The Alchemist Symbolism
Nameless
Composition Two
Professor
Due: 2/13/14
The Literary Alchemy of The Alchemist
Paul Coelho’s novel The Alchemist is the story of a young man on his journey to find his personal legend. Throughout the novel questions of common morality, and integrity are discovered, as well as the importance of pursuing ones dreams. This novel greatly emphasizes the balance of sacrifice in relation to reward, and realizing ones own Personal Legend. The story follows the main character Santiago, born in small town Andalusia, as he leaves his life of a comfortable shepherd behind and sets out across deserts and continents. Santiago travels all the way from Spain to the pyramids in Egypt in search of a hidden treasure. On this journey Santiago comes across different people and aspects that represent literary and historical allusions, this includes a king named Melchizedek, a crystal merchant and an alchemist. The story leads the reader through anticipation, constant determination, and the true meaning of “treasure”. Santiago is introduced to Melchizedek fairly early into the novel. Santiago meets Melchizedek after deciding to get his recurring dream about hidden treasure interpreted by a gypsy. He goes to the plaza with the intentions to read his book after being disappointed with the gypsy’s interpretation, and that is when Melchizedek appears. At first Santiago and Melchizedek discuss the book Santiago is reading. “It’s a book that says the same thing almost all the other books in the world say, it describes people’s inability to choose their own Personal Legends. And it ends up saying that everyone believes the world’s greatest lie.” (Coelho 18) The two then begin to delve more into the context of the book as Melchizedek explains to Santiago the worlds biggest lie, “It’s this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what’s happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That’s the worlds greatest lie.” (Coelho 18) After Santiago explains
Composition Two
Professor
Due: 2/13/14
The Literary Alchemy of The Alchemist
Paul Coelho’s novel The Alchemist is the story of a young man on his journey to find his personal legend. Throughout the novel questions of common morality, and integrity are discovered, as well as the importance of pursuing ones dreams. This novel greatly emphasizes the balance of sacrifice in relation to reward, and realizing ones own Personal Legend. The story follows the main character Santiago, born in small town Andalusia, as he leaves his life of a comfortable shepherd behind and sets out across deserts and continents. Santiago travels all the way from Spain to the pyramids in Egypt in search of a hidden treasure. On this journey Santiago comes across different people and aspects that represent literary and historical allusions, this includes a king named Melchizedek, a crystal merchant and an alchemist. The story leads the reader through anticipation, constant determination, and the true meaning of “treasure”. Santiago is introduced to Melchizedek fairly early into the novel. Santiago meets Melchizedek after deciding to get his recurring dream about hidden treasure interpreted by a gypsy. He goes to the plaza with the intentions to read his book after being disappointed with the gypsy’s interpretation, and that is when Melchizedek appears. At first Santiago and Melchizedek discuss the book Santiago is reading. “It’s a book that says the same thing almost all the other books in the world say, it describes people’s inability to choose their own Personal Legends. And it ends up saying that everyone believes the world’s greatest lie.” (Coelho 18) The two then begin to delve more into the context of the book as Melchizedek explains to Santiago the worlds biggest lie, “It’s this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what’s happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That’s the worlds greatest lie.” (Coelho 18) After Santiago explains
Cited: Bartlett, Robert Allen. Real Alchemy: A Primer of Practical Alchemy. Lake Worth, FL: Ibis, 2009. Print. Coelho, Paulo. The Alchemist. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1993. Print. Shukrī, Muḥammad. In Tangier. London: Telegram, 2010. Print. Silberman, Neil. The Bible Unearthed. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1995. Print. Wilford, John. "Staging as a Key to Meaning in The Alchemist." Theatre Survey 29.02 (1988): 139. Print. Mossin, Jerrod. "Myjellybean.com." Dream Dictionary: Hourglass. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2014.