What is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho about?

The Alchemist is the magical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure as extravagant as any ever found. From his home in Spain he journeys to the markets of Tangiers and across the Egyptian desert to a fateful encounter with the alchemist.

What is the main message of The Alchemist?

The most prominent theme in The Alchemist is the idea that each person has a “Personal Legend”—a type of ideal fate or destiny—and that each person can chose whether or not to pursue that legend.

What is the story about Alchemist?

The Alchemist tells the story of a young shepherd named Santiago who is able to find a treasure beyond his wildest dreams. Along the way, he learns to listen to his heart and, more importantly, realizes that his dreams, or his Personal Legend, are not just his but part of the Soul of the Universe.

Is The Alchemist good for beginners?

The Alchemist is a story that will inspire you to listen to your heart and follow your dreams, something we all need to do! To top that up, the unique vision and spirituality of Paulo Coelho will be a therapeutic experience. It is no wonder why this book is considered to be one of the best books for beginners.

Is The Alchemist a true story?

The Alchemist is a work of fiction but the message of the novel was autobiographical in spirit.

The Alchemist | Summary

What lessons do we learn from The Alchemist?

Why The Alchemist is a must read?

It shows that obstacles to one's personal legend are merely obstacles – not blockades. It challenges you to think about your own personal legend. It explores the meaning of “living the dream”. It encourages you not to delay the living of your legend.

What are the two main themes of The Alchemist?

What is the main conflict in The Alchemist?

Major conflict The major conflict of the book is Santiago's personal tension between completing his Personal Legend to travel all the way to Egypt to find a treasure at the pyramids and settling along the way for the treasures he has already earned.

Is there irony in The Alchemist?

More irony: The gold that the alchemist created from lead is precisely what causes the thieves to believe that Santiago is digging for more treasure, and to beat him. For Santiago, and for the reader, this is an unexpected, negative consequence of the alchemist's wisdom and power.

What religion is The Alchemist based on?

Although it can be inferred that Santiago, the protagonist in The Alchemist, is heavily influenced by Judeo-Christian values through the various Biblical symbols present in the book.

At what age should you read The Alchemist?

Great for advanced readers 10 to 99 yrs old!

We enjoy the way the Author writes, the flow of thoughts, it's a very peasant book to read..it's even more inetersing after knowing He used ALL real life, History Characters, with the exception of the Twins, EVERYONE else in the book are historical characters.

Which Paulo Coelho book should I read first?

Mention Paulo Coelho and the first book that comes to mind is The Alchemist. One of his most successful books till date, it's is a brilliant story of a young shepherd and his journey to the pyramids of Egypt.

Is The Alchemist okay for kids?

It's kid-friendly, alright, but the question you should ask yourself is whether you want your kid to think that "When you really want something to happen, the whole world conspires to help you achieve it."

What is the ending of The Alchemist?

The Alchemist ends with the end of Santiago's journey across the sea and sands, right back where he started several years before, dreaming under a sycamore tree. Or does it? The last line of the novel, "'I'm coming, Fatima,' he said" (Epilogue. 13) shows us that Santiago's not ready to stop traveling.

Is Paulo Coelho worth reading?

The first time I picked up “the alchemist” was 5 years ago and I was in awe while reading it. The story was beautifully written, the journey of a young boy was intriguing, mystical and full of surrealism.

Why did Paulo Coelho write The Alchemist?

Coelho wrote The Alchemist in only two weeks in 1987. He explained that he was able to write at this pace because the story was "already written in [his] soul." The book's main theme is about finding one's destiny, although according to The New York Times, The Alchemist is "more self-help than literature".

Is The Alchemist appropriate for high school students?

The Alchemist, a quirky little novella from Paulo Cohelo, is the perfect self-help book for high school students because it comes in the form of a readable parable, and the narrative helps to disguise the preachy nature of books designed to help teens find themselves and their way in the world.

Who is the target audience for the alchemist?

The target audience is not specifically one group of people, but all people in general. Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist is historical as it takes place around the 15th or 16th century.

Is The Alchemist a spiritual book?

It's no surprise that The Alchemist (Amazon) resonates universally. It's the story of each of us, and it's a highly spiritual book. Some sources say The Alchemist has sold over 150 million copies and has been translated into 80 languages—setting the Guinness World Record for most translated book by a living author.

How the ending of the alchemist is ironic?

What is the irony at the end of The Alchemist? Even if an omen is unlikely, it must heeded. More irony: The gold that the alchemist created from lead is precisely what causes the thieves to believe that Santiago is digging for more treasure, and to beat him.

What does Santiago realize about himself and his journey at the end of the story?

What does Santiago realize about himself and his journey at the end of the story? Santiago realizes that the journey and meeting those people shaped him to become a better person.

What do the pyramids symbolize in the alchemist?

Ultimately the pyramids are not the end point of Santiago's quest, however, and he must return to a familiar place, the abandoned church, to find his treasure. Therefore, the pyramids come to symbolize all that Santiago experiences along the way toward the end goal of his Legend.