The Alchemist

A life changing book. A story worth sharing. After walking a pilgrimage from Spain to Santiago de Compostela, Paulo Coelho, a Brazilian lyricist, who is most known for his book, The Alchemist, teaches multiple extraordinary lessons throughout his award-winning novel. The novel is based on a boy named Santiago who lives his life as a shepherd, until he meets a king who tells him to follow the omens, which will lead to his destiny. Throughout his journey, he learns a variety of life lessons, as he overcomes different challenges. Along his destined path, he meets the alchemist, who helps him learn the language of the world. Of the lessons described, one of the most important is the idea of following your heart and to not be afraid of the consequences

One example includes his use of metaphors. For instance, when the king explains to the boy that he must follow his destiny, he claims, “‘Treasure is uncovered by the force of flowing water, and it is buried by the same currents,’” (14). This evokes that Coelho is attempting to explain that without looking, the treasure will never appear. Without making a decision to pursue your destiny, the treasure will never be available for you to discover. In other words, you must move past your nostalgic life, and be willing to make mistakes, as the fear of something is often greater than itself. Also, Santiago’s journey in itself is a metaphor. Throughout the journey, Santiago learns more about himself as a person, listening to his heart, and learning about the language of the world. However, his journey can be a metaphor for life itself, as life is a journey, and takes you places you could never imagine. Also, you must take advantage of the present, and not wait for future opportunities, if not everything will be lost in the past. Coelho is attempting to give the reader an explanation of why following your heart is so significant in living a life with purpose. As the story moves along, more literary devices appear, explaining one of the many lessons told throughout the

For example, the desert can signify the many obstacles and hardships that expose themselves throughout our journey through life. This exemplifies that in order to succeed in life, one must make choices, and in order to make choices, one must be confident in themselves. Confidence is key when it comes to acknowledging the omens the universe has given to you. Without making decisions, you can’t follow the path written for you, nor can you become successful in the life you have. Being afraid is what holds people back when attempting to fulfill their destinies. Therefore, one can’t be afraid to follow their unpredictable fate. Furthermore, the symbol of the crystal merchant symbolizes safety and security (29). This is due to the fact that the crystal merchant stays in his comfort zone of the shop, while his heart longs to travel to Mecca. This exemplifies that many choose not to follow their hearts, but instead live a simple life without having their desires ever fully met. Without following their destiny, one is never fully happy, which is why it’s different for everyone. People can either live with ease, or take the adventurous, action-packed life that will make a story one can tell over and over