Taong High School #3 Lopez Jaena St.

, Taong, Marikina City

Analysis of The Alchemist By Paolo Coelho

Submitted By: Alvin Patrick C. Asis

Submitted to: Ms. Mary Grace Frondozo

January 29, 2013

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page.. 1 Table of Contents.. 2 Introduction... 3 Summary... 4 Analysis A. Setting.. 5 B. Plot... 5-6 C. Characters.... 6 D. Atmosphere.. 6 E. Point of View... 6 F. Symbolism.... 7 G. Theme... 7 Reaction.. 8 Bibliography... 9

INTRODUCTION

The Alchemist (Portuguese: O Alquimista) is a novel by Paulo Coelho first published in the year 1988. Originally written in Portuguese by its Brazilian-born author, it has been translated into at least 56 languages as of September 2012. An allegorical novel, The Alchemist follows a young Andalusian shepherd named Santiago in his journey to Egypt, after having a recurring dream of finding treasure there. The book is an international bestseller. According to AFP, it has sold more than 30 million copies in 56 different languages, becoming one of the best-selling books in history and setting the Guinness World Record for most translated book by a living author. Inspiration for the Story Coelho wrote The Alchemist in only two weeks in 1987. He explained he was able to write at this pace because the story was "already written in [his] soul". The basic story of The Alchemist appears in previous works. In 1935, the Argentine writer, Jorge Luis Borges, published a short story called Tale of Two Dreamers in which two men dream of the other's treasure. Another version appeared in E. W. Lane's translation of The Thousand and One Nights. The story also appeared in Rumi's story, "In Baghdad, Dreaming of Cairo: In Cairo, Dreaming of Baghdad". Publication The Alchemist was first released by an obscure Brazilian publishing house. Albeit having sold "well", the publisher of the book told Coelho that it was never going to sell, and that "he could make more money in the stock exchange". Needing to "heal" himself from this setback, Coelho set out to leave Rio de Janeiro with his wife and spent 40 days in the Mojave Desert. Returning from the excursion, Coelho decided he had to keep on struggling. Coelho was "so convinced it was a great book that [he] started knocking on doors". 3

SUMMARY The Alchemist is all about a boy named Santiago. He is a shepherd in the fields of Andalusia. He had a dream about finding a treasure in the Pyramids in Egypt. He went to Tarifa to meet a Gypsy woman to explain his dreams. In his early journey, he meets an old king named Melchizedek. He told Santiago to sell his sheep to travel to Egypt. He also initiates to the boy the idea of Personal Legends. He gave two stones to Santiago, that black and white stone is called Urim and Thummim. He went to Tangier to continue and pursue his Personal Legend. When he is ready to go to Egypt, a stranger meets him and they became friends. But before his travel, his friend stole his money and other things were gone. Because of that incident, he works for the crystal merchant to earn money. To earn much money, he suggests an idea to the crystal merchant to sell tea in their crystal glasses. Their money is doubled because of that idea. After eleven months since he first set foot on Africa, he decided to continue his journey. He had sufficient money to travel because of his job. When he was travelling, he meets an Englishman. He is Santiagos companion in travelling. They are in a caravan for how many days before they arrived at the oasis called Al- Fayoum. When they reached there, a war is on-going on their path to the Pyramids so the caravan stays on Al- Fayoum until the war is ended. Santiago meets a beautiful girl named Fatima. He fell in love in her. One day, Santiago encounters the alchemist. He explained to Santiago the true essence of alchemy. They accompanied each other to Egypt. When Santiago is on the pyramids, he thanks God for making him believe in his Personal Legend. When he is digging in the sands, he is attacked by robbers. He continued digging and one of the robbers laughed at him and said that he had also a dream like Santiago. There is a treasure in Spain and look for the old church. There he will find a sycamore tree and under that tree he will find treasure. This is Santiagos first dream. Santiago went back to Spain to get the treasure said. When he gets there, he dig under the sycamore tree and find a trunk full of gold and others. He takes out the Urim and Thummim and put it in the chest. They are also part of his treasure and the memories of the old king. In the end, he said that he will coming back to Fatima, the girl in his life.

