The Alchemist (1988)
Written by Paulo Coelho
Who has also done The Pilgrimage and Veronika Decides to Die
Inspired by Jorge Luis Borges’ Tale of Two Dreamers
Characters
Santiago
Old King (Melchezidek)
Fatima
The Alchemist
Introduction
The Alchemist was originally written in Portuguese and has since been translated into 67 languages,
winning the Guinness World Record for most translated book by a living author. It has sold more
than 65 million copies in more than 150 countries, becoming one of the best-selling books in history.
Since its publication the novel has received nearly universal praise, making it to the top spot on best
seller lists in 74 countries and winning prestigious awards in Germany and Italy.
“Of books that I can recommend with the unshakable confidence of having read them and been
entranced, impressed, entertained or moved, the universal gift is perhaps a limpid little fable called
The Alchemist... In hauntingly spare prose… it follows a young Andalusian shepherd into the desert
on his quest for a dream and the fulfilment of his destiny."
www.wikipedia.org
I learned that the world has a soul, and that whoever understands that
soul can also understand the language of things. I learned that many
alchemists realized their destinies, and wound up discovering the Soul
of the World, the Philosopher’s Stone, and the Elixir of Life. But above
all, I learned that these things are all so simple they could be written
on the surface of an emerald.
p
Reviews
A Powerfu Parable by Kevin Joseph
June 21, 2006
www.amazon.com
More parable than novel, "The Alchemist" uses the story of young shepherd Santiago's search for his
Personal Legend as an allegory for everyman's struggle to break from the comfortable confines of
conformity and pursue his life dreams. Along the way, of course, our young everyman is beset by all
manner of setbacks, testing his resolve and forcing him to become attuned to the Soul of the World
in order to survive. By paying attention to the details in the world around him, which serve as omens
guiding him towards his goal, young Santiago becomes an alchemist in his own right, spinning
unfavorable circumstances into riches.
Aside from the ubiquitous theme about the power of perseverance, my favorite part of the book was
its glorification of simplicity. Like the pared-down manner in which the story is presented,
Santiago's rare ability to get in touch with the Soul of the World comes not from the procedures
described in arcane tomes pursued by traditional alchemists, but rather from a simple honesty and
observance of the workings of the world. While the lack of character or plot complexity precludes
this minimalist work from being considered a great novel, it will be a satisfying read for those
seeking inspiration of the purest sort. 
The Alchemist by Gauray Pandey
March 31, 2007
www.shvoong.com
I picked up this book in a book store five years ago. I reluctantly went through the first few pages
thinking I’ll find something to justify the kind of reviews the book had got. As someone who was
never a keen reader, I don’t know what kept me hooked to that book.
As I continued to read I started to develop some interest in the book which grew with every page I
read. After finishing the book, I thought for hours about the things said in the book. I got a purpose
in life that day. I realized the dream that I had long forgotten. The book did to me exactly what the
reviews had promised. It changed my life.
The Alchemist is the story of a young shepherd’s journey to find his treasure. He goes through all the
hardships in search of something which no one knows exists. The tale takes you through a beautiful
ride filled with hope, romance, myth and ecstacy. It’s a remarkable story which reaffirms your faith
in your own dreams and capabilities. This seemingly ordinary story instills in you the kind of faith
and belief that can do wonders. It gives you an inspiration, an inspiration to have a dream and go all
out to fulfill it.
Life is a mystery. We all live with the flow and spend endless hours in doing things we don’t want to
do. The search for a better job, the need to have more money, the desire to live in a better
house.......... Years come and go, a lot of us achieve material things, but how many of us die happy?
The reason for all the unhappiness in the world is mankind’s reluctance to listen to the heart which
results from the lack of faith in one’s ability. The Alchemist shows you a way. It tells you that your
treasure lies where your heart is. It gives you a dream. It helps you to be one with your real self and
break all the shackles of fear and uncertainty. And I think for this very reason this book has stood the
test of the time. Like all masterpieces, The Alchemist will continue to inspire millions like me. I rate
this book highly for the simple reason that it has the power to change your life. 
Allusions, References and Noteable Notes
Narcissus is a character in Greek mythology, widely known for his beauty.
