Introduction
The Alchemist is an adventure fiction/fantasy fiction book and was written by a man by the name of Paulo Coelho. Coelho was greatly known for this particular book even tho it had a slow start when it hit the market it quickly picked up and was a hit. Paulo was born on August 24,1947 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At age 38 he had a spiritual awakening in Spain and wrote all about it in his first book, The Pilgrimage.
Exposition
The Alchemist took place in a Spanish town called Tarifa and is set in a undetermined time. Throughout the story the boy travels through the city of Tangier and through the Sahara desert. The boys journeys are fun and filled with decisions and opportunity.
Characterization
There are blank main characters in the story The Alchemist, Santiago, The Alchemist, Gypsy and Melchizedek. Santiago is a young man who has always dreamt of traveling in search of new things. Santiago lives in a small town called Tangier in Spain and lives with his father. Santiago’s father wants him to become a priest but he want to follow his dream and his foretold destiny to find treasure. His father then grants him permission to become a Shepard because that’s the only way to travel the lands. His goal is to find treasure at the foot of the Egyptian pyramids. The alchemist is 200 years old and is extremely powerful. The alchemist lives in the Al-Fayoum Oasis and dresses in black and rides a white. He also carries a philosopher stone and the elixir of life. The alchemist also strongly believes in personal legends which is another word for someone’s personal journey. The gypsy is another important main character of this story. Gypsy lives in Tarifa and she is a dream interpreter, palm reader and is a user of black magic. The gypsy is very important because she is the one who foretells Santiago about his future and what he will do at the pyramids. Last but not least Melchizedek. Melchizedek is the king of Salem, has magical powers and helps others in their pursuit of their personal legend. The king is only introduced into the story briefly but he plays an important part because he gives Santiago to logical stones Urim and Thummim these two stones symbolize yes and no.
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Elements of Plot
The story all starts out with an eager young man by the name of Santiago. Santiago wants to travel the lands and find new things but his father wants him to become a priest. Santiago’s father finally lets him travel and gives him his blessing on becoming a shepherd. Santiago’s goes and meets of merchants and women but soon he comes by a gypsy. This gypsy then foretells that Santiago is destin to find a treasure and will meet many others and face challenges along the way. For example, one challenge he faces is he is held captive by a tribesman in the Sahara desert and struggles to turn himself into the wind. After that predicament Santiago comes across the alchemist who is a very magical individual and believes in helping others in their personal legends . Santiago gets the help from the alchemist and finally reaches the pyramids to where he is supposed to find his treasure only to realize there is a clue that will send him all the way back home in an abandoned church by and old sycamore tree.
Reader’s Response
The part of the book I found most interesting is on pages 159-160. In this particular part of the book it talks about how it has been a month since he has set foot on his journey and it was another starry night with dunes that go on like a never ending sea and he looked up and prayed to god he would find the pyramids so we walk over a set of dunes and saw the pyramids.
