THE ALCHEMIST : BOOK REPORT

About the book

Written by Brazilian author Paulo Coelho in 1988. It was initially written and published in
Portuguese. It is an international bestseller and has been translated to more than 70 languages. The
book is relatively short having around 167 pages only. The theme is about finding one’s destiny or
purpose in life.

Plot
The story is about a Shepherd boy from Spain whose name is Santiago. He keeps getting the same
dream about treasures that are lying in the Pyramids of Egypt. He embarks on a journey to follow his
dream after meeting an old king who offers him magic stones and advice. Santiago crosses the
Mediterranean and Sahara to find his treasures in Egypt and also accomplish his personal legend
which is his purpose in life. The book details his journey and the various encounters that he
experiences when following his dream. Throughout the journey, Santiago meets many new people and
a lot of difficulty which ultimately helps him to learn and grow the entire way. Does he find the
treasures in the Pyramids of Egypt?.

Critical Essays Themes in The Alchemist

Dreams: Dreams are central to The Alchemist's action as well as

its meaning. Santiago's dream is the novel's inciting incident (the
event that sets the story in motion), and the author's primary
message seems to be that we should follow our dreams.

Fate: Fate is often cited as a reason not to pursue one's Personal

Legend, as in the case of the crystal merchant, whose motto
is maktub: "It is written."

Love: Without love, according to The Alchemist, our lives are

incomplete. Once Santiago discovers unconditional love in the
person of Fatima, however, there is little he cannot accomplish.
Omens: Introduced by Melchizedek, the king of Salem, omens
are central to the action of the novel. They play a crucial role in
Santiago's success, as when he correctly interprets the omen of
the two hawks fighting over the desert outside the oasis.

Religion: Religion is a double-edged sword, according to The

Alchemist. On one hand, Santiago has the recurring dream that
sets him on his way in the sacristy of an abandoned church; on
the other hand, he must abandon that church to experience his
Personal Legend. Santiago learned to read because of his
religious studies, but books are not especially useful to him in his
quest.

Spirituality: What The Alchemist seems to suggest is that we

should value spirituality in place of organized religion.

Character List

Santiago Shepherd boy, the protagonist of The Alchemist. He

travels from Andalusia in southern Spain to the Egyptian pyramids
in search of hidden treasure, learning life lessons along the way.
Santiago is a dreamer and a seeker, and he stands for the
dreamer and seeker in all of us.

Old Woman A fortune teller, and possibly a gypsy, she interprets

Santiago's recurring dream, but in a manner so straightforward
that he finds it suspect and disappointing.

Melchizedek/King of Salem An anonymous old man who is in

fact a powerful figure from the Old Testament, he explains to
Santiago what a Personal Legend is and urges the shepherd boy
to follow his dream. Aside from Santiago himself, Melchizedek is
the most important character in The Alchemist.

Crystal Merchant A middle-aged resident of Tangier, he hires

Santiago to work in his shop. The crystal merchant's Personal
Legend is to make a pilgrimage (or haj) to Mecca, but he knows
he will never fulfill this dream. He is Santiago's foil, a character
who characterizes another by contrast.

Englishman A bookish pedant obsessed with alchemy who

hopes to learn the fabled craft from a famous alchemist rumored
to live at the Al-Fayoum oasis that lies between Tangier and the
pyramids. In The Alchemist, the Englishman stands for the limits
of book learning.

Camel Herder Once a prosperous farmer, his valuable orchards

were wiped out by a flood, forcing him into a new line of work. He
teaches Santiago the importance of living in the moment. He also
represents the possibility of receiving wisdom from unlikely
sources.

Alchemist The novel's title character. An inordinately learned

man, he lives at the oasis and can turn any metal into gold. The
alchemist helps Santiago make the journey from the oasis to the
Egyptian pyramids.

Fatima A beautiful Arab girl who lives at the oasis. Santiago

discovers Fatima filling her water jug at one of the oasis's wells,
and he falls in love with her. She supports his quest, even though
it will take him away from her. Fatima represents true love,
selfless and unconditional.

