THE ALCHEMIST:
THEMES, MOTIFS, ALLUSIONS, VOCABULARY
Alchemy: [al-kuh-mee] -noun, plural -mies for 2.
1. a form of chemistry and speculative
philosophy practiced in the Middle Ages and
the Renaissance and concerned principally
with discovering methods for transmuting
baser metals into gold and with finding a
universal solvent and an elixir of life.
2. any magical power or process of
transmuting a common substance, usually of
little value, into a substance of great value.
WRITING PROMPT
What
is your personal legend?
How would you go about pursuing
it?
BIOGRAPHY


Paulo Coelho has led an extremely
interesting life. Rebelliousness defined his
youth. He was a hippie. He wrote popular
lyrics for some of Brazil's most famous pop
music stars, including Elis Regina and Raul
Seixas. Shortly after, he worked as a
journalist.
In 1986 Paulo Coelho walked the Road to
Santiago, a medieval pilgrim's route
between France and Spain. He later
described this experience in The
Pilgrimage’, published in 1987. The
following year, his second book The
Alchemist established his worldwide fame.
BIOGRAPHY
Paulo Coelho on the Road to Santiago
THEMES
1. a subject of discourse,
discussion, meditation, or
composition; topic: The need for
world peace was the theme of the
meeting.
2. a unifying or dominant idea,
motif, etc., as in a work of art.
THEMES
 Fate versus Will
 Fate is constantly intertwined with will
 How much of life is under one's control?
 How

much is controlled by fate?
The old king states that the world's greatest
lie is that "at some point during our lives, we lose
control of what's happening to us, and our lives
become controlled by fate."
THEMES

Love
Love is described as a part of the Soul of the
World. Love occurs in life and Nature. As
everything supports each other, they love each
other. Santiago tells the desert that it shows
love for the alchemist's falcon by offering it
game, after which the falcon shows love to man as
it offers the game to eat, and the man shows love
for the desert as after one dies, his body is
reintegrated into the desert sands. There is also
love in people, demonstrated by Santiago's love of
Fatima's beauty, and Santiago's knowing that it is
part of his Personal Legend to love her. Also,
there is true love, a brief definition given by
the alchemist; "True love is love that allows you
to reach your Personal Legend."
THEMES

Controlled Luck
The theme of controlled luck is prominent in this
book, as the old king and the alchemist both tell
Santiago about how if one really wants to fulfill
his or her Personal Legend, the whole universe
will conspire to help make it happen. Coelho
refers to this as the idea of "beginner's luck",
or the concept of favorability. Santiago is
blessed with beginner's luck, when he decides to
go to Africa. He manages to sell all of his sheep
very easily, and is given "a taste of success"
that whets the appetite to fulfill one's Personal
Legend.
THEMES

Spiritual Enlightenment
In The Alchemist, a kind of spiritual enlightenment is
accomplished by fulfilling one's Personal Legend, and adding to
the Soul of the World, which is the "light" of most religions.
The spiritual influence of this book is omniscient, for example
in Santiago's "turning himself into the wind" stunt. He learns
the Language of the World, which is basically the language of
the Soul of the World. As the Soul of the World is related to
the Soul of God, Santiago is able to perform miracles after he
has reached into the Soul of the World.

Omniscient: [om-nish-uhnt] adjective
1. having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or
understanding; perceiving all things. –noun
2. an omniscient being.
3. the Omniscient, God.
MOTIFS

Motif: [moh-teef] -noun
1. a recurring subject, theme, idea,
etc., esp. in a literary, artistic,
or musical work.
2. a distinctive and recurring form,
shape, figure, etc., in a design, as
in a painting or on wallpaper.
3. a dominant idea or feature: the
profit motif of free enterprise.
MOTIFS

Omens
Omen: [oh-muhn] -noun
1. anything perceived or happening that is believed to portend a good or
evil event or circumstance in the future; portent.
2. a prognostic.
3. prophetic significance; presage: a bird of ill omen.
–verb (used with object)
4. to be an omen of; portend.
5. to divine, as if from omens.
Being able to observe and read omens is a key motif throughout the book.
Santiago recognizes the hole in his pouch through which Urim and Thummin
fell in Tangier as an omen, as he had promised the old king that he
would make his own decisions, not let the stones do it for him. The
crystal merchant of Tangier recognizes Santiago's presence in the shop
as an omen, as two customers came into the shop as he was cleaning the
crystals for the merchant. Santiago later finds that going to the desert
was a good omen, as he was able to meet Fatima, his love. Santiago reads
omens in the flight of two hawks and has a premonition of an attack on
the oasis as he is in the Sahara Desert. Omens play a key role in the
unraveling of Santiago's fate.
MOTIFS

