The Alchemist By: Paul Coelho Student’s Name Mrs. Rennie Honors English 2 Feb 23-24, 2015

Main Characters Santiago Shepherd Boy Educated, likes to read Loves to travel Lives in Andalusia Old Woman Gypsy Palm reader, interprets Santiago’s dream Tells him his treasure is found at the Pyramids

Old Man Melchizedek, King of Salem A spirit, can take on many forms Very wise Teaches Santiago about life and happiness and guides him on his Personal Legend

The Alchemist: Wise man Dressed completely in black, held a falcon on left shoulder, armed with a sword, rode a white horse Spiritual guide, teacher Able to turn common metals into gold

Setting The story begins in the region of Andalusia (Southern Spain) Then travels to Africa to the pyramids of Egypt The story ends in the same place where it began The time is not specifically indicated but seems to be some time in the past before modern times

Significant events that may have influenced the writer Coelho went to a Jesuit school where he discovered he wanted to be a writer. He was raised by Catholic parents who did not allow him to follow his dream, and put him into a mental institution. When he got out, he traveled all over looking for spiritual experiences. Coelho had a vision about a stranger who encouraged him to go walk the Road of Santiago de Compostela. This vision came true when he met the stranger at a café (“Paulo Coehlo Biography”).

The Alchemist The book is titled The Alchemist because the story is about a boy who meets an alchemist while he is searching for his treasure. According to the book, alchemists are “men who had dedicated their entire lives to the purification of metals in their laboratories” (Coelho 83). Alchemists believe that if the metal is heated enough it would purify and turn into “the Philosopher’s Stone” (Coelho 84). A piece of the stone could turn any metal into gold. Like the metal, the story is about the transforming of the boy from an ordinary shepherd to a wise man who followed his dream.

Major Conflict The major conflict in The Alchemist is when the main character must decide whether to follow his personal legend (heart’s desire) or settle for what he already has accomplished. Santiago must make this decision several times in the story. Once, when he loses all of his money, he must decide whether to continue his journey or go home. Another time, he must make a choice whether to marry his true love or follow the Alchemist. Then, he must decide whether to warn the chief tribesman about seeing the two hawks fighting, which he interpreted that they were about to be attacked. In each conflict Santiago chooses to follow his personal legend even though it puts him in great danger.

Key Events Rising Action: Gypsy interprets Santiago’s dream Meets Old Man who encourages him to seek his Personal Legend Sells his sheep to follow his dream Loses his money and finds work at a crystal seller’s shop Travels through the desert to the oasis and finds his true love Meets the Alchemist

Climax: Falling Action: Resolution: Santiago turns himself into the wind in order to save the Alchemist and himself. Falling Action: Santiago returns home. Resolution: He learns that his treasure is back in Andalusia.

Most Important Aspect The most important aspect of the story is the theme and purpose of the book which is to teach the reader how to live the best and happiest life. The story of the boy’s adventures while seeking his fortune gives the reader many rules for living a better life. The book’s theme of seeking your “personal legend” is the most important lesson. Every time the main character is just about to give up his dream, something happens to encourage him and help him see things more clearly. He is told about the baker who never “realized that people are capable, at anytime in their lives, of doing what they dream of” (Cohelho 25) The baker spent his whole life baking when he really wanted to travel. He spent his life waiting for the future and missing true happiness in the present. Then Santiago meets the candy man whose passion is to make candy. He is making candy because that is what he wants to do, not as a means to something else, so he is very happy. There are many other words of wisdom throughout the book. The story of the Boy and the Spoon of Oil teaches that “The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the oil in the spoon” (Cohelho 35). In other words enjoy life but do not forget to be responsible. The Alchemist tells the boy, “It’s not what enters men’s mouth that’s evil, it is what comes out of their mouth that is.”(Cohelho 119) This lesson warns the reader that words can be harmful. Another lesson is that fear of failure can prevent people from achieving their dreams, because they may never try. “If you start out by promising what you do not even have yet, you will lose your desire to work toward getting it”(Cohelho 26) This lesson is to spend only what you already have or you will not feel like working because what you earn is already gone. However true and important these other lessons might be, the central theme of finding your purpose in life is discussed many times throughout the book and is Santiago’s main goal. In the end, after all of Santiago’s travels, he finds his treasure has been home all along, but his real treasure has been the journey of following his dream.

Works Cited Coelho, Paulo, and Alan Clarke. The Alchemist. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1993. Print. "Paulo Coehlo Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2016.