Analysis of Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist

BY NASRULLAH MAMBROL  ON OCTOBER 8, 2022
The most popular novel of the Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho
(1947– ), The Alchemist combines philosophical ideas and words of
wisdom about ambition, perseverance, and success. Since its publication
in 1988, the novel has has sold over 150 million copies worldwide, won
115 international prizes and awards, has been translated into 80
languages, and is still on the New York Times bestseller list today.
The Alchemist narrates the story of a shepherd boy called Santiago who
travels with his flock, looking for the best pastures for his sheep in the
Andalusian countryside. The conflict arises early in the novel’s plot
when Santiago chooses to seek an interpretation of a recent dream and is
advised to travel to the pyramids in Egypt and look for a hidden treasure.
The novel narrates the mystical experiences of Santiago as he travels
from Spain, through the Egyptian desert and on to the great pyramids,
seeking the fulfillment of his dream.
Coelho’s novel is almost mythical in structure, with a linear plot and
single story line recounted in simple language. The tightly written
narrative is not embellished by elaborate characterization, explanations,
or historical details, and any detail irrelevant to the main plot is
conspicuously absent. The entire emphasis of the novel remains on
eternally valid truths, which Coelho attempts to convey through the
story. The symbolic elements in the narrative, the universal quality of
the protagonist’s experiences, and the message the novel suggests to the
reader account for much of The Alchemist’s popularity.
The Alchemist underlines an idea or wish that human beings strongly
want to believe: If one sincerely desires something, the whole universe
conspires to fulfill that dream. Coelho conveys, through the novel, that
this sentiment is a lie and that at some point in life people lose the ability
to control their lives and become the playthings of fate. He suggests that
by listening to one’s heart and by heeding omens and signs, one can
control destiny. The strong undercurrent of optimism, which runs
through the narrative, is the novel’s greatest charm.
It is notable that in the tale Santiago’s chance encounters with people
bring him closer to his aim and motivate him to continue his quest
despite his complacence at times. His meeting with the Gypsy fortune-
teller in the beginning is followed immediately by a meeting with the old
king of Salem, Melchizedek, who is aware of Santiago’s past and future
and urges the boy to pursue his vision. An unfortunate experience with a
thief in Tangier disheartens the searcher for a time, but his memories of
the words of the king guide him to the right course of action. The crystal
merchant for whom Santiago works for almost a year prefers to dream of
going on a pilgrimage instead of embarking on a journey to Mecca in
real life. The crystal merchant’s fear of failure shakes Santiago into
resolving to follow his dream.
Santiago later meets an Englishman who harbors the hope of meeting the
mysterious alchemist, an Arab who lives at the Al-Fayoum oasis and
possesses exceptional powers. Santiago joins the caravan with the En
glishman to travel to Egypt, and it is during this journey that the
shepherd boy comes to know about the soul of the world, the language
of the heart, and the intricacies of the science of alchemy. The shepherd
boy’s budding love for an Arabian girl, Fatima, whom he meets during
his voyage through the desert, tempts him into giving up his quest for
the treasure, but aptly enough Fatima plays the role of a soul mate and
coaxes Santiago to continue his difficult expedition. Toward the end of
the novel, Santiago’s meeting with the alchemist in the desert helps the
young seeker to discover his inner strengths and brings him closer to
realizing his destiny.
Omens, signs, dreams, and visions pervade the narrative and act like
refrains in this song of the desert. It is only by taking note of these
subtle revelations of his subconscious mind that Santiago rises to the
alchemist’s expectations and bravely faces all the trials that await him.
In The Alchemist, Coelho suggests through Santiago’s tale that it is only
by finding and following one’s “personal myth” that one can hope to
achieve success, contentment, and happiness. Those who do not have
the courage to pursue their deepest desires end up living an empty and
doomed life plagued by dissatisfaction and frustration.