The Alchemist

“DISCOVER YOUR PERSONAL LEGEND”

Book Review By:

Vipula Bhavsar
Swetha Ramesh
Kalpita Mandavale
Sonam Patil
Hemendra Mhatre
 PAULO COELHO

 Alchemist of words.
 Born in 1947 in a middle class family.
 Youth: Hippie
 Wrote song lyrics
 Worked as journalist
 Brazilian writer
 Man behind the author….
PAULO COELHO
 Critics praise his poetic, realistic and
philosophical style.
 “His books have had a life enhancing impact on
millions of people”….
The Times , UK
 Coelho’s writing is beautifully poetic but his
message is what counts…He gives me hope and
puts a smile on my face….
Daily Express
 Holds Guinness world record….
OTHER WORKS

 Pilgrimage……Zahir
 The Fifth Mountain
 Eleven Minutes
 Manual of Warrior of Light
 The Valkyries
 Veronika decides to die
INS AND OUTS

 Launched in Brazil in 1988

 Translated into 56 languages
 Sep 1993 topped the bestseller list in Australia
 In 1995 published in Italy
 School edition launched in 2003
INS AND OUTS

 Status of universally admired modern classic.

3000 copies of “The Alchemist” have been

distributed to employees with the aim of re-
kindling the reality of own potentiality and
growth… The
municipality of Arendal
PHILOSOPHY

When you really want something to happen the

whole universe conspires so that your wishes
come true.

When you carry your heart’s desire- whether it

is conventionally right or wrong- it will become
right for you because you will make it right for
you.
JOURNEY
JOURNEY …
 Santiago … enchanted by a dream
 Quest for treasure
 Insurmountable obstacles
 Jewels of wisdom
MAJOR CHARACTERS:
 Santiago
 The Gypsy Woman
 The Old King
 The Crystal Merchant
 The Englishman
 The alchemist
MINOR CHARACTERS:
 Fatima
 The Camel Driver
 The Tribal Chieftain
IN SHORT:
 Protagonist
 Antagonist
 Climax
 Outcome
SANTIAGO
 Background
 Qualities
1. Risk Taker
2. Decision Making
3. Patience And Perseverance
4. Belief In Self
5. Creative And Social
QUEST FOR TREASURE
KING
 Interpretations- God, Omen, Inner Self
 Gift- Urim and Thummim

SHOP OWNER
 Different Philosophy
 Resistant to Change
QUEST FOR TREASURE
ENGLISHMAN
 Universal language
 Englishman’s search

FATIMA
 Twin soul
 Power of love
QUEST FOR TREASURE
ALCHEMIST
 INSURMOUNTABLE OBSTACLES
 Lack of self-belief
 The first day in Africa
 Danger of tribal wars
 Leaving oasis
 Last part of the journey
FATE V. FREE WILL
 A key focus of the novel is how much of one’s life is controlled
by fate and how much is controlled by one’s self.
 As Melchizedek suggests, “at some point during our lives, we
lose control of what’s happening to us, and our lives become
controlled by fate.”- this suggests that we have the power to
control our lives, but that it is within the confines of fate.
 Further, Coelho suggests that fate conspires with free will to
aid an individual as long as the individual is following their
dreams-The concept of favorability
OMENS & DREAMS
 Dreams precipitate and end action in the text- they
bookend the story and initiate discussion on the role
of the subconscious mind
 Conscious self v. subconscious self. This could bring
about the idea of the collective unconscious- Carl
Jung
 Reading and interpreting omens is key within the
text- omens move the plot along and foreshadow
events
 Omens reveal Santiago’s fate within the text
 Omens and dreams and the interpretation thereof are
important throughout literature in all ages
MERITS FOR
TEACHING
 text is distinctly accessible for all reading levels
 It has contemporary relevance
 It will encourage and foster lively classroom
debate
 It is a readable text
 The subject matter should resonate with senior
high students who are about to begin their own
‘journeys’ into the world
 Its length is manageable and not overly daunting
for students to accomplish
 It is age-appropriate to senior high school
students (grade 10-12)
 Representative of contemporary world literature
JEWELS OF WISDOM

 Read Omens
 Universal language
 Happiness of Life
 Treasure
TEACHINGS
 Everyone on earth has a treasure that
awaits him.
 There is only one way to learn- its through
action.
 Dreams are the language of God.
 Every day with itself brings an eternity.
 Listen to your heart. It knows all things,
because it came from the Soul of the
World and it will one day return there.
TEACHINGS CONTD:
 The world’s greatest lie is that at a certain point
in our lives, we loose control of what’s
happening to us, and our lives become controlled
by fate.
 Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse
than the suffering itself.
 The principle of favorability-When you play cards
the first time you are sure to win…Beginner’s
luck…
 The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels
of the world…but never to forget the drops of oil
on the spoon.
TEACHINGS CONTD:
 Gyan yog vs Karma Yog
 Where ever your heart is there, you will find
treasure.
 The one who can find life in emptybess can
find treasure.
 “The darkest hour of night comes just before
dawn”
 “Lead will play its role until the world has no
further need for lead; and then lead will
have to turn itself into gold”
CONCLUSION:
Each human being are given 2 possibilities “Action
and Contemplation” which leads to same place.

As in Bhagwat gita
CRITICS
 Dreams.
 Selfish.
 Beginners Luck.
 Omens.
 Love.
 Spiritual Enlightment.
 People he met supported his dream.
 Lack of practical approach.