The Alchemist



A 1988 novel by Paulo Coelho.

Santiago is a shepherd living a peaceful, carefree life tending his flock in the fields of Andalusia until one day he comes across a strange old man who offers to tell him the secret meaning of a dream he has and gives him two mysterious stones named Urim and Thummim. Thus begins Santiago's adventure to the east...


 * Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder: Why Santiago goes to Africa (without realizing it) and later returns to the oasis: to be with Fatima.
 * An Aesop: "Following what you truly want in your life, even if it is a lot of hard work, will ultimately make you happier than living a comfortable life dictated by what other people think that you should do."
 * Arc Words: Many, especially one's Personal Legend, The Language of the Soul, and maktub (Arabic for "destiny", literally "written").
 * As the Good Book Says...: The Alchemist quotes the New Testament directly. "Where your treasure is, there your heart shall be also" is a direct quote from Luke 12:34 (and Matthew 6:21). He also offers a paraphrase of the story of Joseph.
 * Blithe Spirit: Santiago, pretty much wherever he goes, but especially in the crystal shop.
 * Book Ends: The story begins and ends with Santiago in a church.
 * Earn Your Happy Ending: A journey from Andalusia to Egypt, which takes well over a year.
 * Hidden Depths: Melchizedek at first appears to be an annoying old man who asks to see Santiago's book. . Santiago appears to be just another shepherd, but is actually literate and quite intelligent.
 * It's the Journey That Counts:.
 * It Was with You All Along: Santiago's knowledge of alchemy, which helps him.
 * I Will Wait for You: Fatima to Santiago, before he leaves the oasis for Egypt.
 * Jumped At the Call: Santiago is eager to set out for Egypt immediately, but things don't quite turn out as planned at first...
 * Knight in Sour Armor: The Englishman, who has spent years searching for the secrets of alchemy without much luck, and is very bitter about it. Luckily, the Alchemist sets him on the right track.
 * Language of Love: Not what you think it is. It's that everything in the universe is connected and love renders one capable of understanding it.
 * Last Girl Wins: Santiago is infatuated with a girl from the village at first, and it looks like it might go somewhere. But at the end of the book, he decides to go back to.
 * Love At First Sight: Santiago and Fatima.
 * Really Seven Hundred Years Old: The Alchemist is over 200 years old, since he has the Elixir of Life.
 * Shallow Love Interest: Arguably, Fatima. But the merchant's daughter at the beginning of the book is even more shallow, seeing as Santiago doesn't know her name.
 * Shown Their Work: Coelho mentions a lot of details about Islam and North Africa which he mostly gets right, as well as Christianity, classical mythology and of course alchemy.
 * The Dulcinea Effect: Santiago loves a girl he met only once a year ago. What?!
 * The Obi-Wan: Melchizedek, and the Alchemist, who may or may not be the same person.
 * The Power of Love: Directly invoked. Santiago's "listening to his heart" allows him to finally understand the secrets of alchemy and.
 * This Is Something He's Got to Do Himself: The Alchemist leaves Santiago on the last stage of his journey.
 * Wanting Is Better Than Having: The crystal merchant and his pilgrimage to Mecca.
 * What Do You Mean Its Not Symbolic: The book is pretty heavy on Christian symbolism, including many Bible references, as befits Coelho's devout Catholicism.