There are various version of Narcissus’ story. One tells of Narcissus admiring
his reflection in a pool of water, falling in and drowning. Another says he
refused to date any girls, including many of the nymphs who fell in love with
him, and as punishment, one of the gods cursed Narcissus to fall in love with
his own reflection. This adoration caused him to stare lovingly at himself
until he starved to death.
Narcissus’ story lives on in a few modern
traditions. Typically in reference to people who
are self-absorbed. The word is usually used as a
pejorative (disapproving, critical) term. Another
reference is the flower, which was said to spring up where the hero died, or,
in some versions, the form Narcissus was punished to take after denying the
advances of Echo (a nymph).
Another is the idea of narcissism, a term used for vanity, conceit or egotism.
Mental health professionals recognized Narcissistic Personality Disorder as a diagnosable disorder in
1980. It is described as “a pattern of traits and behaviours which signify infatuation and obsession with
one's self to the exclusion of all others and the egotistic and ruthless pursuit of one's gratification,
dominance and ambition” (mentalhelp.net).
http://zakros.com/projects/narcissus/Car 1
The Sycamore tree is known for growing where other trees fail. Its
new growth makes the Sycamore a symbol of progress and life.
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/n/narcissus.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissism
ability
to shed its bark and reveal
http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=419
http://www.sycamoreservices.com/
The fruit of a sycamore is considered a humble food: “modest, unassuming; feeling or showing respect
and deference toward other people; relatively low in rank and without pretensions”
The Biblical prophet Amos, a shepherd of Tekoa (a town near Bethlehem) mentions the sycamore in the
verse:
I was no prophet, neither did I belong to any of the
brotherhoods of prophets. I was a shepherd, and looked
after sycamores: but it was Yahweh who took me from herding the flock, and Yahweh who said,
"Go, prophesy to My people Israel' (Amos 7:14-15)
The sycamore is also mentioned in the Bible store of Zacchaeus, who is too short to see Jesus over the
crowd and climbs a sycamore tree in order to get a better view. In this story, Zacchaeus goes in search
of the truth and climbs a sycamore tree.
In Egypt, the sycamore is the Tree of Life.
The Sycamore tree was of special significance in Egyptian religion. It was the only native tree of useful
size and sturdiness in Egypt, and perhaps very significantly, most often grew along the edge of the
desert, which would have also placed it near or in the necropolises (large cemetery or burial place, for
example, the Pyramids).
http://www.perankhgroup.com/the_tree_of_l
ife.htm
http://www.teosofia.com/Mumbai/7507trees.html
http://www.bible-history.com/geography/ancient-israel/thecoa.html
http://www.christusrex.org/www1/ofm/mag/HolyLnA2.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necropolis
Santiago (Saint Jacabo – or Iago – was shortened to Santiago) The name James/Jacob means supplanter
(to trip up, cause to stumble, to supersede another through treachery or force, to take the place and
serve as replacement for).
St. James the Apostle was one of the first followers (along with his brother and fellow fisherman, John
the Evangelist) of Jesus Christ and is mentioned throughout the New Testament of the Christian Bible.
It is said that the Virgin Mary appeared to him on the bank of the Ebro River at Caesaraugusta upon a
pillar. During his life he preached the Gospel in Spain and the Holy Land (Middle East). James was
beheaded for his Christian beliefs by order of king Herod Agrippa in AD 44. There is a shrine to St.
James located in North- West Spain. Pilgrimages to the tomb of “Santiago” became an international
destination by the 11th Century AD. St. James is the patron saint of Spain (also of pilgrimage due to the
popularity of pilgrimages to his shrine). He is also related to the Reconquista (English: Reconquest) of
Spain. This was the seven-and-a-half century long process by which Christians reconquered the Iberian
peninsula (modern Portugal and Spain) from the Muslim and Moorish states which had ruled the area
from 711-1492.
http://www.csj.org.uk/2000-years.htm#tradition
http://www.csj.org.uk/apostle.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_James_the_Great
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconquista
Melchizedek (King of Salem) The name Zedek means my king/my king is righteous; always behaving
according to a religious or moral code, correct, justifiable, good, outstanding.
Canaan was the ancient name of the Holy Land (Syria, Lebanon, Israel – the area on the Eastern coast
of the
Mediterranean Sea). The people living in this area were called Canaanites. Melchizedek was the name
of a Canaanite deity (his name meant Justice) and of the chief god of the Jebusites (one of the Canaanite
tribes).
