The Alchemist Paulo Coelho Journey

Paulo Coelho was born on August 24, 1947, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Coelho grew up as a rebellious teenager who was put into an asylum three times by his parents. While an adult in Spain, he had a spiritual awakening that promoted his writing of The Alchemist. His book has been translated and sold over 65 millions copies- making him hold the title of most copies sold by a living author (“Paulo Coelho”).

Coelho ended his law school study to travel; he traveled all across the world to Mexico, South America, North America, and Europe- which is how his spiritual awakening took place (Pallardy). Coelho's main character of The Alchemist also travels and has the same awakening just like him. Coelho left his wife and “normal life” to travel around

and see the world. Coelho wrote the book to inspire the same philosophical beliefs he came across and to ask questions. Philosophical studies have always been popular through the decades, along with ways to inspire a person- which is what the novel is all about. He also does not lack new technology skills; he is quite famous on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter (Zubek).
Conflict and Plot
Santiago, the main character in the novel The Alchemist undergoes a person versus self conflict. Santiago once lived in a small but beautiful town where he was destined to be a priest. However, Santiago believed he wanted to travel and see the world, so he pursued his life as a shepherd. However, he means a wise man who tells him about the “Personal Legend” of everyone’s life. Santiago begins to pursue his personal legend for his recurring dream to the pyramids. Although, when he starts his journey he is robbed of his money and has nothing left but to work as a crystal merchant. “No hope, no adventure, no treasure, and no Pyramids. It was as if the world had fallen silent because the boy’s soul had” (Coelho 50). Santiago eventually is able to support himself and change his mindset to continue on with the journey.
Another conflict in The Alchemist is person versus self as well.

As his journey comes to a close, he meets the Alchemist. The two travel together but are caught by Arab soldiers in the middle of a war. Santiago has three days to be able to change himself into the wind. Santiago is alarmed and startled, “I’m not afraid of failing. It’s just I don’t know how to turn myself into the wind” (Coelho 146). Although, Santiago is faced with a tough situation, but he realizes that he has to speak with his heart and that he is just like nature- he is part of the wind, the sands, and the seas. Knowing this, he is able to turn himself into the wind and complete his task.

Character

The main character in the story is Santiago. Santiago is a dynamic character who is hard working and strong willed. He is a very curious character who travels the world as shepard to live his dream. Santiago is motivated to find out about his Personal Legend and the Soul of the World; with the help of characters like the mysterious old man and the Alchemist he is able to do so. Discovering about the Soul of the world makes Santiago more observant to his surroundings- even if it to just a single grain of sand.

Another character in The Alchemist is the Alchemist himself. The Alchemist is a mysterious man who many do not know personally. He is extremely powerful- especially in the Oasis of which he lives. His function in the novel is to teach Santiago about the Soul of the World and to act as a mentor. The Alchemist

does not transform in the story, but helps to transform Santiago instead.
Theme
A major theme in The Alchemist is connecting with nature. The novel binds together human and nature when Santiago is transformed into the wind. It is also a major theme with changing metal to gold- which only an Alchemist knows how to do. The audience sees a parallel between the transformation of metal to gold and the transformation of Santiago into someone who achieves his Personal Legend. “The boy understood that the desert, the wind, and the sun were also trying to understand the signs written by the hand, and were seeking to follow their paths, and to understand what had been written” (Coelho 157). Santiago demonstrates the idea that humans are one with nature, and his transformation symbolizes that everything in the universe has the same goal- to seek their personal legends.
Another theme in the novel is the obstacle of fear.

Santiago is faced with many fears in his life: getting his fortune told, transforming into the wind, and the fear of losing all his wealth while in Tangier. However with the help of his mentors, he learns that fear guides a person in pursuing his or her dreams. Although, there are other characters who demonstrate the negative side of fear- like the crystal merchant. “The crystal merchant awoke with the day, and felt the same anxiety. . . he had been in the same place for thirty years. . . it was too late to change anything” (Coelho 47). The crystal merchant demonstrates a character where fear rules one’s life. As a result, the crystal merchant lives unhappy the rest of his life and fears that if he changes his life he will have nothing to live

for.
Setting
The novel takes place in Spain, Northern Africa, and the Sahara desert. It is important that it begins in Spain because Santiago must travel all the way to Africa to the pyramids. It symbolizes how long of a journey it takes to accomplish a person’s dreams and goals. The novel does not specify a specific time period, which is important to the audience because the novel is relevant to any time period. The novel can also be passed down generation to generation for years to come and still be known as appropriate to read.
Point of View
The Alchemist is told in third person omniscient. Coelho refers to all of the characters thoughts and feelings in the book; however, he does tend to focus primarily on Santiago’s feelings the most. An example of how he tells the store is: “and he went on, fearing that the boy wouldn’t understand” (Coelho 72). Telling the story in third person omniscient tells the story from a god like view. The audience is able to understand how all characters are feelings and knows all the events that take place on the journey. There is nothing left out in the story and no blank spots. Telling the story from third person also allows for an easier understanding of the text.
Irony
One case of situational irony in the story is Santiago’s recurring dream. He remember the dream the most while underneath a sycamore tree as a shepherd. The dream Santiago has tells him to go to the pyramids of Egypt, and when he arrives he will find a treasure. However, while digging at the pyramids he is beat up by travelers who think he has found gold. The gold is actually what the Alchemist had given him. It is ironic that the gold that comes from wisdoms causes an unexpected turn.
Another situational irony case happens right after. Before the traveling men leave he tells Santiago, “I dreamed that I should travel to the fields of Spain and look for a ruined church where shepherds and their sheep slept. In my dream there was a sycamore. . . if I dug at the roots I would find a hidden treasure” (Coelho 167). It’s ironic that Santiago’s dream led him to the pyramids to only here about where his treasure was at. Moreover, it is ironic that the treasure itself is where Santiago’s life practically begins- where he stays as a shepherd.
Symbol
A major symbol is The Alchemist are Santiago’s sheep. The sheep represent the cowardice people that are surrounding Santiago’s life. At one point, Santiago even says, “if I decided to kill them, one by one, they would become aware only after most of the flock had been slaughtered. . . they trust me, and they’ve forgotten how to rely on their own instincts.” The sheep symbolize people like the candy merchant and the gypsy- always staying in routine and oblivious to the outside world’s true meaning.
Another prominent symbol in the novel is the deserts. The desserts symbolize the tough decisions and path an individual takes to find his or her Personal Legend. The desert for Santiago holds a tribal war and harsh conditions that challenge him along the way. However, the desert also holds his life and the people he loves, like Fatima.
Style
Paulo Coelho writes his novel in a simplistic way. He uses short and easy to read sentences. For example, “he started to read the book he had bought. On the first page it described a burial ceremony” (Coelho 18). Coelho’s purpose in writing short and simple is so people of all races, ages, and reading abilities is able to understand his text.
Coelho also does not write the novel in chapters. Instead, in between text there are page breaks inserted to show the change in the story. This gives the effect of a true story being told. Furthermore, he splits the novel into two parts. The first part to symbolize Santiago’s realization of Personal Legends, and the second part to tell the story of how Santiago achieves his Personal Legend.
Personal Evaluation
I liked that the book was symbol and had meaning behind it. The story was inspiring and brought about self-actualization. The story really made me question myself and what I was doing with my life. A quote by the alchemist read, “People are afraid to pursue their most important dreams because the feel that they don’t deserve them, or that they’ll be unable to achieve them” (Coelho 134). This quote really made me think about my dreams and what I truly wanted to do to achieve them- just like how Santiago did.