Alchemistliterarycritique

Haner 1
Nicholas W.R. Haner

Mrs. Cramer
College Composition I
11 November 2016
Unraveling Your 'Personal Legend' With The Alchemist
Amidst what remained of the ruined church, under an ancient sycamore that sprouted
from broken floorboards, slept Santiago. In his travels as a shepherd throughout the Andalusian
countryside, he often relied on the tattered structure for shelter. His occasional slumber under the
tree also came with a corollary of troublesome dreams. These dreams spoke with the voice of a
child, and of what they spoke was a treasure that would make a man rich. It wasnt the possibility
of the treasure's existence that perturbed Santiago, merely the place where it was to be
uncovered. This is where the novel, "The Alchemist" begins its charming journey. Paulo Coelho
uses strong symbolism and a variety of characters to create a theme of self-fulfillment. A quote
that represents this appropriately states, "Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other
people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.
Symbolism haunts Santiago during his journey as he slowly realizes the value of his
personal legend. Most readers and critics will agree; Coelho's literary style is unapologetically
metaphoric. At times, the story seems to be oozing with the indicative juices whose scent
reminds the reader of Santiago's journey. The barren, desert setting is arguably the most pungent
ingredient of them all. By placing the story here, the author reminds the audience of the difficulty
of living in or simply crossing such a place. At the same time, the audience is thrust into the
obstacles that the main character faces. An excellent lesson can be learned from a camel driver
Haner 3
that Santiago meets later in the book. He says, Once you get into the desert, theres no going
back; And, when you cant go back, you have to worry only about the best way of moving
forward. The rest is up to Allah, including the danger. (Pg. 73) In this example, the desert is
suggestively compared to life, as there's no going back, and the future determined by your
actions alone. This literary one-two punch is exercised by Coelho over and over again, barely
recovering from one before introducing up the next with a deep emblematic tone more complex
than before. On page 28, Santiago meets the King of Salem, who explains the absolute
importance of omens if the shepherd boy is to follow his personal legend. He states, In order to
find the treasure, you will have to follow the omens. God has prepared a path for everyone to
follow. You just have to read the omens that he left for you."
Following this encounter, Santiago often observes and contemplates omens on the path.
Extremely late in the hunt for his treasure, he spots before him a scarab beetle scurrying across
the sand. Remembering what he had learned in his recent deserts travels, this beetle is a sure sign
from God. Santiago frantically digs for the treasure after fully committing to the omens
prophecy. The role of omens in the story is relatable to that of a stop sign along a street, or an
exit sign along a freeway. If not for the beetle, and all those previous signs guiding Santiago, he
may have never fulfilled his personal legend.
Above all, Santiago is defined by his open-mindedness, his value of free-will and his
tendency to withdraw from conflicts or compromising positions. These traits make him the ideal
shepherd and allows him the opportunity to remain that way for the remainder of his life. But, in
the face of normality, Santiago's open mind triumphed. Characters in this literary piece are as
varied and complex as in any other. In particular, one character who portrays a theme quite
contrary to that of the entire book is the Crystal Merchant. The readers observe the kind acts of
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the Merchant as he takes in Santiago and provides him with a job. Yet, upon closer inspection his
irredeemability is displayed. Bound by his religious practice, the Crystal Merchant stays rooted
to his shop. His actions are a prime example of personal unfulfillment which serves an even
greater example for Santiago, who witnesses firsthand what fate to avoid.
The 'personal legend' that the author highlights are the dream that every person strives to
live. May it be wealth, fame, or even simplicity, one must be open to essential wisdom. He must
be able to not only listen to the beating of his heart, but understand the existence of the heart
itself. Additionally, to achieve a personal legend, an individual must follow his own path,
recognizing the omens encountered during the journey. A constant search for fulfillment like this
can become overwhelming at times, but Santiago is successful. The reader can derive the
importance of following their dreams and remembering that many people never follow through
with their own. Paulo Coelho takes inspiration from this philosophical expression, forming an
enchanting novel that is strengthened by deep symbolism infused with emotional characters.

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Haner 1

Nicholas W.R. Haner

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