In the Book of Genesis in the Bible, Melchizedek is also referred to as king of Salem (believed to be the
name of
ancient Jerusalem) and priest of El Elyon (meaning the most high God, or Yahweh).
In the Tanakh (Hebrew or Jewish Bible), Melchizedek brought bread and wine to Abraham after
Abraham's victory over the four kings 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 and in return for these
favours, Abraham gave Melchizedek a tithe (literally, ten percent) from the spoils gained in the
battle.[Genesis 14:18-20]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melchizedek#_note-5
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanakh
Islam is a religion based on the teachings of the 7th Century prophet, Muhammad. The world Islam
means submission or surrender of oneself to God (in Arabic, Allah). A person who follows Islam is
called Muslim (one who submits); there are around 1 billion Muslims in the world (it is the second
largest religion after Christianity).
There are two major sects of Islam – Shi’is and Sunnis. While these two groups differ in some of their
practices and beliefs, both groups follow the core tenants of Islam. (A comparable difference would be
the differences in practice and belief between Catholics and Lutherans, for example).
The religious text of Islam is the Qur’an (or Koran), which is believed to have been revealed to
Muhammad, the final prophet of God; Muslims do not believe that Muhammad started the religion, but
rather, that he restored the religion that began with the prophet Abraham (of Jewish and Christian
tradition) and which was continued through other prophets such as Moses and Jesus.
The practices of Islam described in THE ALCHEMIST are as follows:
Women with faces covered p 34
Modesty is a very central belief of Islam.
The hijab (an Arabic word meaning cover, curtain or veil) is an article of clothing worn by devout
Muslim women that covers their entire body except for their hands and eyes.
This garment it meant to safeguard the modesty and dignity of women (men also have similar
expectations for modest dress in Islam).
Priests that climb to the top of towers and chant p 34
There are no “priests” in Islam in the same way that there are holy figures in Christianity. Leaders of
Muslim prayer are called imams.
Different Muslim groups hold varying opinions of the role of the imam: Shi’is have a raised or exalted
view of Imams and believe the leaders have divine guidance; other Muslim groups may view the imam
as simply a religious leader and teacher.
Muslims are required to pray five times daily (in Arabic, prayer is called salat). In Muslim countries,
imams will climb to an elevated area and call the faithful to prayer. This call to prayer, adhan, is done
from a rooftop or high place in order for the sound of the adhan to carry.
The adhan is as follows:
Allahu akbar (four times)
Ashhadu an la ilaha illa allah (twice)
Ashhadu anna muhammadan rasul allah (twice)
God
Hayya ‘ala al-salat (twice)
Hayya ‘ala al-falah (twice)
Al-salat khayrun min al-naum (morning, twice)
Hayya ‘ala khayr al-‘amal (Shi'is: twice)
Allahu akbar (twice)
La ilaha illa allah (Sunnis: once, Shi'is: twice)
God is most great
I testify that there is no god but God
I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of
Hurry to prayer
Hurry to success (or salvation)
Prayer is better than sleep
Hurry to the best activity
God is most great
There is no god but God
The Koran requires me to feed a hungry person p 46…Believe in one
true God, pray five times a day, fast during Ramadan p 54
There are five pillars of Islamic faith that all Muslims are expected to follow. These are the minimum
obligations of a faithful Muslim and these basic doctrines as collectively called iman, or faith.
1.
Shahada – the profession of faith
La ilaha illa Allah. Muhammad rasul Allah.
(There is no god but God. Muhammad is the messenger of God.)
To speak these words once in your life, of your own free will and with belief in their truth, is enough to
be become a Muslim. Unlike the other pillars of Islam, the shahada is the only one that deals with
orthodoxy (right belief) and not orthopraxy (right practice).
2.
Salat – the worship service
Ritual prayer is the foundation of Muslim devotion; Muslims are expected to pray five times daily.
Prayer, for Muslims, is different than prayer for Christians; while Christian prayer is a private and
personal endeavor, the type of prayer expected of Muslims is more public. Private prayer, in Islam, is
called du’a, and is part of the practices of a devout Muslim.
The salat, however, is an “intense, highly regulated, formal observance that features cycles of bodily
postures climaxing in complete prostration in an orientation toward the Ka’ba in Mecca” (Denny).
