The Alchemist Summary. it is a novel by Brazilian author Paulo Coelho which was first published in 1988. Originally written in Portuguese, it became a widely translated international bestseller. An allegorical novel.
The Alchemist Book follows a young Andalusian shepherd in his journey to the pyramids of Egypt, after having a recurring dream of finding a treasure there. Heavy with allegory and including many fantastical and magical elements, the novel delivers a strong message of powerful life lessons and encourages the characters (and the reader) to fulfill their own Personal Legend.
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| The Alchemist Summary |
The Alchemist Summary
While sleeping near a sycamore tree in the sacristy of an abandoned church, Santiago, a shepherd boy, has a recurring dream about a child who tells him that he will find a hidden treasure if he travels to the Egyptian pyramids. An old woman tells Santiago that this dream is prophetic and that he must follow its instructions. Santiago is uncertain, however, since he enjoys the life of a shepherd.
Next Santiago meets a mysterious old man who seems able to read his mind. This man introduces himself as Melchizedek, or the King of Salem. He tells Santiago about good and bad omens and says that it is the shepherd boy's duty to pursue his Personal Legend. Melchizedek then gives Santiago two stones, Urim and Thummim, with which to interpret omens.
Santiago wavers briefly before selling his flock and purchasing a ticket to Tangier, in northern Africa, to which he travels by boat. Shortly after he arrives there, a thief steals all of Santiago's money, so the shepherd boy decides to look for a way to make enough money to return home. He finds work in the shop of a crystal merchant, where Santiago makes improvements that reap considerable financial rewards.
After eleven months of working in the shop, Santiago is unsure of how to proceed. Should he return to Andalusia a rich man and buy more sheep? Or should he cross the vast Sahara in pursuit of the hidden treasure of his dreams? He joins a caravan traveling to Egypt.
Santiago meets an Englishman who wants to learn the secret of alchemy, or turning any metal into gold, from a famous alchemist who lives at an oasis on the way to the pyramids. While traveling, Santiago begins listening to the desert and discovering the Soul of the World. The caravan eventually reaches the oasis, and there Santiago meets an Arab girl named Fatima and falls in love with her instantly. The caravan leader gathers the travelers together and tells them that tribal warfare prevents them from continuing their journey.
Santiago wanders from the oasis into the desert and, seeing two hawks fighting in the sky, has a vision of an army entering the oasis. Because attacking an oasis is a violation of the rules of the desert, Santiago shares his vision with the oasis's tribal chieftain. Soon afterward, Santiago is confronted by a black-garbed, veiled stranger with a sword, who sits atop a white horse. It is the alchemist. The tribal chieftain arms his men, and they are well-prepared when the oasis is indeed invaded. The alchemist offers to cross the desert with Santiago.
Soon the two men enter into an area of intense tribal warfare. Warriors hold the two men captive, but eventually allow them to continue their journey. The alchemist tells Santiago that he needs to return to the oasis, and that the rest of the trip is Santiago's to make alone so that he can claim his Personal Legend.
Santiago arrives at the Egyptian pyramids and begins to dig. He finds nothing buried in the ground. Thieves beat Santiago and rob him of his money. After he tells them of his dream, though, one of the thieves recounts his own dream about a buried treasure in the sacristy of an abandoned church.
Returning to Andalusia, Santiago goes back to the church where he dreamed of the treasure near the pyramids. He digs where he slept, beneath a sycamore tree, and there it is: Santiago's treasure.
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The Alchemist Quotes
- “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
- “It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”
- “When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.”
- “One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving.”
- “There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”
- “So, I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you.”
- “The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.”
- “The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them.”
- “Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.”
- “Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.”
- “No matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world. And normally he doesn't know it.”
- “Don't give in to your fears. If you do, you won't be able to talk to your heart.”
- “People are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of.”
- “Everything that happens once can never happen again. But everything that happens twice will surely happen a third time.”
- “If someone isn't what others want them to be, the others become angry. Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.”
- “When each day is the same as the next, it’s because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day that the sun rises.”
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Questions and Answers about The Alchemist Plot
What is the story The Alchemist about? Summary of the Alchemistm Book,The Alchemist is a classic novel in which a boy named Santiago embarks on a journey seeking treasure in the Egyptian pyramids after having a recurring dream about it and on the way meets mentors, falls in love, and most importantly, learns the true importance of who he is and how to improve himself .
Why is The Alchemist book good? It teaches you to turn down the negative noise in your life. It focuses on the individual and the pursuit of individual dreams as making a positive contribution to the “Soul of the World”. What is this? It shows that obstacles to one's personal legend are merely obstacles, not blockades.
Is The Alchemist good for a 12 year old? Great for advanced readers 10 to 99 yrs old.
What is the main idea of alchemist? In the novel, even alchemy, the central symbol of the book, entails coaxing metal to achieve its own Personal Legend to turn into gold. As a result, the idea that all individuals should live in the singular pursuit of their individual dreams emerges as the primary theme of The Alchemist.
What does The Alchemist teach you? You must never give up on your dreams, realize that if you truly want to reach your biggest goals, you have to follow your personal legend, no matter what obstacles get in the way. All you need is the courage to overcome anything that life throughs at you, so you can reach your wildest dreams.
Is The Alchemist a love story? The Alchemist is remarkable for being a love story that renounces the idea that romantic love must be the central thing in your life. Each person has a destiny to pursue that exists independently of other people. It is the thing you would do, or be, even if you have all the love and money you want.
Is The Alchemist a religious book? The Alchemist is not a Christian book as it attempts to ascend one specific religion and communicate in a language known as the Soul of the World. Santiago's love of travel persuades him to become a shepherd instead of a priest.
Is it hard to read The Alchemist? The Alchemist's story is straightforward and easy to follow, unlike the signs and omens Santiago finds himself chasing. However, you will run into some abstract concepts like Personal Legends that you'll have to think about every now and then—just enough to get the wheels turning.
Why is The Alchemist so famous? It is about discovering the our path in life. Many other books are written about this but the alchemist became popular for the way this idea was presented before the reader.
What is the conclusion of The Alchemist? After all of the obstacles, Santiago success to win the prize from his journey. He finally finds the hidden treasure which is gold under the tree. Moreover, the most unvaluable achievement of Santiago is the wisdom life knowledge that he gets along.
Is The Alchemist LGBTQ? The Alchemist is a gay medieval fantasy visual novel. You play as an apprentice alchemist on a journey in a merchant caravan. There, you will meet colorful characters, discover their way of seeing the world and maybe experience an intense romance.