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- The Alchemist
Paulo Coelho
- Study Guide
- Mastery Quizzes
The Alchemist is a novel by Paulo Coelho that was first published in 1988 . Read key facts , the plot summary , and important quotes .
Read one-minute Sparklet summaries, the detailed section-by-section Summary & Analysis, or the Full Book Summary of The Alchemist .
- Sparklet Chapter Summaries
Summary & Analysis
- Part One, Section 1
- Part Two, Section 5
- Full Book Summary
See a complete list of the characters in The Alchemist and in-depth analyses of Santiago, The Alchemist, The Crystal Merchant, Melchizedek, The Englishman, and Fatima.
- Character List
- The Crystal Merchant
- Melchizedek
- The Englishman
Literary Devices
Here's where you will find analysis of the key literary devices in The Alchemist .
Find the quotes you need to support your essay, or refresh your memory of The Alchemist by reading these key quotes.
- Important Quotes Explained
- Personal Legends
By Character
Quick quizzes.
Test your knowledge of The Alchemist with these quizzes.
- Full Book Quiz
- Plot Overview
- Analysis of Major Characters
- Themes, Motifs, & Symbols
Learn more about The Alchemist by reading these mini-essays and suggested essay topics.
- Mini Essays
- Suggested Essay Topics
Further Study
Go further in your study of The Alchemist with background information about Paulo Coelho and the novel's publication, as well as suggestions for further reading.
- Paulo Coelho and The Alchemist Background
- Suggestions for Further Reading
The Alchemist (25th Anniversary Edition)
The alchemist (sparknotes literature guide).
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Conclusion Of The Alchemist
Theme statements for the alchemist.
In the novel the king of Salem tells Santiago that he is blessed to aid him in finding the treasure, and if he didn’t aid him ever he would feel guilty.
The Alchemist Symbolism
Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist tells the story of Santiago, a young shepherd living in an abandoned church in a small Andalusian town, who is stripped of his comfortable and safe lifestyle after an encounter with Melchizedek, an Islamic king who tells him of his “Personal Legend” (21). Melchizedek points Santiago in the direction of his treasure only after taking one-tenth of his money, giving him two stones, and a lesson on reading omens. Throughout his journey, Santiago meets new friends, has everything stolen from him three times, and travels the vast and unknown Sahara Desert all while achieving personal growth and an understanding of his life’s meaning. His journey leads him to an Oasis
Examples Of Sacrifice In The Alchemist
Throughout the book, Coelho addresses the attractive quality and the sense of security that wealth and acceptable social status bring. Nevertheless, he also illustrates that one must reject the lure of riches and reputation in order to attain one’s highest potential. At first, Santiago ignores his dream to travel to Egypt because of his strong desire to earn back the money that he has lost due to the robbery. As such, Santiago becomes employed at a crystal shop and works “incessantly, thinking only of putting aside enough money so that he could return to Spain with pride” (62). Instead of saving his money for a trip across the Sahara desert to pursue his dream, at this time, Santiago wishes to return to Spain to become a shepherd once again. Here, Santiago is tempted to permanently settle down and live among people. Furthermore, Santiago also encounters a group of tribesmen and becomes a prisoner along with the alchemist. When the alchemist gives up all of Santiago’s gold, Santiago gets upset and says “You gave them everything I had! Everything I’ve saved in my entire life!” (141). Santiago is frustrated because he has saved up enough to live a life luxurious back home. Although Santiago’s sacrifice of wealth is unwillingly done by another individual, it allows him to continue his path of becoming his Personal Legend as it spares his life. By sacrificing his earthly desire and obsession with fortune, Santiago’s
Essay about Overcoming Problems in The Alchemist
Have you ever encountered problems while trying to fulfill a goal in your life? In the book The Alchemist, written by Paulo Coelho, a shepherd boy named Santiago overcomes obstacles to reach his personal legend. Throughout the book Santiago encounters many friends to help him fulfill his destiny. Santiago encounters many problems throughout the story. He overcomes them with the help of his friends and his wife-to-be. These problems shape Santiago into a dignified man of many traits.
Essay on The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The boy agreed, and discovers that the man knew about the treasure the dream reader was talking about, and knew a lot about the boy and where he is from. After conversing with him for some time, he finds out that he is king, and that he helps people with their personal legends.
Essay On The Alchemist
Santiago made a reasonable sum of money working for the crystal merchant, and decided it was time to abandon his job to continue his search for his treasure. Along the way, he was halted by a tribal war in the desert and forced to stay in an oasis. During his visit he met a young woman named Fatima. After only a few interactions, Santiago decides he wants to marry this woman, “‘I came to tell you just one thing,’ the boy said. ‘I want you to be my wife. I love you’(Coelho, 95). What once was negative became positive. Santiago’s journey had been paused multiple times, and he was stuck in an oasis instead of venturing to the
Socratic Seminar Questions On The Alchemist
1. What do you think Santiago will do with his life after he travels back to Egypt for Fatima?
Themes In The Alchemist
In the book, Santiago reflects the theme in many differents ways. One ways in which santiago reflects the theme is when he meet the crystal merchant and helped him in the shop so much that it became the best crystal shop ever. According to the Merchant on page 54, santiago has change this life and himself to the best version of themselves. For instance on the book, it says, “Crystal Merchant: “I’ve had this shop for thirty years. I know good crystal from bad, and everything else there is to know about crystal. I know its dimensions and how it behaves. If we serve tea in the crystal, the shop is going to expand. And then I’ll have to change my way of life.” / Boy: “Well, isn’t that good?” / Crystal Merchant: “I’m already used to the way things are. Before you came, I was thinking about how much time I had wasted in the same place, while my friends had moved on, and either went bankrupt or did better than they had before. It made me very depressed. Now, I can see that it hasn’t been too bad. The shop is exactly the size I always wanted it to be. I don’t want to change anything, because I don’t know how to deal with change. I’m used to the way I am.” The
Thesis Of The Alchemist
Not before long, Santiago meets a crystal merchant. Trying to run away from his Personal Legend once again, he gets a job at the
The Alchemist
In conclusion, the book the Alchemist illustrates the hardships and decisions we all must go through in life. It emphasizes that listening to your heart and going on your Personal Journey can be a hard and relentless road to embark on. However, the lessons learned and experiences gains can lead you to immeasurable rewards and
Who Is Santiago A Tragic Hero In A Hero's Journey?