ANALYSIS A. Setting When? A time where caravans and tribes occurs. It is stated in the novel that Santiago joined to a caravan in his journey and the caravan met some tribes fighting. Where? Andalusia, his home. Tarifa, where he met King Melchizedek. Tangier, where the Crystal shop is there. Al-Fayoum, where he met Fatima and Egypt, where they believed treasure is there.

B. Plot The Alchemist is a man in a hole type of plot. Santiago at first is only a shepherd. Because of the conflict, he stated to sacrifice his things in order to fulfill his dreams. He made some steps to find his treasure until the climax arose. He made some action to solve the conflicts and the story was ended.

INTRODUCTION Santiago leads his sheep all the time. He had a conversation with his father about his future. He said he wants to be a traveler but his father wants him to be a priest. But his father didnt argue with Santiago so he gives him his blessing. CONFLICT He struggled to sell his sheep in order to travel. (The conflict is man vs. himself) RISING ACTION He started to travel from Tarifa to Egypt. He also went to a job because of the incident. CLIMAX Santiago struggles to turn himself into the wind while being seized by tribesman in the desert. 5

 FALLING ACTION He went to the Pyramids. He digs the sand and found nothing. DENOUEMENT He went back to Andalusia to find the real treasure. He find it and felt happy. CONCLUSION He went back to Fatima, the girl in her life with his treasure.

C. Characters NAME Santiago (Protagonist) Alchemist Fatima DESCRIPTION A shepherd boy in Andalusia who had a dream that he has treasures in Egypt A 200-year old man that lives in Al-Fayoum A pretty young girl in Al-Fayoum : Santiagos love An old man in Tarifa. Helps the boy to understand his Personal Legend. The one who pick Santiago to have a job in his shop. FLAT OR ROUND Round Flat Flat

King Melchizedek

Flat

Crystal Merchant

Flat

D. Atmosphere The novel is very uplifting. Santiagos journey is all about our dreams and future.

E. Point of View The narrator is omniscient. He knows what is going in his journey. Even the thoughts of the characters are known by the narrator. *Proof: The narrator uses the boy instead of he.

F. Symbolism Santiagos Sheep It symbolizes Santiagos old life. It is the blockage to his Personal Legend. At first, he loves his sheep. All of his life, he focuses on how to take care of his sheep. The Alchemist (title) Alchemy describes the process of turning base metal to gold as equal to the base metal realizing its Personal Legend. The metal should undergo elimination of impurities to go to another state. Like Santiago, he should eliminate all the blockage or impurities in reaching his Personal Legend. Desert This symbolizes the obstacles in pursuing your dreams. In the story, Santiago meets strangers, tribes and others that can be an obstacle in this Personal Legend.

G. Theme The story is all about dreams, omens and your Personal Legend. It tells about how to pursue it, how to conquer the obstacle that may face in pursuing it. The Alchemist is under Realistic Fiction. Some places and events may be true but some of the scenes are magical or untrue.

REACTION The Alchemist is all about an Andalusian shepherd name Santiago. He pursued his Personal Legend. In his journey, he gets knowledge and experience from the people surrounded him. He gain wisdom in his dream and he got some things that may help him in his journey. But most of all, he found his true love. He learned that love is the most over than gold or any treasure. In the end, he got two treasure; love and gold. This book is very interesting and inspirational to those who want to know and pursue his dreams. Although some of the scenes are boring, the whole story is a good one. When you reading it, a question will be entering in your mind: Is this my real dream someday? Is this what God destined me to be? How can I pursue this? What ways? Etc. This also focuses on love. Love is more important than any treasures. It is written in the novel, One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving. It means that no excuse in loving someone and love is the greatest among these treasures. We are like Santiago; we are also journeying towards our dreams. We need to be observant in order to find some hints that God given to us. All we need is to have a faith in God that can help us in pursuing our Personal Legends.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Coelho, P. (1993). The Alchemist. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. Wikipedia. (n.d.). The Alchemist (novel). Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Alchemist_(novel) Wikipedia. (n.d.). Fiction. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiction Rose, C. (2012, November 12). How to write citations and bibliographies in APA style. Retrieved from: http://www.library.mun.ca/guides/howto/apa.php SparkNotes.(n.d.) The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho. Retrieved from: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/the-alchemist/