account for it: strange conspiracies of matter, precognitive signs, premonitions, a view of the world similar to Charlie Bacon's. I dropped my essay on Tesla and began exploring the question of coincidences [ M.S chapter 6. Coincidence is therefore not only a way for the author to develop the course of the plot but it is also at the heart of the novel's profound meaning and sense. If coincidences are at the center of Paul Auster's novel, it is mainly to underline the parallel between the three main character's experiences. [...]
[...] Moon Palace by Paul Auster Did you find reading Moon Palace a moving experience or did the string of coincidences seem too unbelievable to you? Explain with references. don't know who you are either, Mr Fogg, but it sounds to me as though you've created an elaborate hoax. That doesn't mean your story isn't compelling, but I think that you might have better luck publishing it if you dropped the charade and submitted it somewhere as a work of fiction? (chapter After sending Effing's obituary to the Art World Monthly magazine, M.S receives the editor's response. [...]
[...] This mutual quest for the control of destiny is in way the three character's ultimate goal. As we all do, they think that their rationality, intellect and feelings able them to control their destiny. This is precisely where the novel's ultimate message comes to light: life seems to be a repetition of previous experiences and the moon's omnipresence throughout the novel clearly underlines the limits of rationality and control over life. Even if they think that they lived unique experiences, the three characters are linked by coincidences which point out their implicit connections and the repetition of things. [...]
[...] More than that, the three characters all have very tough physical experiences when they reach the highest point of freedom in their lives: in Central park, living like a dog cynical way of life endured by ancient Greek philosophers to be close to maximal degree of freedom), M.S becomes literally crazy and puts his life in danger. Solomon Barber's expression of liberty is verbal. The most difficult thing for him is to tell the truth to M.S about him and his mother and when he finally liberates himself from his invisible chains, he falls into an open grave, ironically envisaging his own death. [...]
Philosophie & matières littéraires 