Santiago the poor adventurer boy, seeks the treasure in his dreams. Despite having a family that wanted him to become a priest. But as Santiago made way towards his journey, he was faced with the unlucky fate of being robbed of all he had. While he had nothing, he could only go up. He learned to find omens which that will lead him towards a better future. As a result he managed to land a job within a crystal merchant’s shop. Another instance is when Santiago is confronted by the love of his life. He wanted to stay with her forever, however doing so would force him to abandon his journey. Fatima,
The Theme of “The Alchemist,” by Paulo Coelho Essay
I would defiantly recommend this book to a friend or a family member. I fervently enjoyed “The Alchemist,” and I think that most people would enjoy reading about Santiago. The novel is universal in its ability to tell a story and
Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist: Synthesis Essay
- 3 Works Cited
Despite this knowledge he knows that the outcome is worth the risk. After taking this journey he soon reaches the oasis. After traveling through the desert for many days and nights, this place is a paradise for Santiago. He fits in well with the society at the oasis and begins to create a life for himself there. He meets a girl, gets a job interpreting omens, and becomes a wealthy man. When it comes time to leave he experiences a new kind of fear. Not a fear of danger or death, but a fear of loss. He fears that if he leaves he may not return to his life that he loves so much and holds so dearly. When he gets the option to leave he confronts the difficult decision with something his tour guide told him. The guide said, “Because I don’t live in either my past or my future. I’m interested only in the present. If you can concentrate always on the present, you’ll be a happy man” (88). This allowed Santiago to continue with his journey knowing that he is responsible for fulfilling his personal legend and not staying out of fear of loss. The Arab tribal camp is Santiago’s next stop in his journey. He is captured along with the alchemist, who promises them that in three days Santiago will become the wind and destroy the camp. This causes him to panic out of fear for another time, even with all he has learned. He is now experiencing the most crippling fear yet, the fear of failure. This type of fear is so bad because it causes people to not
Research Paper On The Alchemist
The alchemist: A man who resides in Al-Fayoum Oasis. He possesses a powerful magic and saves lives because he sees through to the soul of the world. He is the one who points the direction of the treasure to Santiago.
Allegory In The Alchemist
“I also have Fatima. She is a treasure greater than anything else I have won. She wasn’t found at the pyramids, either.” (Coelho 119) An important lesson that Santiago learns on his journey is that things that occur en route to the end destination can’t be ignored, as they can end up being more important than the destination. Had Santiago just rushed through his journey, and only focused on getting to the pyramids, he would have missed a great treasure. Santiago was patient with his journey, and he remained in the oasis for a substantial amount of time, rather than rushing through. In staying at the oasis, he meets Fatima, the love of his life. In the end, Fatima
Related Topics
- Paulo Coelho
- Egyptian pyramids
“The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho Literature Analysis Essay
Considering sacrificing the personal wishes for the sake of love the ultimate manifestation of true love is typical for the majority of writers, poets, and painters exploring the romantic themes. However, Paulo Coelho has managed to amaze the readers with a wholly new approach to exploring the nature of love and describing its role in the person’s life in his famous novel The Alchemist . Coelho demonstrates that while the love demanding the sacrifice of one’s dream is not true, the genuine love serves as a stimulus for living out the Personal Legend and achieving the happiness.
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The first lesson the reader learns about love while reading The Alchemist is that the wrong understanding of this feeling often becomes an obstacle on the way to the person’s pursuit of self-realization. The author shows that untrue love can stop the person from living the life full of meaning, which is essential for discovering the purpose of one’s. This step is crucial for the person’s ability to move to the next level of self-development. However, the author shows that the problem is related to people’s perception of love, not the feeling itself.
Coelho demonstrates that true love cannot prevent the person from realizing his/her dreams through the words of the alchemist: “You must understand that love never keeps a man from pursuing his destiny. If he abandons that pursuit, it’s because it wasn’t true love… the love that speaks the Language of the World” (Coelho 67). The main protagonist feels the temptation to leave his Personal Legend because of the feeling of affection towards a woman two times: after meeting the merchant’s daughter and after he falls in love with Fatima.
Though Santiago is not bounded with the merchant’s daughter by serious feelings, after meeting her he feels the desire to lead a purposeless life: “He recognized that he was feeling something he had never experienced before: the desire to live in one place forever” (Coelho 3). After meeting Fatima, the described desire appears to dominate Santiago’s plans one more time with even bigger power. Falling in love with Fatima motivates him to stay in the oasis and refuse from living his dream.
The Alchemist tells the boy that such decision will lead to the unhappiness of both Santiago and Fatima as he will regret refusing from a dream, and Fatima will feel the guilt for forcing him to do it. In such way, Coelho teaches the reader that refusing from a dream for the sake of love is the severely wrongful act. Though Santiago manages to overcome the temptation to leave his dream because of the affection and love towards a woman, the reader gets a clear impression that sacrificing one’s dream for love can be an obstacle on the way to one’s happiness and purposeful life.
Such position is unique in regard to world literature, as most writers describe the sacrifice of one’s dreams and wishes for the sake of love as the highest manifestation of true love. Coelho, on the contrary, reveals that such sacrifice serves as a proof of the untrue love, which can ruin the person’s happiness. Fatima also demonstrates the untraditional understanding of love.
While most female protagonists described in the literature strive for making their beloved ones stay with them, Fatima encourages Santiago to leave her and continue his trip: “That’s why I want you to continue toward your goal. If you have to wait until the war is over, then wait. But if you have to go before then, go on in pursuit of your dream” (Coelho 53). Such approach to true love opposes the traditional beliefs and changes the explanation of its nature.
Another lesson learned about love from The Alchemist is related to the significant role love plays in achieving the goal of self-realization by a person. Coelho demonstrates that though the misleading understanding of love is an obstacle to one’s happiness, the feeling itself is one of the main components of human life. The author reveals the primary role of the powers that are not controlled by a human in encouraging the person to fall in love: “One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving” (Coelho 68).
Coelho emphasizes that love is a gift from the universe through Santiago’s words addressed to Fatima: “So, I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you” (Coelho 68). By overcoming many obstructions and finding the knowledge about the rules guiding human life, Santiago comes to a conclusion that love should serve as the stimulus for self-improvement: “And that’s where the power of love comes in. Because when we love, we always strive to become better than we are” (Coelho 85).
These words illustrate one of the main thoughts shared by the author with the readers: love is not the goal of life, it is the power helping to fulfill Personal Legend. Though Coelho does not place love in the center of Santiago’s motivations, he shows that it is crucial to person’s happiness. Love serves both as a stimulus for Santiago’s pursuit of the dream and the ultimate reward for living out the Personal Legend, as the novel ends with the reunion of Fatima and Santiago.
Therefore, the author does not deny the importance of love but points to its true purpose. This lesson differs from most of the traditional ideas about love, as literature and traditions mostly put love in the center of the person’s life and praise the suffering caused by it. Coelho, on the contrary, celebrates the love that helps the person to realize his/her dreams instead of abandoning them.
The lessons about true love given by Coelho in The Alchemist can save many people from losing their personalities and happiness. I know several examples of people who have sacrificed their dreams for the sake of love and live an unhappy life.
Their sacrifices have caused immense regrets and, as a result, serious misunderstandings with the partners. Such examples from the real life make me believe that Coelho’s approach to defining what the true love is and how it should help to achieve the lifelong goals instead of ruining them is truthful and can be supported with the abundance of real life experience.
Paulo Coelho has managed to create an innovative approach to defining the true love. According to the assumptions he makes throughout the text of The Alchemist , the trueness of love cannot be assessed by the readiness of a person to sacrifice his/her dreams for its sake. On the contrary, true love stimulates for achieving the lifetime goals and self-realization and serves as the power guiding the person towards the happiness.
Works Cited
Coelho, Paulo. The Alchemist . Trans. Alan Clarke. 1992. PDF file. Web.
