Bibliography
Writer’s Name: Paulo Coelho
Book Name: The Alchemist (O Alquimista)
Year of Publication: 1993
Total Pages: 166
Paper Back:
Published Price:
Main Idea of the Story
Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following
around the world. This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and
inspiring wisdom, is about a shepherd boy named Santiago who travels
from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a dream
which is about a treasure buried in the Pyramids. He goes on a quest to
find that treasure along with an experience of a life time.
The Author’s Background
Paulo Choelho was born on 24 August 1947, is a Brazilian lyricist and
novelist. From the very beginning he wanted to become a writer. He
published his first book in 1982. Some of his famous novels are The
Alchemist, Veronika decides to die, The Zahir, Eleven Minutes and The
fifth Mountain. His main genre is Drama and Psychology.
In 1996, Coelho founded the Paulo Coelho Institute, which provides aid
to children and elderly people with financial problems. In September
2007, Coelho was named a Messenger of Peace to the United Nations.
On May 9, 2006,in Sofia, Bulgaria, Paulo Coehlo was awarded by the
President of Bulgaria Georgi Parvanov the "The Honorable Award of the
President of the Republic".
The Book Background
The Alchemist was first published in 1988 by the name O Alquimista. It
has been hailed as a modern classic. The Alchemist was originally
written in Portuguese and has since been translated into 67 languages,
winning the Guinness World Record for most translated book by a living
author. It has sold more than 65 million copies in more than 150
countries, becoming one of the best-selling books in history. The
alchemist states: “Those who don't understand their personal legends
will fail to comprehend its teachings”.
Summary
The Alchemist is subtitled "A Fable About Following Your Dreams."
Fables are cautionary tales that have a point to make. The
universal point this story makes is that everyone has a special destiny,
and yet not everyone resolves to attain it because it takes hard work.
Reaching one's destiny requires leaving behind familiar surroundings. It
also demands persistence, the ability to change when appropriate and
the willingness to respond to omens that point the way.
Like the title character, most of the characters in this story are not
given names. In a traditional fable, characters are often animals that
represent a specific trait. The characters here are humans, but they are
only identified by what they do or whom they represent. The main
character, a young Spanish shepherd, does have a name, Santiago,
which is a derivative.....
When Santiago, a young shepherd boy from the Spanish
countryside of Andalusia , has a dream that reveals the location of a
hidden treasure buried at the Egyptian Pyramids his simple life is
suddenly torn in two. Part of him wants to take the chance to go
searching for it and the other part of him wants to continue his easy life
as a shepherd.
A mysterious king named the king of Salem in Tarifa convinces Santiago
that he has succeeded in discovering his Personal Legend. The old king
tells Santiago that following his Personal Legend to its conclusion is a
person’s only real obligation in life.
Santiago listens to his heart and decides to go on a dangerous search
for the treasure. He sells his flock of sheep and heads to Africa, where
he is quickly robbed of all his gold and left despondent on the streets.
He decides that he was foolish to believe in his dreams and quickly gets
a job with a crystal merchant in order to save up enough money to go
back home.
After almost a year working for the merchant, Santiago has made a
success of the shop and has plenty of money to do whatever he wants.
As he’s walking the streets to go back home he suddenly decides to
take a chance and continue his search for the buried treasure.
He joins a caravan to make the dangerous crossing across the desert
and as he rides the long, slow days away he begins to listen to his heart
and to the desert. He begins to understand what the Soul of the World
is, and how he fits in.
When the caravan makes it to the oasis, Santiago meets a girl he falls in
love with the moment he sees her. The local alchemist, a mysterious
man who reminds Santiago of the old king, helps Santiago continue his
journey across the desert and teaches him more important life lessons
along the way. Although Santiago does not know it, he is becoming
wise, and a master in the art of living to the fullest no matter what.
Although he has left his true love back at the oasis, he is resolved to
follow his dream to its end.
After many adventures, dangers, and important life lessons Santiago
finally reaches the Pyramids. His joy at finally being at journey’s end
overwhelms him, and he is grateful that he got the chance to follow his
dream.
