The Alchemist Jaimie

Paulo Coelho Ding

Fiction 3/12/15
167 pages Period 6
1993
Rating: 4/5 stars ★★★★✩

Summary: Quote: Visual metaphor ↑↑↑

A shepherd boy named Santiago has a “When his heart spoke to him, it was to Explanation:
dream about a treasure at the Pyramids provide a stimulus to the boy, and to The boy Santiago is like Janus, the
in Egypt. He goes on the journey, after Greek and Roman god of beginnings,
give him strength, because the days of
being encouraged by a gypsy and an transitions, and choices. His two faces
old king. Along the way, he meets many silence there in the desert were
wearisome. His heart told the boy what look to the future and the past, like
different people, including the
alchemist. his strongest qualities were: his courage Santiago. Throughout this book,
in having given up his sheep and in Santiago has had to make many difficult
Main Conflict: trying to live out his Personal Legend, decisions that would impact his life
Santiago encounters many different and his enthusiasm during the time he forever. There has been many times he
difficulties during his journey. At first, a had wanted to turn around and go back
had worked at the crystal shop.”
thief steals all the money that he got to the old life he lived. After a crystal
for selling his sheep. Then, a crystal (Coelho, 134).
merchant shot his dreams down by
merchant tells him that he could never
make enough money to get to Egypt Explanation: telling him he could never make enough
even if he worked for a year. Near the As Santiago and the alchemist near money to make it to the Pyramids, he
end, he has to prove himself to a tribal their destination of the Pyramids, decided to try to make enough money
chief in order to save his and the Santiago’s heart starts to question him. to buy more sheep and return to Spain.
alchemist’s lives. He says, “ ‘But I’m going back to the
His heart starts to fear his decisions,
and to fear his Personal Legend. fields that I know, to take care of my
Character Description:
Santiago is from a simple farm family. However, after following the alchemist’s flock again.’…Maybe because that
He went to a seminary until he was device, he starts to talk and listen to his wasn’t really his dream. Who knows…
sixteen to become a priest, under the heart, consoling it and helping it trust in maybe it’s better to be like the crystal
request of his father. However, he him. Santiago’s brings out the best merchant: never go to Mecca, and just
wanted to travel instead, so his father parts of him that he’s developed during go through life wanting to do so…”
gave him money to buy a flock of sheep (Coelho, 64). However, there were also
his journey, and shows his true self.
and travel. He’s travelled around the
moments where he was committed to
Andalusian terrain for two years
already. Motivation: following his Personal Legend and
Santiago’s main motivation is the looking forward to the future, and he
says, “…When I have been truly
 prospect of treasure in the Pyramids. searching for my treasure, I’ve
Although he doesn’t exactly know what discovered things along the way that I
it is, he is intent on following his never would have seen had I not had
Personal Legend. The people he meet the courage to try things that seemed
along the way (king, alchemist, crystal impossible for a shepherd to achieve.”
merchant) also encourage him. (Coelho, 130).

Beginning: Towards the End: Advancing the Plot:

1. Santiago interacts with the king of 1. Santiago interacts with the The king first encourages Santiago to
Salem, who calls himself Melchizedek. alchemist. go on the journey. After a gypsy
interpreted his dream of a child bring
2. As the king of Salem tells Santiago 2. “The boy reached through to the him to the Pyramids in Egypt and told
about his Personal Legend, they have Soul of the World, and saw that it was a him there was treasure there waiting for
the following conversation, “ ’… part of the Soul of God. And he saw that him, he didn’t believe her. The king’s
whoever you are, or whatever it is that the Soul of God was his own soul. And words are what set Santiago off on this
you do, when you really want that he, a boy, could perform miracles… journey. When Santiago asks why he is
something… It’s your mission on earth.’ The men were terrified at his sorcery. telling Santiago everything, he says,
/ ‘Even when all you want to do is But there were two people who were “Because you are trying to realize your
travel? Or marry the daughter of a smiling: the alchemist, because he had Personal Legend. And you are at the
textile merchant?’ / ‘…To realize one’s found his perfect disciple, and the chief, point where you’re about to give it all
destiny is a person’s only real because that disciple had understood up.” (Coelho, 23). Although it was the
obligation…And, when you want the glory of God.” (Coelho, 152-153). Englishman who first was looking for
something, all the universe conspires to the alchemist, Santiago quickly realizes
helping you achieve it.’ “ (Coelho, 22). 3. Santiago meets the alchemist at an that he was the one who was really
oasis in the middle of the desert. The meant to meet him. There are many
3. The king helps Santiago figure out group he traveled with was stuck there similar characteristics between the king
what he’s supposed to do, after the for several days because of the tribal of Salem and the alchemist, and they
gypsy tells him the meaning of his wars occurring nearby. The alchemist both tell Santiago similar things. When
dream. At first, Santiago is weary of the helps the boy realize the changes that they first meet, the alchemist warns
king, but quickly believes his words had occurred in him since the start of him, “ ’You must not let up, even after
after he reveals his knowledge about his journey. With his encouragement, having come so far…You must love the
Santiago’s past. Santiago’s motivation Santiago is able to reach to the Soul of desert, but never trust it completely.
for his actions was influenced by the the World and turn himself into the Because the desert tests all men: it
king, as he is the one who tells him wind. The alchemist tells him the secret challenges every step, and kills those
about his Personal Legend. of understanding the world. who become distracted.’ What he said
reminded the boy of the old king.”
4. 4. (Coelho, 111). Both the king’s and the
alchemist’s purposes in the book is to
give advice to Santiago and help him
along the journey. Even though the king
only interact with the Santiago in the
first part of the book, his words follow
him throughout his journey and he gave
Santiago two stones, Urim and
Thummim, to help him make decisions.