Personal Legend
The Personal Legend is a being's reason to live. Everything in
the world has a Personal Legend, and by reaching one's Personal
Legend, one adds to the Soul of the World, the purity of the
world. The boy's Personal Legend is obvious, to find his
treasure at the Egyptian pyramids. The alchemist fulfilled his
Personal Legend, to become a true alchemist and accomplish the
Master Work. The crystal merchant's Personal Legend is to visit
Mecca, and the Tarifa baker's Personal Legend is to travel the
world. The Personal Legend of a person surfaces at childhood,
and one can never find true happiness without fulfilling it.
The Personal Legend of Santiago drives him to his treasure as
he chooses to accomplish his Personal Legend, just as the
alchemist’s was to become the most famed alchemist in the
world. Others, like the Tarifa baker and the crystal merchant,
choose to ignore the Personal Legend, and thus shape their life
to be forever wanting.
ALLUSIONS

Allusion: [uh-loo-zhuhn] -noun
1. a passing or casual reference; an
incidental
mention of something,
either directly or by implication:
an allusion to Shakespeare.
2. the act of alluding.
3. Obsolete. a metaphor; parable.
ALLUSIONS

Melchizedek is a figure mentioned by various sects of both Christian and
Judaic traditions. He is commemorated as one of the Holy Forefathers in the
Calendar of Saints of the Armenian Apostolic Church on July 30.

Melchizedek's name can be translated (from Hebrew) as “Zedek is my king” or
“My king is righteous”. In Genesis, Melchizedek is also referred to as king
of Salem (generally believed to be ancient Jerusalem), and priest of El
Elyon. Traditionally El-Elyon is translated as most high God, and
interpreted as a reference to Yahweh (by tradition), or God (in other words,
Zedek is king of Salem and priest of God). Many scholars believe that the
name refers to Zedek - regarding El Elyon as referring to the most high god,
and using Melchizedek's name as the indicator of who the deity was (in other
words, Zekek the most high god).

If the majority of scholars are right in taking the name as a reference to
Zedek as the most high god (rather than “priest of God”), then it would
imply that Zedek was the main deity worshipped at Salem at that time.
Jerusalem is plausibly referred to as city of Zedek (ir ha-zedek) in the
Book of Isaiah, as well as home of Zedek (neweh zedek) in the Book of
Jeremiah, and as gates of Zedek (sha'are zedek) in the Book of Psalms,
though it is also true that in each of these cases zedek is traditionally
translated as righteous (as in city of righteousness).
ALLUSIONS
Statue of
Melchizedek.
Santa Maria
Maggiore,
Rome.
ALLUSIONS

In the Tanakh, Melchizedek brought
bread and wine to Abraham after
Abraham's victory over the four kings
(led by Chedorlaomer) who had besieged
Sodom and Gomorrah and had taken
Abraham's nephew, Lot, prisoner.
Melchizedek is also described as
blessing Abraham in the name of El
Elyon (God), and in return for these
favors, Abraham gave Melchizedek a
tithe, from the spoils gained in the
battle.
ALLUSIONS
Meeting of
Abraham and
Melchizedek
by Dieric
Bouts the
Elder,
1464-1467
ALLUSIONS
Tithe:-noun
1. Sometimes, tithes. the tenth part of agricultural produce or personal income set
apart as an offering to God or for works of mercy, or the same amount regarded as an
obligation or tax for the support of the church, priesthood, or the like.
2. any tax, levy, or the like, esp. of one-tenth.
3. a tenth part or any indefinitely small part of anything.
-verb (used with object)
4. to give or pay a tithe or tenth of (produce, money, etc.).
5. to give or pay tithes on (crops, income, etc.).
6. to exact a tithe from (a person, community, parish, etc.).
7. to levy a tithe on (crops, income, etc.).
-verb (used without object)
8. to give or pay a tithe.


In The Alchemist, Santiago must twice pay one-tenth of his possessions. In
the first instance, he pays one-tenth of his flock; in the second, he pays
one-tenth of his treasure. In the Biblical reference, Abraham pays
Melchizedek one-tenth of his battle winnings in exchange for being blessed
in the name of God.
[tahyth]
noun, verb, tithed, tith·ing.
ALLUSIONS

The Melchizedek priesthood is a prominent feature of "Mormonism" - that is, The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Melchizedek is the main brain of Zalem in the Battle Angel Alita (GUNNM) graphic novel series.

The Urantia Book describes, among other things, the origin and purpose of a vast array of
spiritual beings, including an order of beings called the "Melchizedeks". And this order
includes an individual who supposedly once incarnated on earth, by the name of "Machiventa
Melchizedek".

The Dominion of Melchizedek, a micronation known for bank fraud, purports to be based on a
"Melchizedek Bible" [13] inspired by the Biblical Melchizedek.

Christians believe that Jesus is the Messiah spoken of as "a priest forever in the order of
Melchizedek" (Ps. 110:4), and so Jesus plays the role of High Priest once and for all. Jesus is
considered a priest in the order of Melchizedek because, like Melchizedek, Jesus was not a
Levite, and thus would not qualify for the Levitical priesthood (Heb. 7:13-17).