He begins to dig deep into the sand looking for treasure, but before he
can get far a pack of thieves shows up, beating and robbing him. They
force him to continue digging, and then leave when no treasure is
found. One of the thieves, as destiny would have it, tells Santiago an
important clue and when they’re gone Santiago can’t help but laugh,
because now he knows where his treasure truly lies.
It ends up being right back where his journey began, under the very
tree where he had the prophetic dream years before. He digs and finds
a beautiful chest full of gold and gems. His next and last journey will be
back to the desert to be reunited with the woman he loves.
Description
Characters
Major Characters:
Santiago
He is a shepherd boy, who because of a recurring dream, decides to find his treasure at the
pyramids in Egypt. Along the way, he meets a Gypsy woman, an Old King, a crystal merchant,
an Englishman, and an alchemist, all of whom teach him something about fulfilling his Personal
Legend and striving to find his treasure. He is a very wise young man and yet one who has much
to learn. Because he holds fast to his dream, he becomes a better man.
The Old King
He is the second to help Santiago and gives him the stones named Urim and Thummim. He also
advises Santiago to never stop dreaming and follow the omens. His name is Melchizedek and he
is a Biblical figure who had once helped Abraham on behalf of God. He is sometimes believed to
be Jesus Christ.
The Crystal Merchant
He is a man for whom Santiago begins to work and who profits from the boy’s aptitude in
improving sales. He teaches Santiago how important it is to follow through and not give up on
his dream. His dream had been to travel to Mecca on a pilgrimage, but because he never does,
he’s afraid that the reality will destroy the dream and so he never goes. His sense of regret
encourages Santiago to take what he has earned there and buy a ticket to Tangier.
The Englishman
He is a young man who has spent ten years of his life reading about alchemy with the hope of
discovering the Master Work. He goes with Santiago on the caravan to the oasis so he can find
the oldest alchemist of them all and learn his secrets. He teaches Santiago that not all information
can be found in books and that one should observe what goes on around him as well. The
Englishman eventually discovers that for himself after consulting with the alchemist.
The alchemist
He is rumored to be over 200 years old and lives on the Al-Fayoum oasis. He has an advanced
sense that Santiago is coming to the oasis and knows it is his responsibility to lead him to the
pyramids. Along the way, he teaches the boy much about listening to his heart and reaching out
for his dream no matter what the cost. He never does anything for the boy except guide him and
allow him to learn for himself.
The alchemist has the Elixir of Life and the Philosopher’s Stone, which allow him to make any
metal into gold. That is his Personal Legend, which he had achieved many years before. His
name is not capitalized, because the title could be taken by anyone, like Santiago, who learns the
truth of the Master Work.
Minor Characters:
The Gypsy Woman
She is the first one Santiago consults about his dream. She is mysterious and yet religious as can
be attested by the Sacred Heart of Jesus picture on her wall. She tells Santiago that because it
was a child who took his hands in the dream and led him to the pyramids, he must go. However,
before she tells him anything, she makes him promise that he will give her one-tenth if he finds
his treasure. He eventually brings her the price, because he is honorable and he has promised.
Fatima
She is the beautiful young woman whom Santiago meets at a well on the oasis. She directs them
to the alchemist, but in the process of that first conversation, Santiago falls in love with her and
she eventually falls in love with him. As a desert woman, she is willing to wait for him to find
his treasure and fulfill his Personal Legend.
The Camel Driver
Santiago meets him on the caravan journey to the oasis and from him learns all about the
importance of the present. He had lost everything to the flooding of the Nile, but now he is
content to work as a camel driver and take one day at a time.
The Tribal Chieftain
He demands that Santiago turn himself into the wind and in the process, discovers that the boy
has seen the glory of God.
Dialogues
The Alchemist
“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. Life will be a party for you, a grand
festival, because life is the moment we’re living now.”
Santiago
“I am coming Fatima.”
The Old Man
"In order to find the treasure, you will have to follow the omens. God has prepared a path for
everyone to follow. You just have to read the omens that he left for you."
The English Man
“The alchemists spent years in their laboratories, observing the fire that purified the metals. They
spent so much time close to the fire that gradually they gave up the vanities of the world. They
discovered that the purification of the metals had led to a purification of themselves.”
Evaluation
Conclusion
