The Alchemist

Analysis: Archetypes
and Literary Analysis

BY: Miriam Vasquez

Central Idea
In the book the Alchemist Santiago must learn to sacrifice, believe in oneself,
and overcome challenges in order to achieve his personal legend.
Archetype journey: The quest for identity
● In the book the author ●
introduces Santiago who is in
search of a treasure but along
the way finds himself in search
of his personal legend. He
learned that the universe
conspire to achieve his
personal legend and fate is just
a lie.
● “It’s this: that at a certain point
in our lives, we lose control of
what’s happening to us,and our
lives become controlled by fate.
That’s the world’s greatest lie.”
Archetype form
● In the alchemist the desert ● In order to achieve your Personal Legend people
represents that changes and have to adjust to the challenges life puts in their way.
obstacles life puts between you If people rely on destiny and faith they will never
achieve their goal. Those who really desire to
and your dreams. Throughout
achieve their personal legend will overcome the
the book the characters learn to challenges and keep the same goal and mind set.
accept the conditions of the
desert and even learn to listen
to it.
● “You must love the desert, but
never trust it completely.
Because the desert tests all
men: it challenges every step,
and kills those who become
distracted”
 Symbolism
● In the book the Alchemist gold ● People often wish for things without willingly go
symbolizes hard work and through the process of getting it. We are so used
knowledge in order to achieve to making excuses and blaming others for not
accomplishing our dreams and goals. This often
a goal.The thieves that stole
leads to people regretting not taking the chance
Santiago's gold represent the and live miserable.
people who want to take a
shortcut to their personal
legend.
● “They were looking only for
gold,” his companion
answered. “They were seeking
the treasure of their Personal
Legend, without wanting
actually to live out the Personal
Legend.”
Metaphor
● The author uses metaphor throughout ● Although people want to achieve many goals we
the book to show Santiago's shouldn't forget our responsibilities in life. In the story
progression of his Personal Legend. Santiago wants to travel the world while pursuing his
personal legend.
Melchizedek tell Santiago this story
to convince him that he can look for
his treasure while not forgetting what
he is leaving behind.
● "The secret of happiness is to see all
the marvels of the world, and never to
forget the drops of oil on the spoon."
Allegory
● The alchemist is an allegory
● The alchemist has many symbolic meaning in
book since it reveals a deeper which the readers can gravitate when reading the
meaning and teaches a lesson. book. The reader can reflect and gain knowledge
Throughout the book Santiago from this book as well as incorporate some of
meets people who teach him Santiago's lessons in their lives.
knowledge like the language of
the universe among other
things.
● “ The alchemist said, “No matter
what he does, every person on
earth plays a central role in the
history of the world. And
normally he doesn’t know it.”
 Foreshadowing
● The author uses
● This gives the reader an idea of what Santiago will go
foreshadowing in order to through in order to find his personal legend. The reader
capture the audience can assume that Santiago will have to make many hard
attention. He does not give decisions if he really wants to get to the pyramids of
the entrance to the plot so it Egypt.
doesnt give away the ending
of the story.
● “And this is my interpretation:
yu must go to the pyramids in
Egypt. I have never heard of
them, but, if it was a child
who showed them to you,
they exist. There you will find
a treasure that will make you
a rich man.”
Personification
● The author uses
personification to connect a ● People in life who don't follow their personal legend
end up living unhappy wishing they did. They often
non human
compare themself to someone that found their
force/characteristic to an personal legend but don’t realize the work the went
actual issue in humans lives. to achieve it.
He uses personification
throughout the book to give
the landscape and nature
living characteristics.
● “The boy get jealous of the
freedom of the wind…”
Allusions
● Throughout the book there are
● These biblical allusion help the reader
biblical allusions,for example,
understand the purpose of the characters
santiago can be interpreted as without loosing the idea of the characters.
Christ as he is a sheeper. Another This gives the characters more value while
example would be Melchizedek giving knowledge and different culture and
who can be represented as God religion has the same concept.
because he serves as a guidance
for those who pursue their
personal legend.
● “ I always appear in one form or
another. Sometimes I Appear in
the form of a solution, or a good
idea.”