The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (Book Analysis) E-Book

Bright Summaries

• Herausgeber: BrightSummaries.com
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Serie: BrightSummaries.com
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 34

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Beschreibung

Unlock the more straightforward side of The Alchemist with this concise and insightful summary and analysis!

This engaging summary presents an analysis of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, a charming philosophical novel which tells the story of Santiago, a young shepherd who decides to leave his native Andalusia after he has a dream about treasure that lies buried at the foot of the Pyramids. His journey through the desert leads to encounters with mysterious characters such as a fortune-teller, a king and, most importantly of all, an alchemist who helps him understand the secrets of the universe and fulfil his destiny. The Alchemist is the best-known work by Paulo Coelho, a Brazilian author whose writing is known for its spiritual and esoteric themes. It has been translated into more than 50 languages, and a film adaptation has been planned. 
 
Find out everything you need to know about The Alchemist in a fraction of the time!

This in-depth and informative reading guide brings you:
   • A complete plot summary
   • Character studies
   • Key themes and symbols
   • Questions for further reflection

Why choose BrightSummaries.com?
Available in print and digital format, our publications are designed to accompany you in your reading journey. The clear and concise style makes for easy understanding, providing the perfect opportunity to improve your literary knowledge in no time.

See the very best of literature in a whole new light with BrightSummaries.com!

Leseprobe

PAULO COELHO

BRAZILIAN WRITER AND LYRICIST

Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1947.Notable works:The Pilgrimage (1987), novelVeronika Decides to Die (1998), novelThe Devil and Miss Prym (2000), novel

Paulo Coelho was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1947. At the age of 23, he left Brazil to travel through South America (Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Chile), Europe and North Africa. He returned to Brazil two years later and began working in the music industry, first as a writer of pop songs, then as a journalist specialising in Brazilian music and eventually as an employee at the American music label PolyGram. However, the lure of travelling and his desire for spiritual fulfilment proved irresistible, and he set off again in 1982.

His first successful novel, The Pilgrimage (1987), was inspired by his own experience on the Camino de Santiago (a popular Christian pilgrimage route in Spain). Coelho has continued to publish regularly in the intervening years, and his work has been well received by the general public and the literary world alike: he won Elle magazine’s Reader’s Choice Award in 1995 and was elected to the Brazilian Academy of Letters in 2002.

THE ALCHEMIST

A SPIRITUAL QUEST

Genre: philosophical novelReference edition: Coelho, P. (2012) The Alchemist. Trans. Clarke, A. R. London: HarperCollins.1st edition: 1988Themes: mysticism, journey, religion, identity, quest, coming-of-age

The Alchemist tells the story of Santiago, a young Andalusian shepherd who leaves his sheep and his homeland in search of the treasure he believes is buried at the foot of the Pyramids in Egypt. The young man has many encounters and experiences along the way, all of which lead him towards the treasure he seeks while also helping him to discover himself.

The Alchemist is a philosophical novel which was inspired by a short story by Jorge Luis Borges (Argentinian writer, 1899-1986), and champions the message that everyone is free to follow their own dreams and make them a reality. It has been published in 150 countries and translated into over 50 languages, making it one of the bestselling novels of all time.

SUMMARY

The first scene of the novel depicts the alchemist discovering a book of short stories by Oscar Wilde (Irish writer, 1854-1900). He reads one story inspired by the legend of Narcissus, but with a different ending: in Greek mythology, Narcissus was a handsome young man who fell in love with his own reflection, and was so distraught by his inability to capture it that he wasted away and died. However, in this tale the lake mourns the young man’s death, but only because it loved to gaze at its own reflection in the young man’s eyes.

One night, an inquisitive young shepherd called Santiago decides to stop at an old church and spend the night there. He is looking forward to being reunited with the young woman he had fallen in love with the year before. The tale of how they met is told via a flashback, which is followed by a second flashback which explains Santiago’s decision to take control of his own fate by becoming a shepherd so that he can discover the world.

That night, he dreams that a child is leading him to the Pyramids of Egypt and that she tells him: “If you come here, you will find a hidden treasure” (p. 13). Even though Santiago wakes up before she can show him the treasure’s exact location, this dream convinces him to embark on the long journey from Andalusia to Giza.

In Tarifa (Spain), a fortune-teller agrees to interpret this dream, but she asks for a tenth of the treasure in exchange, and tells him that it is a very difficult dream to interpret because it is in the language of the world. Santiago is disappointed by her interpretation, and sets off again.