Allegory In The Alchemist

1. In the prologue, the alchemist reads a version if the story of the death of Narcissus that has a somewhat different ending from the traditional telling, one that emphasizes the grief of the lake into which Narcissus will no longer be looking at his reflection. In beginning the book with this story, what themes and relationships is Coelho telling us to watch for throughout Santiago’s story? Do you think there may be an element of “narcissism” in the pursuit of one’s personal legend?

However, before dissecting and analyzing the allegory used in Charlotte Temple, it is important to understand how allegory can be presented within a piece of literature. Gibbs, jr describes the view of allegory as, “A major focus of literary allegory is with human journeys in which people strive, and often struggle, to reach certain physical locations that are symbolically representative of abstract, sometimes religious or spiritual ideas” (Gibbs, Jr 15). Allegory is a literary device in which characters, settings, objects, and plots are used to reveal deeper meanings; writers are encouraged to convey themes and ideas in a more engaging and accessible way. Frank, Jr. describes allegory within characters as, “...characters and significant details are concrete and have a second meaning, that is, are symbols; and he will be told this is an allegory” (Frank, Jr.

Paulo Coelho, the author of The Alchemist tells the story of Santiago a Shepard whose life changes once he finds out about a treasure from his frequent dreams and meets a strange man who helps him to start his personal legend. On Santiago’s journey he starts to see the hidden meanings behind daily life creating the thesis that through seeing and understanding symbols behind the world people can learn about their own personal legend and live life to the fullest. Santiago’s life starts out all about his sheep, he chose to be a shepherd, so he could travel and meet new people. Santiago’s job is to take care of the sheep, but the sheep have more meaning in the story. The sheep represent how he is comfortable in his life and how he is questioning his frequent dream, to sacrifice his comfortable life to find this treasure or to continue without taking the risk.

The symbols in this book are so superb, it creates a standard of symbolism that all allegories must follow to be a quality piece. The symbolism in the book creates thoughts and ideas about each character and how objects and places can be related to reality. These symbols create opportunities for the reader to imagine and get him or her

Paulo Coehlo’s, The Alchemist, explores the Hero’s Journey through the story of a shepherd, Santiago. Throughout the novel, Santiago becomes more aware of his potential as he pursues his Personal Legend. He faces temptations and obstacles as he develops as a character. The hero crosses the threshold when they leave their old reality in search for a new one. Santiago crosses the threshold by selling his sheep and taking a boat to Africa.

Omens come in many different forms, shapes and sizes. They can be living or inanimate objects. If you’re not looking close enough, you might not be able to see them or chose to believe they are actually there. In Paulo Coelho’s novel The Alchemist, Santiago discovers many omens on his personal legend journey such as the King of Salem, Stones and the Crystal Merchant.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, is a famed novel that has had decades of success and admiration for it’s inspirational messages and unique writing style. It plays with themes of self-discovery and destiny. The novel speaks its message by encouraging the reader to profound deep thought, enlightenment and reflection. Coelho’s novel follows the moral and spiritual journey of a young Shepard who after meeting an Alchemist is guided to find motivation, reflection, self-discovery and the meaning of destiny. This novel has been likened to a self help book because of the intense effects of it’s meanings.

The Alchemist is a famous book written by Paulo Coelho. It’s about a shepherd named Santiago who travels from his homeland Spain to the Pyramids in Egypt. He does this to find a treasure he was told about. Along his hard journey, he meets some people along the way like a gypsy woman and a king in disguise who all direct him towards his quest. He doesn’t let the obstacles stop him toward his goal and eventually he finds his treasure.

“The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho is about a boy named Santiago. He wanting to pursue his personal legend, but for him to accomplish his personal legend he first has to go on a journey that will take him to new places. The hero’s journey idea is that if you stay dedicated to what you want to do, the universe will help you succeed in the act that you're trying to achieve. Santiago’s call to adventure when he heard about the pyramids and it inspired him to become a shepherd.

Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear. As this anonymous quote elucidates, fear acts as a barrier that essentially traps us in our comfort zone, limiting our experiences and holds one back from achieving his or her potential. In The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, the protagonist must overcome his own fear through obstacles that he comes across as fear diverts one from their purpose. To begin with, Santiago displays his fears throughout the book, and these fears are what hinders him from achieving his Personal Legend. Santiago displays an immense terror of failure.

Through talks of Abraham and the Quran, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho has an overlying theme of religion. The book follows the life of shepherd named Santiago and his journey throughout life as he wants to travel around the world, where he meets many people that give him advice on his journey. Like the prologue Narcissus story, The Alchemist itself has a message that is concentrating on oneself can unite a person to nature and the spiritual world. Only through single-mindedly attempting to reach his Personal Legend does Santiago learn the mysteries of the Soul of the World, for instance. Throughout the book, Santiago must put his attention first repeatedly, as when he decides to be a shepherd preferably than a priest and when he leaves the haven to continue on his journey.

As Douglas Everett once said,"There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other. " What this essentially means is that there are people who live in dreams, the other’s live in mind and there are some who believe that true meaning of living exists in following their dreams so they try to make their dreams reality. I agree with this quote because some people just dream about things and leave it; while, others don’t believe in dreams at all. Then there are some people who actually try to convert their dreams into reality because they think that dreams are for a reason. This quote is best designed for Paulo Coelho book titled “The Alchemist” as Santiago constantly works to convert his dream into reality

One of the piece’s greatest strength is its lack of room for criticism and finds a way to give an explanation for everything in a way that the average person can understand. Even with its weaknesses of being overly simplified for today’s society, is still very relevant when it comes down to how people are and what the world is like in its most basic form. Since it was written so long ago, life back then was much simpler than life is now. Even then, the things in the allegory can still be compared to present-day life. People nowadays are ignorant towards seeking more than just what we are force-fed by the government and media much like the prisoners in the allegory, and do become defensive or even hostile when their ideas are challenged.

Peter Van Diest wrote “Everyman” in the late fifteenth century. The focus of the story is an outlook on life and death. This morality play seems to have a bit more to it than most, yet it is not too long. It is pretty predictable, but still interesting since the characters each play a very unique role and they also represent allegory in either life or death.

Dante’s Inferno represents a microcosm of society; meaning, laymen, church, politicians, and scholars are all compiled into one place and punished for their sins. Hell, despite being depicted as brutal, ugly, and chaotic, is made realistic because the inhabitants come from every country and every walk of life. While Dante Alighieri did not invent the idea of Hell itself, he did create an important and in depth concept that still receives attention in biblical, classical, and medieval works. The Divine Comedy itself was written sometime between the years 1308 and 1321 and scholars still consider it the “supreme work of Italian literature.” The work itself is an epic poem divided into three separate sections: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso; respectively Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven.