Summary on the Novel ‘the Alchemist’ Essay Example

of his personal legend or goal, Santiago embarks on a spiritual journey and seeks to grasp the essence of the "spirit of the world," which can be equated with nature's assistance in attaining one's aspirations. Alongside this, Santiago undergoes an emotional voyage as he falls in love with Fatima, a girl he meets at the oasis. While the thief who steals from Santiago only appears briefly in the narrative, they serve as an antagonist. On the other hand, Milkweed, also known as the king of Salem, plays a minor role yet has a significant spiritual impact on Santiago throughout the story. They engage in a fleeting conversation in Tariff's plaza, wherein the king imparts the wisdom that the universe conspires to assist individuals in achieving their desires. As a token of inspiration, Milkweed offers Santiago two stones, one representing "yes" and the other "no," which serve as a guide for interpreting omens. Thus, this enigmatic king inspires Santiago throughout his entire journey to strive for his personal legend or goal.

The old king acquaints Santiago with the concept of a 'personal legend', which Santiago was previously unaware of. Unbeknownst to him, Santiago is actually on his way to accomplishing his personal legend. The king imparts this idea to Santiago by asserting, 'It's what you always wanted to accomplish. Everyone, when they are young, knows what their personal legend is.' Although the king only appears briefly in the text, his influence remains constant in Santiago's journey, providing a resolute and positive presence.
Another character who plays a pivotal role is the Englishman, an alchemy scholar. He motivates Santiago to engage in reading and learning, while Santiago encourages

the Englishman to embrace social interactions and not solely rely on books. This highlights the importance of firsthand experiences as valuable life lessons.
Symbolically, the sheep represent a hindered pursuit of personal legends. They serve as a representation for the baker and the crystal merchant – individuals who have not taken risks in their lives and consequently have not achieved their personal legends.

The desert is a harsh environment with challenging weather conditions. The tribes of the desert are also fierce and warlike, as evidenced by a tribal war that erupts while Santiago is traveling through the desert oasis. However, the desert serves as a symbol of struggle and an obstacle that Santiago must overcome in order to achieve his personal legend. It represents the challenges and obstacles that people face when pursuing their own personal legends. The narrative perspective in the text is primarily in third person, but occasionally, the narrator switches to Santiago's first-person perspective when he speaks or thinks.

The impact of the first line is that the alchemist is portrayed as a significant character in this text by Cello. However, the significance of the first line is merely a flashback revealing how Santiago ends up in the caravan. Santiago faces complications such as not having enough money to properly interpret his dream with a gypsy woman. Additionally, when Santiago arrives in Tariff, he struggles with the language barrier and seeks out a guide who turns out to be a thief that robs him.

He is then left with no money but Just his sheep and 'Rim and Thumb'. While he is traveling through the desert, a tribal war breaks out, making it unsafe

to travel certain parts of the desert. This makes his trip to Egypt more dangerous as many fear being robbed by bands of armed men while traveling. On his journey to Egypt, one of the warring tribes stops him and tests him, believing he is an alchemist. They tell him that if he cannot transform into wind, he will be executed. The impact of the last line: 'I'm coming, Fatima,' he said. This line suggests that Santiago has achieved his personal legend, as Fatima tells him that desert women wait for their men to return from achieving their goals/personal legends.

The language and imagery in this text have a significant impact on the reader. The portrayal of the old king Milkweed, who Santiago encounters, leaves a lasting impression and causes the reader to contemplate how Santiago undergoes a personal transformation after their meeting. Through his influence, the old king encourages Santiago to pay attention to omens and pursue his own destiny. Symbolically, the wise old king represents wisdom, inspiration, and friendliness – all positive qualities. On the other hand, the thief who robs Santiago symbolizes the concept that everything happens for a reason. In other words, if Santiago hadn't been robbed, he wouldn't have ended up working at the crystal merchant's shop and ultimately becoming wealthy. The language used throughout the text is both philosophical and occasionally religious, adding a sense of realism to the story and drawing the reader in. The text also presents various levels of conflict between individuals.

Self: Santiago frequently struggles with the decision between pursuing his personal legend and returning to Spain to live off the money he earned while working for

the crystal merchant.
Person vs. Individual: The alchemist eventually convinces Santiago to follow his personal legend by journeying to the pyramids in search of treasure, after a period of persuasion.
The main themes present in this novel are adventure, as Santiago is constantly on the move and meeting new people. Love is also explored, as Santiago experiences romantic connections with various women, but it is Fatima who holds his heart and whom he desires to marry.

The text explores several major themes, including the concept of personal legend - the idea that each person has a goal or dream they want to achieve. Santiago, the main character, faces conflict in the form of a tribal war that prevents him from traveling through the desert. However, the core theme being explored here is spirituality. Santiago embarks on a spiritual journey and awakens to new experiences and knowledge. He learns how to connect with spiritual forces within the world.