The Alchemist is a novel by paulo coelho.it was first published in the year 1998.This was originally written in Portuguese by its Brazillizn author - Paulo Coelho.It has been translated into at least 56 languages.
This book is an inspiring story of Andulisian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids.
This adventure of Santiago begins with his recurring dreams troubling him.Santiago is a young and adventurous Andalusian shepherd.He has the dream everytime he sleeps he arrives at a church which is abandoned with his flock.He decides to sleep there. A giant sycamore tree grows in the spot where a sacristy once stood. While Santiago sleeps, he has a disturbing dream. When he wakes, his flock begins to stir, and Santiago talks to the sheep about a girl he met the year prior.When Santiago arrives, the merchant father of the girl who he is visiting to sell some wool asks him to wait until afternoon to sell him wool. When the merchant returns back, he asks Santiago for the wool of four sheep and tells him to return the next year.After almost a year, four days before Santiago’s next visit to the village. He stays in the abandoned church and daydreams about the merchant’s daughter, that night too he has the same troubling dream he had the year before.. Suddenly, Santiago remembers that an old woman in the nearby village of Tarifa interprets dreams. He decides to visit her.
When Santiago meets the the dream interpreter he gets scared and says he doesn’t want a palm reading but when The dream interpreter replies that she can help him, and that she will still charge him if he leaves early. Santiago decides to go ahead and explain his dream.
In his dream, Santiago is in a field with his sheep when a child starts to play with them. The child grabs Santiago’s hands, transports him to the pyramids in Egypt, and tells him that he will find a treasure near them. As the child begins to say the exact location of treasure, Santiago wakes up.
After listening to the dream, the dream interpreter says she will not charge him for her service, but that she wants ten percent of the treasure when he finds it. Santiago doesnt believe but still agrees to share his treasure. She says that the treasure really exists.He leaves the place.
He rests in town.An old man approaches him and questions Santiago about the book he had recently bought.The old man says the book describes how people end up believing “the world’s greatest lie,” that nobody can choose his own fate, or “Personal Legend.”
The old man introduces himself as Melchizedek and says he is the King of Salem. The old man says Santiago to give him one tenth of his sheep on telling him how to find the hidden treasure. Santiago thinks the old man to be working with the dream interpreter since only the dream interpreter knew about his dream and the treasure.Melchizedek then writes the names of mother and father of Santiago in the sand which he had never told the dream interpreter.
The meeting upsets Santiago, and he begins wandering through the city.Santiago finds Melchizedek the next day and brings six sheep. He tells Melchizedek he sold the rest of his sheep the day before. Melchizedek says Santiago can find his treasure in Egypt by the pyramids. Santiago feels annoyed that Melchizedek does not give a more exact location, but then a butterfly appears. Melchizedek explains the butterfly is Santiago’s first omen and opens his cape to reveal a jeweled breastplate. Melchizedek gives Santiago two stones from the breastplate. He says the stones are called Urim and Thummim and they represent “yes” and “no.” They will help Santiago to read omens.With those Santiago heads towards Africa.
Santiago arrives in Tangier and sits at a bar. A man of similar age and appearance as Santiago addresses him in Spanish. Santiago tells him he needs to get to the Pyramids and offers to pay him to serve as a guide. Santiago gives the young man his money to purchase camels.
The two visit a crowded market and Santiago notices a sword on display. He asks the young man to find out the sword’s price, but realizes the young man has disappeared. He realizes he’s been robbed. He checks his remainings. He has his book, his jacket, and the stones Melchizedek gave him. He decides to sell the stones to pay for a trip back home but when he puts his hand in his pocket he realizes the stones have slipped through a hole and fallen to the ground. he collects them,and continue his mission.
Santiago falls asleep in the marketplace. He wakes as merchants begin setting up shop for the day Santiago offers a crystal merchant to clean glasses in the shop’s window in exchange for food, but the crystal merchant does not respond. Santiago cleans the glasses anyway.the merchant explains that Santiago didn’t need to clean, because the Koran orders him to feed the hungry. Santiago says he will clean all the merchant’s crystal overnight in exchange for money to get to Egypt. The merchant replies that the trip to Egypt is so long and expensive that Santiago couldn’t earn enough for the trip in a year. Santiago feels disappointed but agrees to take the job.