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The alchemist essay.
There are many important themes in The Alchemist that must be acknowledged. The author wrote a complex book in which he provided plenty of food for thought, putting significant and complicated characters into the book’s ecosystem. With this in mind, one of the most important themes in the book is reading. Books play a prominent role both in the lives of characters in the character development. Ultimately the story is not about reading, but rather, it becomes about the things that reading can provide, including wonder and mystery. Reading plays a major role because books of different kinds are present throughout the work, with some of them being read and others being ignored. Reading is the thing that shows Santiago that he wants more mystery while later allowing him to understand the mysteries of the world outcome of himself.
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In the beginning of the book, reading plays a major role. The reader is introduced to a character named Santiago who is reading a book. He discusses how he does not like that all of the main characters are introduced right in the beginning. This can be taken in a way as symbolism. Santiago is not interested in a book where things are just laid out in a predictable way right in front of him. Instead, he is interested in a book where he has to discover new things and wait for some things to be revealed to him. This becomes something of an overarching theme for Santiago’s life. During that early part, he thinks he is going to be a priest. His life is laid out in front of him, with his parents seeing him as a priest and him largely accepting this as what he is going to do in his own life. However, he realizes that this is not what he is meant to do. He realizes that just as reading is boring whenever the characters and their stories are known too early, life can be boring when the subject matter is known far too early. It would be better, he thinks, if the story could have some mysticism so that wonder could be explored down the line.
Likewise, the concept of “reading” is seen in how he seeks out advice on interpreting his dreams. Santiago has already encountered difficulty with his own life plan, and he has sought out more. In addition to reading books, he is also having to read the language of his dreams, which he believes comes from God. His big problem is that he has a difficult time interpreting the things going on in his head. It is as if he is reading a different language. When he goes to the gypsy woman to get some help in reading these dreams for their truth, she provides him with advice on the ways in which God communicates and what it means for human beings. She says, “And dreams are the language of God. When he speaks our language, I can interpret what he has said. But if he speaks in the language of the soul, it is only you who can understand” (Coelho). This communicates one of the core parts of the book—reading and interpreting is a highly personal process. The symbolism of reading dreams and reading books is all about finding meaning in life. Just as one has to read according to one’s own experience, one cannot interpret dreams with the language of God without doing so from a position of personal experience. Reading becomes a metaphor for the way people are supposed to view the bigger forces in life.
Later in the novel, reading becomes important as the thing that allows Santiago to explore the contours of new knowledge. He knows that he was right to leave a potential life in the priesthood in order to pursue shepherding because it allowed him to see a new side of the world that he would have missed otherwise. However, when he meets the alchemist and he wants to know more about that part of life, he begins to read. He has books that explain to him the things about the world that have been kept from him. Reading, then, becomes an element of liberation. It becomes a tool through which Santiago can gain that which was kept from him for very long. The key element of this is that he lived in a restricted atmosphere, but no one could restrict him when he found books. He discovered through reading not only that there was an entire world of knowledge out there to be digested and consumed, but also the critical fact that there were many people around him who could guide him in learning. He found a world of mentors in the ways of alchemy and other mysticisms where the natural world had denied him that benefit.
Reading in this book is presented as an important theme. It is at the beginning the thing that serves as a metaphor for the way life should be. Santiago wants unpredictable and not boring. His ideas on life and books are much the same. Later, reading becomes a metaphor for interpreting life and seeing meaning through one’s own eyes. Finally, at the end, reading becomes a sign of what it means to break free from some of the chains that may be thrown on people by families and other community forces that seek to keep them from knowing about the true nature of the world around them.
- Coelho, Paulo. “The Alchemist (English Version translated by Alan R. Clark).” (2002).
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The Alchemist (Coelho)
By paulo coelho.
- The Alchemist (Coelho) Summary
The Alchemist tells the story of a young shepherd named Santiago who is able to find a treasure beyond his wildest dreams. Along the way, he learns to listen to his heart and, more importantly, realizes that his dreams, or his Personal Legend, are not just his but part of the Soul of the Universe.
Santiago is a humble shepherd whose desires are few–he wants to be free to roam with his sheep, to have some wine in his wineskin and a book in his bag. Fate intervenes, however, in the form of the recurring dream of a great treasure hidden thousands of miles away at the base of the Egyptian Pyramids. When Santiago meets Melchizedek , a strange wise man who claims he is a king from a far-off land, he decides to seek his treasure. The next day, Santiago sells his sheep and embarks to Africa to pursue his dream.
Upon arriving in Africa, though, it becomes apparent that things will not be as easy as he thought. The first day Santiago is in Tangiers, he is robbed and left completely alone, unable to speak a single word of Arabic. At first Santiago contemplates giving up and turning around. He remembers the words of the wise man, though, and decides to carry on–getting a job at a local crystal shop. After working at the crystal shop for a year, learning much about life and about his Personal Legend, Santiago earns enough money to buy a new flock of sheep and return home. At the last minute, though, Santiago decides to risk it all and join a caravan to Egypt.
Once in the caravan, Santiago meets an Englishman who has come all the way to Africa to seek a renowned alchemist. As they travel through the desert, the Englishman tells Santiago about the secrets of alchemy. Santiago finds the Englishman's ideas to be very similar to Melchizedek's. They both speak of a Soul of the World to which we are all connected and of the necessity of following our heart's true desires or our Personal Legend. Santiago, however, prefers to learn these secrets by observing the world, while the Englishman prefers to learn from complex books. While they travel, they begin to hear rumors of a coming tribal war.
When they finally arrive at the Al-Fayoum oasis–the home of the titular Alchemist–Santiago meets a beautiful girl named Fatima with whom he immediately falls in love. He discovers that love, like the Personal Legend, comes directly from the Soul of the World. While walking in the desert, Santiago has a vision of an upcoming battle. He rushes back to warn the elders at the oasis and, when his vision is confirmed, they offer him a position as a counselor. Santiago considers staying at the oasis with Fatima, but the Alchemist finds Santiago and tells him that he will lead Santiago to his treasure.
Once again on the move, the Alchemist teaches Santiago to listen to his heart. Hearts can be treacherous, but the best way to keep them from fooling you is to listen to them intently. Almost to the pyramids, Santiago and the Alchemist are taken prisoner by a warring tribe. The Alchemist tells the tribesmen that Santiago is a powerful magician who can turn himself into the wind. The tribesmen are impressed and will spare the lives of the men if Santiago can do it. The only problem is that Santiago has no idea what he is doing. After three days of meditating, Santiago uses his knowledge of the Soul of the World to ask the elements to help him. First he asks the desert, then he asks the wind, then he asks the sun and, finally, he asks the Soul of the World. Immediately, the wind whips up, and Santiago disappears and reappears on the other side of the camp.
The Alchemist takes his leave of Santiago, who continues on to the Pyramids. Once there, Santiago is attacked by robbers. Asked what he is doing there, Santiago replies that he had a dream of a treasure buried at the base of the Pyramids. One of the robbers laughs at him, and says that he has had the exact same dream, except that in his the treasure was buried in Spain. Santiago realizes that the treasure was back in Spain the entire time.
The story then jumps forward in time and finds Santiago digging a hole at the base of the tree where he had had his first dream. Sure enough, he finds a trunk full of gold–enough for him and Fatima to live happily for a long time.
The Alchemist (Coelho) Questions and Answers
The Question and Answer section for The Alchemist (Coelho) is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.
At this point, the boy remembers the old proverb, "The darkest hour of the night came just before the dawn."
He left Santiago to complete his journey alone because this was how Santiago was meant to fulfill his own personal destiny.
The Alchemist is clearly a novel about spiritual growth. Do you think the message of the book goes against the idea of organized religion?
The novel supports a type of ecumenical religion, that is, it suggests that all religions are the same when comparing their bases. The main ideas that unite these religions (in this case, Christianity and Islam) are their monotheistic bases and...
What does the sycamore and sacristy that close and open the book symbolize
I only understand part of your question.
The sycamore was the Tree of Life in Egypt, and also in Assyria.
It was sacred to Hathor at Heliopolis; and is now sacred in the same place to the Virgin Mary.
Its juice was precious by virtue of its...
Study Guide for The Alchemist (Coelho)
The Alchemist is a modern fable by Paulo Coelho. The Alchemist study guide contains a biography of author Paulo Coelho, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.
- About The Alchemist (Coelho)
- The Alchemist (Coelho) Video
- Character List
Essays for The Alchemist (Coelho)
The Alchemist essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Alchemist written by Paulo Coelho.
- The Importance of Religion and Spirituality in The Alchemist
- How Dreams and Omens Support the Theme of Interconnection
- The Importance of Dreams
Lesson Plan for The Alchemist (Coelho)
- About the Author
- Study Objectives
- Common Core Standards
- Introduction to The Alchemist (Coelho)
- Relationship to Other Books
- Bringing in Technology
- Notes to the Teacher
- Related Links
- The Alchemist (Coelho) Bibliography
Wikipedia Entries for The Alchemist (Coelho)
- Introduction
- Adaptations
Last Updated 06 Jul 2020
The Alchemist Critical Analysis
The Alchemist Essay In life, everyone has their own personal legend. Whether it be giving people a reason to remember the name or getting the dream job, the journey to a personal legend is not an easy one. A personal legend can take your entire life to achieve or even realize what it is! Santiago’s personal legend was to find the treasure, and although it was not an easy task to handle he managed to make it happen. Santiago would not have reached his personal legend without the dream that started it all (the call to adventure), the obstacles that ended up helping him( tests, allies and enemies), or the people he met along the way (mentor).
To begin with, Santiago would not have realized what his personal legend is without the dream. The dream reoccurred and at first Santiago tried to brush it off, but then he thought of it as an “omen”. This is his “Call to adventure”. From there, he decided he wanted to be a Sheppard and travel the world with sheep. Later on in the book he met the gypsy woman. She told him, “You must go to the pyramids in Egypt. I have never heard of them, but if it was a child who showed you them, they exist.
Then you will find a treasure that will make you rich”(Coelho 14). If the gypsy would have never explained to him what the dream meant, he might have not known the true meaning of his personal legend, and would not be able to fulfill it. Continuing, the result of Santiago’s journey might not be the same if the obstacles that were in his way were not there. It’s kind of like the saying “One step back, two steps forward”, the obstacles that may have momentarily been bad or got in his way, actually ended up helping him in the long run or making him stronger.
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For example when Santiago lost all his money and had to work in the shop for a year or so, he ended up making money and learning to speak Arabic which was very useful for him. Finally, the mentors that Santiago met throughout the book were also very crucial to him reaching his personal legend. He met the gypsy woman who was almost as important as The Alchemist. Without the gypsy woman, Santiago may have interpreted the reoccurring dream he had (his call to adventure) incorrectly and never realized/achieved his personal legend.
Another important character to the story was The Old King. He tells Santiago “They show that, when we strive to be better than we are, everything around us becomes better too. ”(Coelho 150) There are many steps to achieving your personal legend. Everyone has one, but not everyone can fulfill their legend. One must first realize what it is and then go from there. In Santiago’s case, his three most important steps were his call to adventure, the tests, allies, and enemies he encountered, and the mentors he met along the way.
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The Alchemist
by Paulo Coelho
The Alchemist Analysis
- P aulo Coelho's The Alchemist is an example of magical realism, a genre of literature that weaves fantastical elements into otherwise realistic stories.
- Santiago's journey to find his Personal Legend follows the traditional structure of a quest. Santiago is the hero who must overcome various obstacles in order to achieve his dreams. Embedded in this journey is a desire for spiritual fulfillment, making Santiago's quest one of self-discovery and enlightenment.
- Coelho alludes to the the biblical Melchizedek, the King of Salem, who appears in the Old Testament. Melchizedek gives Santiago two stones to consult if he ever has trouble deciphering the omens.
Last Updated on March 9, 2017, by eNotes Editorial. Word Count: 1197
Critical Evaluation
Written in less than one month in 1987, Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist was inspired by the short tale “The Ruined Man Who Became Rich Again Through a Dream” from the classic Arabic short-story cycle The Arabian Nights’ Entertainments , also known as The Thousand and One Nights (fifteenth century). This tale has been adapted by many authors because of the powerful message it delivers about discovering that one’s treasure does not need to be pursued; it can be found at home.
For The Alchemist , Coelho adapts four principles from the tale: the personal quest, the awareness of omens, the soul of the world, and the idea of listening to one’s heart as a guide. The novel also mentions The Thousand and One Nights when Santiago and the Englishman see many wells, colored tents, and date trees upon approaching the oasis. The Englishman acknowledges that the view looks like a scene from the classic story.
In this semiautobiographical work, Coelho’s own experiences are mimicked in Santiago’s journey to find his Personal Legend. At the age of sixteen, Santiago leaves the monastery against his father’s wishes, in favor of seeking his true dream of traveling. Like Santiago, Coelho had left his Jesuit schooling and Roman Catholicism in favor of his own journey. When his parents realized that writing was his dream, they sent him to a psychiatric hospital, where he underwent electroconvulsive therapy.
Coelho followed this period of hospitalization with stints as a hippie, a songwriter, and a dabbler in black magic. He also spent time in jail, where he was tortured by the Brazilian government for participating in subversive activities. At this point in his life, Coelho took a pilgrimage on the Santiago de Compostela in Spain, where the revelations that followed brought him back to the Catholic religion and fostered an interest in simplicity. He surmised that people find their spirituality through self-fulfillment rather than through stifled individual freedom. Coelho made a full circle in his journey.
Similarly, Santiago finds his treasure in the physical place where he began his journey: the dilapidated church in Andalusia, Spain. It is no coincidence that both Coelho and Santiago have epic journeys that begin in Spain and that the main character’s name, Santiago, mimics the pilgrim’s trail that Coelho traveled. When Coelho began this novel, the only aspect he was certain of was that Santiago, like himself, would end in the place he started.
Coelho’s rebellion ultimately helped him to identify his path in life and to develop the survival skills necessary to overcome conflict. Santiago also develops these strengths along his own journey. On three separate occasions, all of his money is stolen. The first time he weeps from despair, then he chooses to have faith. The second time, he questions the alchemist’s judgment in handing over his earnings; again, he still has faith. Finally, the war refugees steal his money and beat him severely. Through this experience, he understands how he can achieve his personal goal. Ultimately, Santiago prevails.
From his personal experiences, Coelho develops a number of thematic topics for The Alchemist . The fable delivers the moral lesson about realizing your dreams and listening to your heart. Santiago dreams of traveling instead of living in a monastery, and he follows his heart by leaving. When pursuing his dream, he is warned by the alchemist that fear should not be an option because paralysis inhibits life’s progress. Eventually, Santiago also discovers that when he listened, his heart had directed him toward his Personal Legend. Coelho is making a statement against conformity and rigidity.
Coelho also uses his voice to examine the debate of fate versus free will. For example, King Melchizedek retells the story of appearing before a miner who had been ready to abandon his Personal Legend. The old king then transformed himself into a stone to attract the miner’s attention and aid him in finding the precious stone he was seeking. The king is a manifestation of God, as is the gypsy (Roma) who identifies Santiago’s dream without needing to be told. Fate is controlling Santiago’s destiny.
Stylistically, Coelho uses simplistic language, making his text accessible to the reader. He avoids complex metaphor and idioms, yet employs symbolism that alludes to spiritual guidance. The hawk leads Santiago to have a vision that enables him to save the oasis from attack, and a scarab beetle indicates the spot where Santiago will weep and then dig for treasure before the pyramids.
The Alchemist references the book of Exodus in the Old Testament in the mention of the two stones, Urim and Thummim, which were said to be divination tools held within the breastplate worn by the high priest. Melchizedek, who gives Santiago the stones, opens his cape and reveals a gold breastplate covered with precious stones, which ultimately convinces Santiago that he is a king. He gives Santiago the stones and tells him they will help him read omens when he is indecisive. In the Old Testament, Melchizedek is the king of Salem.
The Alchemist is not only a fable but also a work of Magical Realism, evoking a realistic setting as well as magical and mysterious events. The work connects to socially relevant topics and employs mythical and fablelike happenings. The characters are often endowed with supernatural abilities, such as when Santiago converses with the natural elements when trying to turn himself into the wind.
Over time, The Alchemist has become a modern classic, and Coelho is now one of the most widely read of Latin American authors. He has changed the lives of many readers by encouraging them to rediscover themselves through personal journeys. The novel has inspired a symphony and theatrical adaptations, and the rights to the novel were purchased in 2008 by American film producer Harvey Weinstein.
Further Reading
Coelho, Paulo. “The Beyond Is Accessible to Those Who Dare.” UNESCO Courier 51, no. 3 (March, 1998): 34-37. This interview with Coelho focuses on his thoughts about the spirituality of and themes in The Alchemist . It also addresses how some of his own life influenced his feelings about how and what to write. Also addresses why people should pursue their goals.
_______. “The Coming of Age of a Brazilian Phenomenon.” Interview by Glauco Ortolano. World Literature Today 77, no. 1 (2003): 57-59. Coelho discusses his writing technique and the motivations behind his works. A brief but helpful article.
Hart, Stephen M. “Cultural Hybridity, Magical Realism, and the Language of Magic in Paulo Coelho’s The Retrieve .” Romance Quarterly 51, no. 4 (Fall, 2004): 304-312. Although focused on a different Coelho novel, this essay examines the evolution of the genre of Magical Realism and its application to his works. Also discusses how Coelho’s works reflect Magical Realism.
Morais, Fernando. Paulo Coelho . New York: HarperCollins, 2009. This biography includes a time line of Coelho’s life with facts that detail how he rediscovered his faith and immersed himself in a life of simplicity.
Weeks, Linton. “Paulo Coelho: At Peace with the Inexplicable.” The Washington Post , September 27, 2004. This newspaper article addresses Coelho’s popularity with his readers and gives specifics regarding his life experiences. In particular, Weeks examines Coelho’s personal growth as a writer.
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Book Review
Last Updated on March 10, 2017, by eNotes Editorial. Word Count: 302
The book-length fable is a difficult form to master, for it must simultaneously exhibit a naive simplicity that speaks to children and be grounded in a universal wisdom that appeals to adults. The problem is that it is difficult to sustain naive simplicity over the long haul without becoming boring, and it is a real challenge to present universal wisdom in such a simple form without being ultimately obvious and thus somehow banal. Antoine de Saint Exupery’s classic fable LITTLE PRINCE manages that balancing act quite magically. THE ALCHEMIST by Paulo Coelho, one of Brazil’s best-selling authors, achieves the magic only unevenly.
The characters and the plot are classically familiar—a poor shepherd boy sets off to seek his fortune, meeting many wondrous characters along the way, only to discover—what else?— that the search for the treasure is the treasure itself and that one need search no farther than one’s own heart. Two basic themes dominate the story—the ability to recognize, and the willingness to follow, signs and omens and the courage to follow one’s dream.
In additional to old gypsy women, mysterious merchants, and noble kings, the characters the young Santiago meets along the way include an Englishman who has been searching for the one true language of the universe (which is, of course, the language of love), a beautiful maiden named Fatima, and, an alchemist who has discovered the true secret of the Philosopher’s Stone. Familiar magical injunctions from various romances and religious books are threaded through the fable—lose the self to find the self, listen to your heart, become one with the Soul of the World, follow your dream—but the advice so often overwhelms the story that one’s eyes tend to glaze over with the abstractness of it all.
"The Alchemist - Book Review" Unknown eNotes.com 13 Mar. 2023 <https://www.enotes.com/topics/alchemist-paulo-coelho/in-depth#in-depth-book-review>
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In The Alchemist, Coelho talks about the importance of the “Personal Legend”, that is, the path that each person should take to achieve the greatest happiness. In the book, a young shepherd boy, named Santiago is sent on a journey to find his own Personal Legend. On his journey he deals with frustration, devastation, hope, love, confusion, learning all along the way. From the people he meets to the scenarios he must adapt to, the boy persists on his journey in the faith that he will eventually discover his Personal Legend.
As a competitive athlete, you are expected to do a lot. My parents make me do extra training outside of AAU, school ball, and practice. Most times the only things I feel like going to are games. You have to really love something for you to put that much effort into it. Motivation is always a key factor. Without my parents’ love and support, I would not love the game of basketball as much as I do now.
In this novel, motivation drives Santiago. Fatima keeps him going on his journey because she understands that she is a desert woman and allows Santiago to pursue his personal legend even though they love each other. As a sign of this, Santiago says, ‘I’m going away and I want you to know that I’m coming back.’ When Santiago met her he found out the language of the world was love. He is driven by his love of Fatima. Motivation helps him find out his true personal legend.
My brother, Cliff is a freshman at Langston University on a full basketball scholarship. He went to St John’s for high school and broke all kinds of records as a freshman and throughout his high school career. He is the person I look up to most as a basketball player. He is my inspiration and he is why I love the game of basketball as I do. Cliff faced many hardships at St John’s, but that did not deter him from his goal of graduating and earning a full athletic scholarship to college. He graduated with honors and is now enrolled as a college athlete. This is one of many reasons he inspires me. He is my inspiration.
