Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist

potential for a successful ending
Novelist Paulo Coelho, a competent writer who is well-known for his international, bestseller, The Alchemist, suggests that what makes life ever so compelling is: “the possibility of having a dream come true” (Coelho 11). Coelho's The Alchemist emphasizes a storyline that follows a shepherd boy named Santiago - through his journey of discovering and uncovering his very treasure. Traveling from Spain to Egypt whilst experiencing obstacles, Santiago succeeds in pursuing his ‘personal legend’. By pursuing what he wants ever so passionately, with the help of several characters, Santiago evolves into a well-rounded individual by gaining knowledge through his travels and rich experiences. Coelho incorporates the

To begin his journey, Santiago meets a wise, old king and a crystal merchant. The first of his helpers is the old king. He is introduced as an old man who intends to talk to the boy about the book he is reading; however, he then claims he is Melchizedeks - King of Salem. Believing in the words of this King, Santiago continues the conversation, then engages into a talk about his dream of the Pyramids. The king validates Santiago’s dream, but for a price of six sheep in return. Melchizedek, before leaving with his sheeps, informs Santiago that “the secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon” (Coelho 32). His message to Santiago emphasizes that by following his dream, he will witness lovely sights and individuals; he also emphasizes that he should not forget the primary reason for his travel. If he stays on the correct path, then the oil on his spoon should stay where it is in the beginning. After departing, the King has lead Santiago in

He has met the king, the merchant, the Englishman, Fatima, and the alchemist, and the last to meet is a refugee that leads him to the gold. Beaten, weak, and nearly unconscious, Santiago hopes the refugees are done, but one returns with the greatest news by telling Santiago, “’You’re not going to die. You’ll live, and you’ll learn that a man shouldn’t be so stupid. Two years ago, right here on this spot, I had a recurrent dream, too. I dream that I should travel to the fields of Spain and look for a ruined church where shepherds and their sheep slept…if I dug at the root of the sycamore, I would find a hidden treasure. But I’m not so stupid as to cross an entire desert just because of a recurrent dream” (Coelho 163). By not following his dream the refugee has not fulfilled his personal legend, and therefore has not had a complete happy life. Fortunately for Santiago that is the best mistake that refugee has made. This is because Santiago slept at the place of the refugee’s dream, meaning he was by the treasure all along. On the other hand, in the beginning of the novel Santiago describes his recurrent dream sharing, “’…And suddenly, the child took me by both hand and transported me to the Egyptian pyramids’” (Coelho 13). He follows his dream until he reaches the pyramids of Egypt, learning that his actual treasure was the journey itself because it teaches him that by