After almost a month of work, Santiago feels annoyed with his new job. Santiago offers to build a display case to place outside the shop and attract more customersThe display case increases customer traffic, and Santiago realizes that, within six months, he will have enough to return to Tarifa and buy twice as many sheep as he originally owned. After hearing a man complain about the lack of places to drink on the hill, Santiago suggests that the crystal merchant also sell tea in crystal glasses. The tea becomes popular, and the crystal merchant business increases.
Nearly after a year his arrival in Africa,he has become rich as a result of the crystal shop’s success. One morning He tells the crystal merchant he wants to return to Tarifa even encourages the crystal merchant to travel to Mecca where he always wanted to travel but the merchant says he will not go to Mecca, and Santiago will not go home. Santiago asks how he knows, and the crystal merchant says “maktub,” which means “it is written.”
As Santiago packs, the two stones, Urim and Thummim, fall to the floor, reminding him of Melchizedek.He decides to continue his personal legend and visits a supplier for desert caravans.
Santiago joins a group traveling with the desert caravan, and he tells the Englishman his story of working for the crystal merchant. The Englishman explains that he is seeking an alchemist, and Santiago replies that he is heading to Egypt to look for treasure. A war begins in the desert but the caravan reaches the oasis safely. Egypt remains a long distance away, but Santiago feels pleased not to travel in fear any longer.
The alchemist watches from Al-Fayoum as the caravan arrives. The village around Al-Fayoum buzzes with excitement, but the alchemist pays no attention. Omens have made the alchemist aware that someone traveling with the caravan will learn from him, and the alchemist wonders how capable his new apprentice will be.
The caravan leader explains that the group will remain in Al-Fayoum until the war ends, and that they must hand over their arms and stay in tents with locals and fellow travelers. The Englishman asks him to for help finding the alchemist.
The pair searches all day for the alchemist’s tent without luck. Santiago asks an old man about the alchemist who replies him telling that even tribal chieftains can’t meet with him. Santiago approaches a young woman at a well and falls in love with her. The girl introduces herself as Fatima, and explains that the alchemist communicates with desert spirits and lives in the south of Al-Fayoum.
The next day, Santiago returns to the well, hoping to see Fatima again. He finds the Englishman there as well. The Englishman explains he waited all day for the alchemist. When the alchemist finally arrived, the Englishman asked how to turn lead into gold. The alchemist only responded that he must “go and try.”
Fatima arrives after the Englishman leaves, and Santiago tells her he loves her. Santiago meets Fatima at the well every day. One day, Fatima tells Santiago that she has been waiting for him her entire life, but insists that he continue on to Egypt after the war to pursue his Personal Legend. She says if they are meant to be together, they will meet again.
After this Santiago seeks out the Englishman and discovers he has built a furnace. The Englishman explains that he has abandoned his fear of failure and will attempt the Master Work.
Santiago watches a pair of hawks attacking each other and has a vision of armies riding through the oasis. Santiago remembers Melchizedek’s advice to heed omens, so he tells the camel driver about his vision. The camel driver takes Santiago’s warning seriously.
Because the camel driver believes that God showed Santiago the future through his vision, he tells Santiago to warn the local tribal chieftains of approaching armies. Santiago doubts the chieftains will take him seriously, but the camel driver explains that they deal often with omens.
Santiago visits and tells a guard that he saw an omen. The guard goes inside the tent and returns with a young Arab.Santiago tells the Arab about his vision and the Arab asks Santiago to wait. Santiago waits outside until nightfall, when finally the guard invites Santiago inside.The chieftains asks Santiago why the desert would speak to him, a newcomer to the desert. Santiago replies that, because he is new, he can see things.
The old man at the center of the chieftains, dressed in white and gold, does not speak until the conversation ends. Then he recounts the story of a man who believed in dreams and was sold as a slave. After his speech, the old man says he will lift the ban on carrying weapons in the oasis for one day, and that everyone should be on the lookout for enemies. He says he will reward each man in the oasis for every ten enemies he kills, and if Santiago turns out to be wrong, they will kill him.