The salats are to be preformed in the early morning (salat al-fajr), noon (salat al-duhr), mid-afternoon
(salat al-‘asr), sunset (salat al-maghrib), and evening (salat al-‘isha).
3.
Zakat -- the giving of alms
Though Zakat requires Muslims to give of themselves and share their wealth with others, it is not the
same as charity (in Arabic, sadaqa). Followers of Islam are expected to give to charity, but the Zakat is
like a tithe (a tax of sorts that is taken as a percentage of one’s yearly earning) taken for local cases of
need.
4.
Sawm – the Holy Month fast
Muslims follow a lunar calendar that is divided up into 12 months – the ninth lunar month is called
Ramadan and it is considered the most holy. In 2007 Ramadan begins on September 12 and ends on
October 11.
All followers of Islam abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and marital relations during the daylight
hours of Ramadan.
5. Hajj – the pilgrimage
Once in a Muslim’s lifetime he or she is expected to make the pilgrimage to Mecca (in Saudi Arabia)
during the twelfth month of the lunar year, Dhu al-Hijjah. “The hajj is a powerful symbol of the
worldwide unity of the Muslim community” (Denny) and is an act that is undertaken with great gravity and
solemnity.
A person will save money for the pilgrimage for a lifetime, ensuring their affairs are in order before
departure as a final act of submission to God’s will, so that, if they were to die during the long, arduous
journey, they would be doing so with complete acceptance of God’s will.
The destination of the hajj is the Ka’ba, the main Islamic sanctuary in Mecca, which pilgrims walk
around seven times and touching or kissing the famous black stone which is a “sign of God’s covenant
with Abraham and Ishmael” (Denny). Many pilgrims will also take this opportunity to visit the tomb of
Muhammad.
He communicates with the genies of the desert p 94
Jinn (or jinni, singular) are fire spirits mentioned in the Qur’an that are usually, but not always, evil or
mischievous. “The word “jinn” literally means anything which has the connotation of concealment,
invisibility, seclusion, and remoteness” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genie
In Islamic tradition, the jinn are supernatural beings that God created of fire (like He created Man of
earth) and gave free will. Stories of the jinn are very similar to Christian stories of angels.
“The jinn … are invisible to humans, but they can see humans. Sometimes they accidentally or
deliberately come into view or into contact with humans. Jinn are believed to live much longer than
humans: some of whom are said to be still alive have seen Mohammad (who lived during the 7th
century), which would affirm their long life.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genie
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isalm
Denny, Frederick Mathewson. An Introduction to Islam. Macmillan Publishing Company: New York. 1994.
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503547724
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan_%28calendar_month%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genie
Esperanto is a constructed (man-made) international language. The word esperanto means ‘one who
hopes.’
The name derives from Doktoro Esperanto, the pseudonym (fake name) under which L. L. Zamenhof
first published the Unua Libro in 1887.
Zamenhof's goal was to create an easy and flexible language as a universal second language to foster
peace and international understanding.
Because Esperanto is a man-made language, the complexity of irregularities is eliminated; rules are
universal (apply to all words in all contexts) in Esperanto.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esperanto
http://www.eff.co.uk/M/Alpha/L3.htm
http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/biography/zamenhof_l/zamenhof.jpg
The term Bedouins literally means Desert-dwellers. The term Bedouin is usually applied to Arab
nomadic pastoralist groups, who are found throughout most of the desert belt extending from the
Atlantic coast of the Sahara via the Western Desert, Sinai, and Negev to the Arabian Desert. They use
their extensive knowledge of the location of water and seasonal weather changes to survive in the desert.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedouin
http://www.mrdowling.com/607-bedouins.html
Sahara Desert The word sahara is
Arabic for desert, so to call it the Sahara
Desert is a bit redundant.
The Sahara is the largest hot desert on
Earth; at over 9 million square
kilometers, it is almost as large as the
United States (wikipedia).
The harsh climate of the Sahara ranges from fierce sandstorms and blistering heat (sometimes getting as
hot as 58C) to chilling nights (to sometimes freezing temperatures).