The Book of Mormon of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints describes the work of
Melchizedek in Salem in Alma 13:17-18. According to Alma, Melchizedek was King over the wicked
people of Salem, but because of his righteousness, his people repented of their wickedness and
became a peaceful city.

A collection of early Gnostic scripts found in 1945, known as the Nag Hammadi Library, contains
a tractate pertaining to Melchizedek. Here it is revealed that Melchizedek is Jesus Christ[8].
Melchizedek, as Jesus Christ, lives, preaches, dies and is resurrected.
ALLUSIONS

Isaiah 1:21–26
21 How is the faithful city become a harlot! She that was full of justice,
righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.
22 Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water.
23 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; every one loveth
bribes, and followeth after rewards; they judge not the fatherless,
neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
24 Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel:
Ah, I will ease Me of Mine adversaries, and avenge Me of Mine enemies;
25 And I will turn My hand upon thee, and purge away thy dross as with lye,
and will take away all thine alloy;
26 And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at
the beginning; afterward thou shalt be called The city of righteousness,
the faithful city.
ALLUSIONS

Dross: [draws, dros] -noun
1. waste matter; refuse.
2. Metallurgy. a waste product taken
off molten metal during smelting,
essentially metallic in character.
3. British. coal of little value.
ALLUSIONS

Jeremiah 31:23
And Judah and all the cities thereof shall dwell therein
together: the husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks.

Psalm 118:19
Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will enter into them, I
will give thanks unto the LORD.

Genesis 14:18-20
18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine;
and he was priest of God the Most High.
19 And he blessed him, and said: 'Blessed be Abram of God Most
High, Maker of heaven and earth;
20 and blessed be God the Most High, who hath delivered thine
enemies into thy hand.' And he gave him a tenth of all.
ALLUSIONS

Santiago
The Way of St. James or St. James' Way, often known by its Spanish name, el Camino de Santiago, is
the pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain,
where legend has it that the remains of the apostle, Saint James the Great, are buried.
A major Christian pilgrimage route:
The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is the ultimate goal of the pilgrimage.The Way of St James
has existed for over a thousand years. It was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages
during medieval times. It was considered one of three pilgrimages on which a plenary
indulgence could be earned; the others are the Via Francigena to Rome and the pilgrimage to
Jerusalem.
Legend holds that St. James's remains were carried by boat from Jerusalem to northern Spain where
they were buried on the site of what is now the city of Santiago de Compostela. There are
some, however, who claim that the bodily remains at Santiago belong to Priscillian, the
fourth-century Galician leader of an ascetic Christian sect, Priscillianism, who was one of
the first Christian heretics to be executed.
There is not a single route; the Way can take one of any number of pilgrimage routes to Santiago
de Compostela. However a few of the routes are considered main ones. Santiago is such an
important pilgrimage destination because it is considered the burial site of the apostle,
James the Great. During the middle ages, the route was highly travelled. However, the Black
Plague, the Protestant Reformation and political unrest in 16th- century Europe resulted in
its decline. Until the 1980s, only a few pilgrims arrived in Santiago annually. However, since
then, the route has attracted a growing number of modern-day pilgrims from around the globe.
The route was declared the first European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe in October
1987; it was also named one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites in 1993.

Paulo Coelho made the journey and wrote about it. The Pilgrimage (Diário de Um
Mago, in Portuguese) is a 1987 novel by Brazilian novelist Paulo Coelho. It is a
recollection of Paulo's experiences as he made his way across Northern Spain on
the Pilgrimage of Santiago de Compostela in 1986.
ALLUSIONS

The Philosopher’s Stone
The philosopher's stone (Latin: lapis philosophorum;
Greek: chrysopoeia) is a legendary substance, supposedly
capable of turning inexpensive metals into gold; it was
also sometimes believed to be a means of making people
younger. For a long time it was the "holy grail" of
Western alchemy.
In the view of spiritual alchemy, making the philosopher's
stone would bring enlightenment upon the maker and
conclude the Great Work.

The first book in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series
is entitled, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s
Stone. In the United States, the title was changed to
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
VOCABULARY
Alchemy
 Theme
 Omniscient
 Motif
 Omen
 Allusion
 Tithe
 Dross

IMAGES
Paulo Coelho
The VR Romanesque Cathedral of Santiago de
Compostela
IMAGES
The Alchemist in Search of the Philosophers Stone, by Joseph Wright. 1771.
IMAGES
WORKS CITED
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http://paulocoelhofanclub.com/eng/pc_bio.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Alchemist_(book)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melchizedek
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tithe
http://dictionary.reference.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pilgrimage
http://www.humnet.ucla.edu/santiago/iagohome.html
http://www.paulocoelho.com/engl/
http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/wright/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosopher's_stone