Santiago leaves the chieftains. Outside, a horseman in black carrying a sword knocks Santiago to the ground. The horseman asks who dared read the flight of the hawks. Santiago says he did and that he was able to see into the Soul of the World. The horseman asks Santiago why he defies Allah’s will, and Santiago replies that Allah willed his vision to occur. The horseman withdraws his sword and asks why Santiago is in the desert. When Santiago says he is following his Personal Legend, the horseman explains he needed to test Santiago’s courage, and that Santiago must not give up on his goal. The horseman tells Santiago to find him the next day after sunset if he survives the ensuing battle. Santiago asks the horseman where he lives, and the horseman simply points south before riding away. We learn that the mysterious horseman is the alchemist.
That night, Santiago wanders to the south of Al-Fayoum. He sees a tent that a group of passing Arabs says genies inhabit. Santiago waits beside the tent, and at midnight the alchemist appears on his horse carrying two dead hawks on his shoulder. The alchemist says Santiago should not be there unless his Personal Legend directed him to. He signals for Santiago to enter the tent. Inside, Santiago sees no traditional alchemy tools. The alchemist tells Santiago that he asked him to come to his tent because the omens told him Santiago would need help. Santiago tells the alchemist that the Englishman needs his help, but the alchemist replies that the Englishman has other things to do first. The alchemist says he needs to help direct Santiago to the treasure he seeks.
Santiago argues that he already has his treasure with his camel, money, and Fatima. The alchemist replies that Santiago has nothing from the pyramids. He proceeds to pour Santiago some wine, even though the rules of Al-Fayoum prohibit drinking alcohol. He tells Santiago to sell his camel and buy a horse.
Santiago returns to the alchemist’s tent the next night with a horse.He tells Santiago to lead him to where there is life in the desert. Santiago feels confused, but he understands what to do when the alchemist tells him that life attracts life. He heads into the desert until his horse slows down. He tells the alchemist life exists where they have stopped, because his horse knows life. The alchemist finds a cobra and grabs it by the tail. The cobra jumps away. The alchemist draws a circle in the sand and places the cobra inside it. The cobra relaxes, and the alchemist says the cobra will not leave the circle.
The alchemist prepares to move on,but Santiago says that he doesn’t want to leave Fatima. The alchemist says Fatima understands his Personal Legend. Santiago asks the alchemist what would happen if he stayed in Al-Fayoum. The alchemist explains that Santiago would have enough money to buy many sheep and camels, and would marry Fatima.but after one year,during the second year Santiago would become obsessed with his Personal Legend, and Fatima would feel bad for interrupting Santiago’s quest. Santiago and Fatima would still love each other, but by the fourth year, the omens of treasure would disappear.and Santiago would live the rest of his life in regret. The alchemist’s story convinces Santiago. They returns to Al-Fayoum for one night and Santiago tells Fatima he is leaving, but that he still loves her and he will return.
They travel for a week. On the seventh day, the alchemist sets up a camp early and tells Santiago his journey is almost finished. Santiago asks him why he is an alchemist, and the alchemist explains he learned the practice from his grandfather, when alchemy was simpler. He says men complicated alchemy by writing books about it. Previously, alchemists only needed the Emerald Tablet. The alchemist encourages Santiago to immerse himself in the desert and listen to his heart so he can also gain an understanding of the Soul of the World.
While they pass through the area where the tribal fighting is worst. Santiago tells that he doesn’t want him to continue. The alchemist replies that no heart suffers while it pursues its dreams, because to pursue a dream is to encounter God.
The next day, three tribesmen approach them and discover that the alchemist carries the Philosopher’s Stone and the Elixir of Life. The tribesmen laugh when the alchemist tells them about the magical properties of his possessions, and they allow to the two to continue on. Santiago asks the alchemist why he told the men about his possessions, and the alchemist replies that people seldom believe a person carrying treasures.
Two men suddenly appear behind Santiago and the alchemist and tell them they can travel no further. The alchemist stares into the eyes of the men and tells them they are not going far, and the men leave. The alchemist explains to Santiago that the eyes demonstrate the strength of one’s soul.
Santiago asks the alchemist to tell him the secret of alchemy, and the alchemist says Santiago already knows alchemy because he can penetrate to the Soul of the World. Santiago asks how to specifically turn lead into gold. The alchemist says that gold represents the most evolved metal, and that successful alchemists understand evolution.