The Al-Fayoum Oasis is Egypt’s largest oasis – located about 100 km from Cairo. It’s name means ‘the
sea’ from the large inland lake found there.
http://i-cias.com/e.o/sahara.htm
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761560427/Sahara.html
http://www.gotoegypt.org/ElFayoum.htm
The name Fatima means one who abstains(to choose deliberately not to do something)
The Prophet Mohammad was the founder of Islam and is considered by Muslims to be the last
and greatest prophet of God in a line of prophets that include Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.
Fatima, Mohammad’s daughter, is considered one of four perfect women in the Koran (or
Qur’an, is the central religious text of Islam). Muslims regard her as the greatest woman who
ever lived: the paragon of female virtue (she was considered the embodiment of love, devotion
and sincerity in regards to her family, friends and religion).
Fatima is also called the Lady of the Light (Al-Zahara) and the Mistress of all women. There is an
amulet representing the hand of Fatima that is believed to ward off evil.
http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/0/Fatima
www.babynames.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad
http://www.al-islam.org/gracious/17.htm
http://www.tattoosymbol.com/symbols/hand-fatima-tattoo.html
a grain of sand is a moment of creation (p 131)
Auguries of Innocence by William Blake
To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.
Coptic monastery A monk is a man who lives without worldly possessions or pleasures in
service to a religious belief.
Monks often live a solitary life; a monastery is an isolated place where monks devote their
lives and work to their spiritual endeavors.
The word Copt is derived from the Greek word Aigyptos, which was, in turn, derived from
Hikaptah, one of the names for Memphis, the first capital of Ancient Egypt. The modern use
of the term "Coptic" describes Egyptian Christians.
Coptic monasticism began in the 3rd Century AD.
http://www.spraguephoto.com/stock/images/5500_5999/small5775.jpg
http://www.coptic.net/EncyclopediaCoptica/
http://www.richard-seaman.com/Travel/Egypt/Aswan/AroundAndAbout/RusticCopticChurch.jpg
Scarab Beetles are beetles of the family Scarabaeidae, scarabs are stout beetles with
metallic-colored backs. The beetles are well known for their habitual
rolling of dung into balls around their eggs in order to feed the larvae
as it develops.
In ancient Egypt, scarabs were revered as sacred because the beetles
were associated with the sun god Ra. Egyptians believed that due to
the bright color of the beetles, they were a form that the sun god took
on earth.
The scarab-beetle god Khepera (meaning “to become”) was believed to push the setting
sun along the sky in the same manner as the beetle with his ball of dung. In many
artifacts, the scarab is depicted pushing the sun along its course in the sky.
http://www.egyptianmyths.net/scarab.htm
http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4TH/KKHP/1INSECTS/scarab.html
http://www.egyptianmyths.net/khepera.htm
http://fixedreference.org/2006-Wikipedia-CD-Selection/wp/b/Beetle.htm
Allegory is a form of extended metaphor, in which objects, persons, and actions in a narrative, are
equated with the meanings that lie outside the narrative itself. The underlying meaning has moral, social,
religious, or political significance, and characters are often personifications of abstract ideas as charity,
greed, or envy.
Thus an allegory is a story with two meanings, a literal meaning and a symbolic meaning.
http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/lit_terms/allegory.html
An interpretation of "The treasure under the bridge" by Rabbi Nachman of Breslov is given as "The
meaning of the parable is this: The fear of God is a buried treasure concealed in the heart of every one
of us, but one has to journey to the Tzaddik to discover it." This interpretation is similar to Jalal al-Din
Rumi's universality, as shown in another of Rumi's poems:I searched for God among the Christians and on the Cross and therein I found Him not.
I went into the ancient temples of idolatry; no trace of Him was there.
I entered the mountain cave of Hira and then went very far but God I found not.
Then I directed my search to the Kaaba, the resort of old and young; God was not there.
Finally, I looked into my own heart and there I saw Him; He was nowhere else
www.wikipedia.org
Discussion Questions
Text as Story
 Journey mythology
 Gypsy woman, robber, Old King – significance in Satiago’s crossing of threshold
 Importance of Santiago’s jobs (shepherd, crystal merchant etc.)
 What is the Language of the World
 Turning into the wind
Text as Technique
 Purpose of Prologue – who is The Alchemist?
 Allegory – how does it work? what is its purpose?
 How does focus on language play into Semiotics?
Key Quotes/Selections
Quote
Scene
Significance/Relevance