Inspiration was a key factor for Santiago. He was inspired by the alchemist to keep pursuing his personal legend. The alchemist understands the desert and people and helps Santiago understand nature and people. For instance, when the alchemist saw Santiago reading the falcon’s flight he had to understand who he was. He said,” I had to test your courage.” In that sense, he had to understand him. The alchemist knows how to understand and get to know people. Therefore, the alchemist mentions and adds a sense of inspiration to Santiago.
Around June of this summer during AAU basketball season, I was playing in a tournament with my team. We played Texas Elite in pool play. We all played together well as a team and communicated well and we won as a result. In the championship game, we ended up playing Texas Elite again. We started the game off well shots were falling consistently, everyone was working well together, and most importantly communicating. The score went back and forth the whole first half about 10 lead changes. After halftime, everything went downhill. Ad decisions were made, nobody was communicating which resulted in multiple turnovers that could’ve been avoided and we lost the game all because of lack of communication.
Communication was essential for Santiago, and it started with patience. Early in the novel, Santiago was challenged to walk around with oil on a spoon. He was to see all the features of the store. The first time, he kept the oil but didn’t look around. The second time was the complete opposite. This lesson taught him patience, which he needed to communicate with the sun, wind, and desert, and by doing this, he wasn’t killed. “It’s going to take a while.” Those were the words that came out of Santiago’s mouth. Those words signaled confidence and patience. Therefore, communication and patience were essential and allowed him to turn himself into the wind which would save his life.
Looking back on his travels provided these life lessons for me: treasure the little things and be a risk-taker because in both situations there is a lesson to be learned. After reading this book, I have learned the little things that normally bother me will mean absolutely nothing in the future. Now, I choose to focus on my many blessings. In this generation, everyone seems to be focused on materialistic things when life means so much more and offers more. It is easy to get caught up in what you do not have because someone else has it. Everyone is so worried about what other people are doing or what other people are wearing. But, this mentality can cause a person to lose sight of the small things: like waking up this morning, being blessed with good health, having food and shelter, and support from family. Every day is a new chance to change. Life is what you make it. Today is not yesterday and yesterday does not have to be your tomorrow. By focusing on what I have rather what I don’t will make me a happier person and a better person. I want to be able to see things and be thankful for things that could be easily overlooked, and it is these littlest of things that are going to enhance my life for the better.
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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — The Alchemist — A Reflection On The Alchemist By Paulo Coelho
A Reflection on The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
- Subject: Literature
- Category: Books
- Essay Topic: Book Review , The Alchemist
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- Published: 12 January 2022
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Essays on The Alchemist
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The alchemist summary.
The Alchemist is a novel about self-discovery and following your dreams. The protagonist, Santiago (a shepherd boy), travels from Spain to Egypt in search of treasure buried under the pyramids. Along the way, he learns important lessons about love and friendship while dealing with adversity—all while trying to achieve his Personal Legend (which is also known as one’s “calling”).
In the beginning of the book, we see a shepherd boy named Santiago dreaming about a buried treasure in Egypt. He’s ignored by his family because they don’t believe him, but he ignores them and sets off on his journey to find this treasure.
The main character, Santiago, travels from Spain to Egypt in pursuit of his Personal Legend.
The main character, Santiago, travels from Spain to Egypt in pursuit of his Personal Legend. He is a shepherd and his Personal Legend is to travel to Egypt and find treasure. This is a metaphor for finding your own happiness and purpose in life.
When you reach the right mindset, anything becomes possible.
Santiago experiences both good and bad fortune along the way.
As you continue your journey, you will experience both good fortune and bad. You will meet kings, receive signs from the universe, and find treasure—this is good fortune. However, you will also be robbed and beaten by thieves—this is bad fortune.
Good fortune tells Santiago that he should continue his quest for treasure despite all obstacles because the universe is on his side. Bad fortune teaches him to appreciate what he has because it could easily have been taken away from him at any moment by robbers or other bad forces in the world.
Ultimately though, good fortune prevails when Santiago finally finds his treasure: wisdom (the meaning of life).
Sometimes he has to work hard for his treasure.
You may think that Santiago finds his treasure easily, but it is not so. He has to overcome many obstacles along the way.
He has to work hard for his treasure. He has to do things he doesn’t want to do, like work at a factory or even become a shepherd again. And he must be patient and willing to take risks if he wants his dream of finding the treasure of Personal Legend to come true.
Sometimes the Universe helps him find his treasure.
The alchemist’s daughter is a symbol of Santiago’s Personal Legend, his soul mate and also his treasure. In other words, she represents all three of the things that Santiago is seeking on his journey to fulfillment.
When Fatima first meets him she says, “I am the soul mate you’ve been looking for.” She later tells him that they should get married and be together forever. This leads us to believe that she is the one who will help Santiago achieve his Personal Legend and keep him from losing hope during times of tribulation.
The Soul of the World helps him on his way.
The Soul of the World is a metaphor for the universe. It’s a big place, and it has many ways to help you on your journey. The Soul of the World is not a person, but it does have many forces at work within itself that can guide you through life and help you find your treasure.
The universe is like a great wheel where everything fits together perfectly. The alchemist will learn how to harness this energy through his own faith and belief in himself, and he will use his newfound power to heal others while earning money so that he can continue on his search for immortality.
By staying true to himself, Santiago is rewarded with enormous wealth at the end of his journey.
The Alchemist is a book about self-discovery and the true meaning of happiness. Santiago, the protagonist, spends most of his life searching for treasure in other places. He goes on a journey to discover his Personal Legend—a term that refers to a person’s unique calling or purpose in life.
Santiago starts out as a digger and learns how to use his digging skills to find gold. He eventually uses these skills to become wealthy and then travels around Spain with his wife, Fatima. After she dies, he explores the world looking for something more than money or material possessions can provide him with. This leads him back home where he meets an enigmatic figure who shows him how important it is for him to follow his heart instead of always chasing after wealth like so many others do when they set out on their own quests for personal fulfillment (or what’s known as “The Road”).
If you pursue what you’re passionate about, you will be rewarded.
The Alchemist teaches us a few key things:
We must follow our Personal Legends and not the expectations of others;
Life is full of unexpected twists and turns, but they lead to new possibilities;
Our past experiences shape who we are and how we see the world;
Our culture dictates how we interact with others, and sometimes that leaves us feeling lonely or disconnected from those around us;
It’s important to live in the present moment without worrying about tomorrow because it will come regardless of what we do now.
After two weeks of hard work, Santiago and the alchemist arrive at their destination. The boy goes to work in the mines while the older man travels around looking for answers. Eventually, they meet up again and tell each other what they found in their journeys; when they’re done, they realize that they’ve both been on the same path all along—they just didn’t know it until now because fate had brought them together at this exact moment!
