THE ALCHEMIST

By Paulo Coelho

Year published: 1988

Genre: Allegory
Type: Children’s storybook

CHARACTERS

MAIN CHARACTER/PROTAGONIST

➔ SANTIAGO (A SHEPHERD BOY)

● From Andalusia, Spain
● Met ‘Melchizedek’ a wise man (an old king of Salem) in the nearby village and
explained the concept of the Personal Legend to convince him to pursue his dreams
and seek for the treasure
● Sets off on a journey to find his Personal Legend and follow his dreams, it takes him
from the hills and valley of his homeland to Sahara Desert, The Great Pyramids of
Egypt and back to his homeland again

SIDE CHARACTERS

➔ GYPSY WOMAN
● Known as an interpreter of dreams and Santiago seek her out upon arrival in Tarifa
● Told him to depart at once for Egypt to find the treasure when he told her about his
dreams

➔ MELCHIZEDEK (AN OLD KING OF SALEM)

● Met Santiago and gave him two stones, Black and White which represent ‘Yes’ and
‘No’ to help him on his journey

➔ CRYSTAL MERCHANT
● A crystal seller in Tangier
● Wanted to hire Santiago after he were robbed

➔ THE ENGLISHMAN (TRAVELLER)

● Met while in Tangier and form friendship
● Both The Englishman and Santiago want to pursue their Personal Legend
● Went to The Desert Oasis of Al-Fayoum where the master of alchemist supposedly
lives
 ➔ FATIMA (LOVE OF HIS LIFE)
● Lives in the desert oasis of Al-Fayoum
● Met Santiago during his extended stopover, falls in love with her but chooses to leave
her behind to pursue his Personal Legend and journey to the Egyptian pyramids
● Once he discovered and sorted out his things, he vows to return to Fatima

➔ THE ALCHEMIST (TEACHER)

● 200 years old master alchemist lives in the desert oasis of Al-Fayoum
● Taught Santiago valuable lessons about alchemy, Personal Legend and the Soul of the
World
● Travelled together across the desert by caravan to the Egyptian pyramids

PLOT SUMMARY
(based solely from what i understand)

The novel is divided into two parts. Part one is about a young Andalusian boy named
Santiago (a Shepherd boy) who wanted to be a traveller instead of a priest. He travels to a
nearby village, Tarifa after he gets the approval from his father. There, he met a gypsy
woman known for her interpreter dreams, he told her about the dreams he dreamt whenever
he slept underneath an old tree. The gypsy woman told him to seek for the treasure at The
Great Pyramids, Egypt and did not charge him for money, instead she wanted tenth percent
from the treasure. While roaming in the village, he met a mysterious old man, Melchizedek,
who claimed to be the king of Salem and after a few minutes, the old man successfully
pursued him. Melchizedek asks Santaigo to sell his six sheeps for him to travel to Egypt.

He travelled to Egypt with a boat but before arriving there, he stopped at a city called
Tangier and realised there were no English speakers so he was dumbfounded. Later on he met
a companion who can speak Spanish quite well and trusted him but he was backstabbed by
him. Thus, he lost his money and had to work at a crystal merchant’s shop.

Part two is the continuation of part one. After 11 months and a few days working at
the crystal shop, Santiago finally had enough money for him to travel to Egypt. After arriving
there, he met a traveller companion, The Englishman with the same interest they travel
together to find 200 years old The Alchemist who lives in the desert oasis of Al-Fayoum.
They travelled by caravan. After they had reached their destination, they asked around about
The Alchemist but failed. Then, they met a beautiful young Al-Fayoum woman named
Fatima which Santiago fell in love with at first sight. Days later, he confessed to Fatima but
she rejected saying he should chase his dreams and if fate allows them to be together then
they are fated. So Santiago and The Englishman travelled towards The Great Pyramids but
halfway through, he sensed danger, war.
 Saitango rushed back to tell the chief about what would happen, luckily the chief took
note and victory was on their side. Days after the battle, Saitango waited at a river because
apparently The Alchemist wanted to meet him. The Alchemist then took him into his tent and
decided to take him under his wing. He taught Saitango valuable lessons such as alchemy,
Personal Legend and the Soul of the World. After that they set to travel to Egypt but
unfortunately they got caught by the army because they thought they were spies sent by the
enemy. The Alchemist told them that they were travellers Saitango could turn into wind and
he did at the critical point and thus saved their lives. Saitango continued his journey without
The Alchemist because according to him, it was his fate and he needed to go alone.

He finally arrived at The Great Pyramid of Egypt but luck was not on his side as he
encountered refugees and they badly beat him. He told them about the dream he had of the
treasure hidden near the pyramid but no one believes. Before they left one of the refugees
told him that he had a similar dream and the treasure was not here but it was in Spain, his
homeland all along. He went back to his homeland and dug a hole under the same tree where
he slept and found the treasure he worked sweat and tears for to find and once he discovered
the treasure, he went back to Fatima in order to chase the love of his life.

THEMES
➔ Personal Legend (a search for the meaning of his current dream)
➔ Oneness (learns that living and nonliving share in the Soul of the World)
➔ Free will vs Fate (chooses to pursue his Personal Legend; failure to employ free will results in
fate - uncontrolled events - guiding one’s life)

REVIEWS ABOUT THE BOOK

(can also be values)
➔ “The Alchemist is a beautiful well written book about dreams, fantasy and plot twist”
➔ “The Alchemist truly a poetic book”

QUOTES
➔ “They trust me, and they’ve forgotten how to rely on their own instincts”
➔ “Today i understand something i didn’t see before; every blessing ignored becomes a curse”
➔ “Every search begins with beginner’s luck and every search ends with the victor’s luck being
severely tested”