That evening, hundreds of Arab tribesmen accuse them of acting as spies. They take them to a military camp and begin questioning them. The alchemist says Santiago is an alchemist,and could destroy the camp with the force of the wind. The men laugh and challenge Santiago to prove the alchemist’s claim. The alchemist says that after three days Santiago will transform himself into the wind. Santiago feels confused, and the alchemist says he was only trying to avoid getting killed. Santiago replies that, since he can’t become the wind, they will die in three days anyway. The alchemist pours tea on Santiago’s wrists, saying only fear prevents someone from living out their Personal Legend.
Santiago asks the alchemist why he doesn’t seem worried, since if Santiago doesn’t turn into the wind, they will both die. The alchemist says he already knows how to turn himself into the wind.
On the third day the chief and his officers visit Santiago to see if he can turn himself into wind. Santiago looks out to the desert and it speaks to him. It offers its sand to Santiago to help the wind blow. It says that Santiago will also have to ask the wind for help.
A breeze picks up as Santiago asks the wind for help. He desires to reach all corners of the world, just like the wind.The wind blows harder,and tells Santiago to talk to the Hand That Wrote All. Santiago says he will, but that first the wind should create a sandstorm so he can look into the sky without the sun blinding him.
The wind picks up into a powerful gale called the simum and the tribesman ask their chief if they can stop Santiago’s stunt. The chief, however, wants to see Santiago complete his task. Santiago speaks to the sun. The sun tells him it knows of love, but Santiago argues it does not. Santiago says that all things have their own Personal Legend, and when something realizes its Personal Legend, it must change so it can acquire a new Personal Legend. Alchemists use this process to coax lead into becoming gold. After hearing Santiago’s words, the sun decides to shine more brightly, and the wind blows harder so it can continue to block out the brightness.
Santiago tells the sun to turn him into the wind. The sun says it can’t and suggests Santiago speak to the Hand That Wrote All. The wind is happy to see the limit to the sun’s wisdom and blows harder. Santiago communicates with the Hand That Wrote All but senses he should not speak. Instead, he prays and experiences a rush of love. He realizes that the Soul of God is his own soul, and that he can perform miracles.
Generations of people after remember the wind on that day. When the tribesmen look at where Santiago was standing, he is gone. Instead, he stands on the other side of camp. The men feel terrified, and the alchemist seems pleased. The chief lets Santiago and the alchemist continue on their journey and provides them with an escort party.
Santiago, the alchemist, and their escort ride until they arrive at a Coptic monastery. The alchemist tells Santiago they are three hours from the pyramids, and that he must finish the trip alone. The alchemist speaks to one of the monks in a strange language, and the monk leads him and Santiago to the kitchen and brings them a block of lead. The alchemist heats it and shaves a sliver off the Philosopher’s Stone. He adds the lead sliver to the pan, and the mixture becomes red. When it dries, it is gold. Santiago wants to try but the alchemist reminds Santiago that alchemy is not his Personal Legend. The alchemist gives gold to the monk, to Santiago, and keeps some himself.
Santiago rides off alone. As a full moon rises, Santiago sees the pyramids from atop a dune. He falls to his knees and sees a scarab in the sand. He starts digging in that spot but finds nothing. Eventually, two refugees from the tribal wars approach and yank Santiago from the hole. They take his gold, and assuming Santiago digs toward more gold, force him to keep digging until morning. When Santiago finds nothing, they beat him until he nearly dies. Santiago gasps that he saw the treasure in a dream, which makes the attackers think Santiago is crazy. One tells Santiago he had a dream of a treasure buried in Spain, and describes the church and sycamore tree from Santiago’s days as a shepherd. The attacker says he isn’t stupid enough to pursue it. Santiago smiles. He knows where to find his treasure.
Santiago arrives at the church and falls asleep contemplating the strange way God has guided him to the treasure. He wakes up digging and laughing about how God left gold at the monastery through the alchemist to ease his journey back. A voice in the wind says God wanted him to see the pyramids’ beauty. Soon Santiago finds a chest of gold coins and jewels. He removes Urim and Thummim and puts them in the chest. He plans to head to Tarifa and give the dream interpreter one tenth of his treasure, and as the wind blows he feels Fatima’s kiss on his lips. Santiago declares that he will return to her soon.
