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The Alchemist Essay

778 Words4 Pages

The book The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is a fantasy volume that explores complex and interesting facets of human life and the human experience through the journey of a young boy named Santiago. Santiago is told by a Gypsy that he must travel to find treasure at the Pyramids of Egypt. While on his trip he discoveres many things and in the end learns what it is that he truly seeks. There are many themes in The Alchemist including that theme that all things are connected in some way. In the first half of the novel Santiago meets the king of Salem Melchizedek. Initially, it is clear that he almost knows to expect Santiago’s arrival and is waiting to meet him. This is exemplified by the quote. “The boy offered his bottle, hoping that the old man …show more content…

“…when something is written, there is no way to change it…” and “Why did you read the flight of the birds” “I read only what the birds wanted to tell me…” These quotes teach Santiago that he needs to trust the signs given to him by the desert. In other words, the universe and the Alchemist are all working together to test Santiago and if he is confident in the belief that all things are connected he will trust the knowledge that is imparted to him. It is clear that the Characters of Melchizedek, the Christal Merchant, Fatima and the Alchemist all play a vital role in the story of the Alchemist by developing that theme that all things are connected. They have been in a sense placed in the path of Santiago to set him on his journey, to show him why he must pursue his personal legend, to develop trust in the Soul of the World and to teach him the final lesson he needs to realize his personal legend. Together they reveal that all things are connected and exist for a specific reason in a specific place even if the whole meaning is undiscoverable until the

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