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The Alchemist, Book Review Example
Pages: 6
Words: 1531
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Introduction
The Alchemist ‘s author wrote it in 1988. Its initial publication was in Portuguese, though it has been translated to many languages exceeding 70. Generally, the book is short, with a few pages less than 200. Also, the book is an allegory following a young shepherd of Andalusian origin who is on the journey to the Egyptian pyramid. The central theme in the novel is finding purpose and destiny in life by the main character called Santiago. Therefore, the discussion focuses on the book review of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.
Santiago arrived with his flock at the abandoned church with no roof. The sycamore had grown at the sacristy position. That is where he was going to sleep. He woke up in the middle of a similar dream he had before and woke up the sheep still asleep to continue the journey. He always thought about the merchant’s daughter, whom he had interacted with a year ago while selling wool, and was eager to meet her again (Coelho 12). On reaching Tarifa, he went to a dream interpreter. The woman asked him to go to the Egyptian Pyramids and find the tressure though he demanded 10% of the tressures. While reading the book outside, Melchizedek, the older man born in Salem, and the old king stood by him and demanded a tenth of his sheep in exchange for dream interpretation. After Santiago gave the sheep, Melchizedek told him to go to the Egyptian pyramids for treasures and follow omens (Coelho 56). Melchizedek gave Santiago black stones and white stones called Thummim and Urim, with the white signifying “no” while the black signifies “yes .”Santiago sold his sheep to pursue his dream.
On arrival in Tangier, thieves robbed him making him work with a crystal merchant from the local area. The merchant taught Santiago some lessons as Santiago encouraged him to take some business risks. Santiago joined a caravan heading to Egypt via the Sahara Desert, where he met an Englishman pursuing his studies to be an alchemist. After interaction with the Englishman, he learned a lot, including the alchemy secrete written on an Emerald Tablet stone (Coelho 97). Alchemy creation is the masterwork consisting of Philosophers’ solid stone, which had the potential of turning lead into gold and Elixir liquid for curing illness. The Alchemist resided in Al-Fayoum, and the Englishman was headed there. He planned on asking the Alchemist about his trade secret. Their caravan had to make an extended stop in Al-Fayoum to avoid the desert’s increased tribal, violent wars. Santiago fell in love with an oasis girl called Fatima. Besides, Santiago witnessed an omen portending an attack on a historical natural oasis (Coelho 122). He warned the chieftains about the attack enabling Al-Fayoum to defend itself successfully.
The Alchemist learned of the vision by this boy Santiago. The two set on a trip, enlightening Santiago on pursuing personal legend. Santiago left the caravan, including Fatima, and resumed his journey with the Alchemist volunteering to accompany him (Coelho 137). The Alchemist shared more wisdom with Santiago about the world’s soul. Arab soldiers captured them when they were some few days to the pyramids. The Alchemist handed Santiago’s money to the tribe in exchange for their lives and warned these soldiers about Santiago’s power as he would turn into wind within three days. Santiago never had an idea of turning into the wind, and these sentiments worried him. He communicated to the wind and the sun and requested a tremendous sandstorm. Santiago continued to pray. Soon he disappeared into the storm. Later on, he reappeared on the other side. Tribe men cherished Santiago’s ability and hence let them go free. Santiago and the Alchemist continued with their journey. As they continued with the journey, the Alchemist demonstrated how he could turn lead and end up with gold using Philosopher’s stone (Coelho 146). The Alchemist sent Santiago off after giving him some gold.
At the pyramids’ foot, Santiago started digging tressures, though two men accosted and beat him, bruising him, which increased his bleeding. Santiago narrated to them his dream. They did not see the need for Santiago to have money since they felt he was dying soon after beating him. The man who appeared like the leader decided to leave Santiago since he seemed like he had nothing, and he thought he had stolen the gold in his possession (Coelho 157). The leader told Santiago that they were leaving though he was not dying. The leader told Santiago that he had dreamt about the same tressures two years ago at the same spot. In his dream, the tressure’s location was in Spain at a ruined church where a shepherd slept. He was to dig the root of the sycamore to get the tressure. Though he termed the dream useless, he would not travel over a dream. Soon, they disappeared. Santiago reached the abandoned church in the evening with a shovel. The following day he started digging. After digging for some time, he retrieved Spanish gold coins (Coelho 162). Also, he found jewels embedding stone statues, white and red feathers adorning gold masks, and precious stones. He placed Thummim and Urim in his chest, reminding him of the old king. The levanter wind reminded him of Fatima, and the story ends with Santiago promising to go for Fatima.
Generally, The Alchemist is an amazing book, and its storytelling is quite beautiful. The book has an impeccable choice of words with more wisdom, but, again, the soul’s depth behind the author’s words spins the magic within the novel. I loved the entire book, including its flow (Coelho 17). The storyline is extremely enchanting and is full of optimistic events which are so encouraging and useful in humankind’s life. Through the book, the readers can understand that the journey to our destiny is vital, just like the destiny itself. Also, from the book, I realized that human beings need to have faith and risk everything to achieve their destiny, just like Santiago risked it all, including his sheep, to achieve his destiny (Coelho 62). Also, Paulo presented insightful ideas concerning the destiny of an individual. It includes rising above all sorts of failure.
Furthermore, as human beings, there is a need to have hope and be spiritual, as all of these will help us achieve our destiny. The novel appeals to all readers since everyone has a dream, and all we need is someone to encourage and motivate us to achieve these dreams (Coelho 63). In addition, the universe will always conspire with anyone who needs to achieve anything. The phrase repeated itself, and it says it all. Santiago’s struggle met some mysterious help and shortcomings that helped him achieve his destiny. The Alchemist is clear that if anyone wishes to reach their biggest goals and fulfill them, they need to follow their personal legend. Melchizedek uses the personal legend when explaining to Santiago what he needed to do to get his tressures. After that, Santiago decided to follow the personal legend of the pyramids. He first sold his sheep on set on to Tangier. Though he encountered obstacles, he was able to overcome them. Anyone reading the book will automatically escape reality, but at the same time, they will understand the reality. From a personal understanding of The Alchemist , people have the potential to offer the best of all the worlds. The novel’s events sit on the miraculous borderline, and the ambiance is not just the humdrum world of teenage (Coelho 114). Though, The Alchemists supplies inspirations and insights extending beyond Santiago and the Saharan journey into the lives of all people, whether teenage, young, or old.
Furthermore, there is a need to avoid being afraid if anyone wishes to do away with barriers pulling them behind. When Santiago arrived at Tangier, he did not know their language or culture (Coelho 155). As a result, someone stole his money. He almost lost hope and wished to turn back, but he paid attention to the omens and continued his journey. Besides, The Alchemist teaches us to rise many times than we fail. Santiago interacted with the Englishman who narrated to him about the Alchemist. Through his ability to foresee an attack, he attracted the Alchemist’s attention, making him teach and mentor Santiago (Coelho 157). The Alchemist may not be an individual and regular fiction book, though it is necessary to have it on our bookshelves.
Decisively, The Alchemist is an interesting and encouraging book featuring a shepherd, Santiago. The storyline is interesting through its new settings and the introduction of new characters in the entire book. Generally, the book is unpredictable since it is not easy to tell what will happen next as events keep changing. For instance, the main focus was visiting the merchant, selling the wool, and talking to his daughter. However, the whole idea changed after meeting the lady who could interpret the dream and Melchizedek at Tarifa. Besides, the book is a life enhancer through its inspirations after meeting different people. Finally, reading the book offers a different outlook on the world, including looking for omens, listening to individual hearts, feeling, and embracing the soul.
