Book Summary: The Alchemist By Paulo Coleho

In the literary book, “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coleho it talks about how a young boy named Santiago goes on a journey to find his Personal Legend. He counters many obstacles and meets different people and visits different places. Santiago in the end is a very different person. Paulo Coleho includes the characters of the baker, the crystal merchant, Santiago, and the Englishman to show readers that one must conquer their goals or fears to find true happiness and to accomplish their desires. Paulo uses the baker in this story to show how when we hold back from pursuing our dreams then we end up in a constant place of delusion thinking we are happy. For example, on page 25 of “The Alchemist” it states, “When he was a child that man wanted to travel,

too. But he decided first to buy his bakery and put some money aside. When he’s an old man he’s going to spend a month in Africa. He never realized that people are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of.” This quote shows how the baker at first wanted to travel bit instead decided to open a bakery to t first save up money but then it easily became a distraction from his true goal. Paulo the uses the crystal merchant as an example of someone who is afraid to pursue their personal legend. There is an example of this shown on page 57 of “The Alchemist” and it says, “You dream about your sheep and the Pyramids, but you’re different from me, because you want to realize your dreams. I just want to dream about Mecca. I’ve already imagined a thousand times crossing the desert, arriving at the Plaza of the Sacred Stone, the seven times I walk around it before allowing myself to touch it. I’ve already imagined the people who would be at my side, and those in front of me, and the conversations and prayers we would share. But I’m afraid that it would all be a disappointment, so I prefer just to dream about it.” This is showing how when we are afraid of pursuing our dreams or personal legends then we end up in the same place of unhappiness. Both of these quotes show examples of 2 men who failed to pursue their dreams and never got to their personal legends and are just stuck in unhappiness. Paulo uses Santiago in this story to show how we can overcome obstacles and distractions to reach our own Personal Legends. For instance on page 123 of “The Alchemist” it says, “Let me tell you what will happen.

You’ll be the counselor of the oasis. You have enough gold to buy many sheep and many camels. You’ll marry Fatima, and you’ll both be happy for a year. You’ll learn to love the dessert, and you’ll get to know every one of the fifty thousand palms. You’ll watch them as they grow, demonstrating how the world is always changing. And you’ll get better and better at understanding omens, because the desert is the best teacher there is. Sometime during the second year you’ll remember about the treasure. The omens will begin insistently to speak of it, and you’ll try to ignore them. You’ll use your knowledge for the welfare of the oasis and its inhabitants. The tribal chieftains will appreciate what you do. And your camels will bring you wealth and power. During the third year, the omens will continue to speak of your treasure and your Personal Legend. You’ll walk around, night after night, at the oasis, and Fatima will be unhappy because she’ll feel it was she who interrupted your quest. But you will love her, and she’ll return your love. You’ll remember that she never asked you to stay, because a woman of the desert knows that she must await her

man. So you won’t blame her.

But many times you’ll walk the sands of the desert, thinking that maybe you could have left … that you could have trusted more in your love for Fatima. Because what kept you at the oasis was your own fear that you might never come back. At that point, the omens will tell you that your treasure is buried forever.” This piece of evidence explains shows how Santiago will never find his personal legend if he does not trust in his love for Fatima, therefore it is giving the readers an example of how he musts overcome this obstacle to pursue his Personal Legend. Paulo uses the Englishmen to show an example of someone who is able to try no matter the obstacles. It shows this on page 98 of “The Alchemist” and it says,” “I waited all afternoon and evening,” he said. “He appeared with the first stars of evening. I told him what I was seeking, and he asked me if I had ever transformed lead into gold. I told him that was what I had come here to learn. He told me I should try to do so. That’s all he said: ‘Go and try’.” The boy didn’t say anything. The poor Englishman had traveled all this way, only to be told that he should repeat what he had already done so many times. “So then try,” he said to the

Englishman. “That’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to start now.” This quotes shows how the Englishman didn’t respond how most people would’ve. He went looking for answers, only to be told to keep doing what he had already tried doing. That did not stop him though, he had it made in his mind that he would not give up but keep trying. Both of these quotes shows 2 people who are overcoming an obstacle that has been thrown at them so they can fulfill their personal legends. The literary story, “The Alchemist” is an example of how we have stop holding back and be fearless when it comes to our dreams. This story uses its characters to show us readers that we must conquer our goals and fears in order to find true happiness and accomplish our desires.