Coelho, Paulo. “The Alchemist, trans. Alan R. Clarke.” (1998). 1-163.
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Essay examples, the alchemist written by paulo coelho.
The Alchemist, written by Paulo Coelho, starts off with a boy named Santiago, who is striving for success in accomplishing his Personal Legend. Santiago starts as a doubtful and tentative sheep tender in Andalusia. One day, he dreams of treasure being found at the Pyramid and goes to a gypsy for advice. Disappointed by the…
Alchemist Archetypes Sample
In the alchemist by Paul Coelho. he writes about a shepherd named Santiago. Santiago’s journey is written chiefly through state of affairs originals. Originals are used to categorise people and a state of affairs in narratives. verse forms. dramas ect. The prevailing originals are situational. The most distinguished originals in the alchemist are the induction….
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Paulo Coelho was born in Rio de Janiero in 1947 and before his career as abest-selling author, he was a playwright, theater director, hippie, and popularsongwriter for some of Brazil’s leading pop artists. In 1986 he took apilgrimage along that Road of Santiago and this would be the center of theplot of the book, The…
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Santiago couldn’t forget his vision that vanished just as quickly as it had come…he had seen an army, with its swords at the ready, riding into the oasis. The Alchemist, written by Paulo Coelho, is a book about a boy who has a dream, which leads to the pursuit of his treasure, his personal legend….
Santiago and the Dream About the Egyptian Pyramids in The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
While sleeping near a sycamore tree in the sacristy of an abandoned church, Santiago, a shepherd boy, has a recurring dream about a child who tells him that he will find a hidden treasure if he travels to the Egyptian pyramids. An old woman tells Santiago that this dream is prophetic and that he must…
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Many people ponder the idea of there being external, uncontrollable forces that dictate the outcomes of people’s lives. This idea frightens some, as people desire control of their own lives and destinies. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho focuses on a shepherd named Santiago as he completes an arduous excursion for treasure that is deemed his…
The Factors of Fate and Destiny in Relation to Santiago From the Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Explore the ways in which fate and destiny are factors in Santiago’s journey and how they contribute to the development of the plot. Hint at possible messages the author is conveying in each instance you discuss. Fate and destiny are the powers beyond one’s will that settle ahead of time how things will unfold in…
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Essays Further Study Buy Now The Alchemist is a novel by Paulo Coelho that was first published in 1988. Read key facts, the plot summary, and important quotes . Summary Read one-minute Sparklet summaries, the detailed section-by-section Summary & Analysis, or the Full Book Summary of The Alchemist . Sparklet Chapter Summaries Summary & Analysis
In conclusion, the book the Alchemist illustrates the hardships and decisions we all must go through in life. It emphasizes that listening to your heart and going on your Personal Journey can be a hard and relentless road to embark on. However, the lessons learned and experiences gains can lead you to immeasurable rewards and 777 Words 4 Pages
Conclusion Works Cited We will write a custom Book Review on A Metaphor for Life: "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho specifically for you for only $11.00 $9.35/page 809 certified writers online Learn More The book The Alchemist can be described as a metaphor for life. It is funny how dreams can mold a person's life.
The Alchemist tells the boy that such decision will lead to the unhappiness of both Santiago and Fatima as he will regret refusing from a dream, and Fatima will feel the guilt for forcing him to do it. In such way, Coelho teaches the reader that refusing from a dream for the sake of love is the severely wrongful act.
The Alchemist is a journey of exploration and self-discovery as we follow the main character, Santiago, a young shepherd who lives in Spain, on a journey to fulfill his personal legend. The novel shows us wisdoms and gentle reminders of how to change our lives from what they may be today into the life we have always dreamed of.
He knows that he was right to leave a potential life in the priesthood in order to pursue shepherding because it allowed him to see a new side of the world that he would have missed otherwise. However, when he meets the alchemist and he wants to know more about that part of life, he begins to read.
In the reading it demonstrates "people's inability to choose their own personal legends" inflicted by the world's greatest lie, "our lives become controlled by fate". Coelho's writing consists of Santiago, a boy whose legend was kindled by a dream, now he is attempting to reach it.
The book "The Alchemist" written by Paulo Coelho has drastically changed my attitude to the things around me and to my life as well. The history of the boy who obeyed his destiny and followed his dreams made me totally rethink the way I see my future and helped me to establish my dreams and goals.
The novel The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is about a shepherd named Santiago. Santiago is not an ordinary shepherd, he reads regularly, which surprises the merchant's daughter. Santiago enjoys his life as a shepherd not only because it allows him to travel, but also because he loves his sheep.
Essays for The Alchemist (Coelho) The Alchemist essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Alchemist written by Paulo Coelho. The Importance of Religion and Spirituality in The Alchemist; How Dreams and Omens Support the Theme of Interconnection; The Importance ...
The Alchemist Essay In life, everyone has their own personal legend. Whether it be giving people a reason to remember the name or getting the dream job, the journey to a personal legend is not an easy one. A personal legend can take your entire life to achieve or even realize what it is!
The Alchemist is not only a fable but also a work of Magical Realism, evoking a realistic setting as well as magical and mysterious events. The work connects to socially relevant topics and...
In The Alchemist, Coelho talks about the importance of the "Personal Legend", that is, the path that each person should take to achieve the greatest happiness. In the book, a young shepherd boy, named Santiago is sent on a journey to find his own Personal Legend. On his journey he deals with frustration, devastation, hope, love, confusion ...
Alchemist is novel on the struggle of a young Andalusian shepherd named, Santiago, written by Paulo Coelho, a Brazilian author, in 1987 and published in 1988. The constant theme in The Alchemist is to pursue your dreams by following what your heart desires. This book was written in only two weeks and remained bestseller book.
The Alchemist summary. The Alchemist is a novel about self-discovery and following your dreams. The protagonist, Santiago (a shepherd boy), travels from Spain to Egypt in search of treasure buried under the pyramids. Along the way, he learns important lessons about love and friendship while dealing with adversity—all while trying to achieve ...
Introduction. The Alchemist 's author wrote it in 1988. Its initial publication was in Portuguese, though it has been translated to many languages exceeding 70. Generally, the book is short, with a few pages less than 200. Also, the book is an allegory following a young shepherd of Andalusian origin who is on the journey to the Egyptian pyramid.
Example Of Essay On The Alchemist. The Alchemist is an allegory novel that was written by Paulo Coelho and first published in 1988. This book was originally written in Portuguese but was later translated into 71 languages. The Alchemist is about an andalusian young shepherd boy called Santiago Santiago. It tells of Santiago's journey through ...
Alchemist. Words: 935 (4 pages) The Alchemist, written by Paulo Coelho, starts off with a boy named Santiago, who is striving for success in accomplishing his Personal Legend. Santiago starts as a doubtful and tentative sheep tender in Andalusia. One day, he dreams of treasure being found at the Pyramid and goes to a gypsy for advice.