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Existential Attribute of Choice in Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist

Article · October 2015

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 The South Asian Academic Research Chronicle ISSN 2454-1109
A Peer Reviewed Refereed and Indexed International Inter-disciplinary Open Access Monthly e-Journal
Vol 2. Issue 10; October 2015

1. Existential Attribute of Choice in

Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist
More Vijay Raosaheb
Research Student,
SRTM University,
Nanded

Introduction:
A significant devise that stands apart from all others and becomes the core of Coelho’s fiction
is that of Choice. In philosophy, it is an outcome of proposal of free will, that is, the ability to
decide voluntarily to perform one of possible acts or to avoid action entirely. Freedom of
choice, according to existentialists, is humanity’s primary distinction. It is central to human
existence and entails commitment and responsibility. Paulo Coelho makes the most of his
writer’s freedom by choosing to embark upon self-exploration. He therefore, follows the
pattern of quest with its cycle of departure, journey and return in all his novels. Central to
human existence, freedom embodies all the characters of Coelho.

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Existential Attribute of Choice in Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist
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 The South Asian Academic Research Chronicle ISSN 2454-1109
A Peer Reviewed Refereed and Indexed International Inter-disciplinary Open Access Monthly e-Journal
Vol 2. Issue 10; October 2015

Choice as essence of Coelho’s existential preoccupation:

The characteristic freedom of Coelho’s characters evidently consists in their act of Choice,
which is the primary reality of human existence. However, what he finds pre-requisite to
undertaking a quest is, a choice of action; though he suggests,
You can choose between two classic paths, meditation or the good fight, but you have to
choose. If you are a Monk, Trappist or Buddhist or whatever, you enter a monastery and
devote yourself to constant meditation, but if you are a person who needs action, you’re
going to be a Jesuit, amore war-like spirituality. But you have to choose between yoga
of action or yoga of inaction. You can’t stop because there is no evil or good, as God
said, what there is, is motion. (Arias, 214)

Paulo Coelho’s philosophical one-liners like “dare to be different” and “who dares wins”
(Life Positive) are full with effective verbs that denote unquestionable action besides freedom
and necessity of choice. One common thread that binds the fictional work of Coelho is the
existential attribute of choice. At the very outset, Coelho’s characters appear destined to
choose and the whole novel becomes a saga of choice. Eventually choice becomes the
essence of Coelho’s existential preoccupation.

Ideology of living in the present:

In his signature novel The Alchemist, Coelho introduces his ideology of living in the present
through the Camel driver of Caravan hired by Santiago during the course of his journey to the
pyramids. He imparts him with the knowledge of how to make the most of the moment that
one lives as present. He says,
When I’m eating, that’s all I think about. If I’m on the march, I just concentrate on
marching. If I have to fight, it will be just as good a day to die as any other. Because I
don’t live in either my past or my future. I’m interested in only in the present. If you can
concentrate always on the present; you’ll be a happy man. (88)
He believes that past is dead, future is unborn and it is the present that is alive, that is
pregnant with all the possibilities and that withholds the future. If a man focuses on the
present he gats over his past and enjoys his work that he knows will automatically shape his
future. Thus emphasizing the importance of living in the present, the camel driver says that
one should stop lamenting the past or worrying about wonders with and make it an eternity.
In other words, the secret of happiness lies in living the present to the full.

Craving of Santiago:
The Alchemist, Coelho’s spiritualistic romance which happens to be his signature novel
begins his existential considerations when the protagonist Santiago apprises his father of his
choice of becoming a traveler rather than a priest. His preference for travelling subsequently
makes a shepherd of him. When Malchizedek, the king of Salem tells him about the world’s

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 The South Asian Academic Research Chronicle ISSN 2454-1109
A Peer Reviewed Refereed and Indexed International Inter-disciplinary Open Access Monthly e-Journal
Vol 2. Issue 10; October 2015

greatest lie, that people decline from making a choice on the pretext of their lives being
governed by fate; the boy, Santiago proudly says, “That’s never happened to me .They
wanted me to be a priest, but I decided to become a Shepherd” (19). Santiago has a frequent
dream about a hidden treasure in Egypt but met with initial hesitations as regards his lack of
knowledge, the long distance to the said destination and moreover its realization. He seems to
be little bit confused. He realizes, “Here I am between my flock and treasure” (28). He also
envies the freedom of the wind, levanter imagining he can have the same freedom nothing to
hold him back except himself. Here Santiago is faced with a choice of following or not
following his dream. It is the eternal existential craving of Santiago that separates from his
contentment in just being a shepherd. It makes him remain absorbed and preoccupied with his
dream of the Egyptian treasure.

Santiago’s unconquerable human spirit:

As Santiago’s journey to Egypt begins, he is robbed of his entire possession in Tangier.
Finding himself on the verge of desperation, he again makes a choice as to consider himself
as the victim of a thief or an adventurer in search of his treasure. His optimistic side excels
and he decides, “I’m an adventurer, looking for treasure” (44). In choosing his path,
Santiago is exercising his freedom. His freedom arises from his self-understanding which is
accompanied by a certain mood called anxiety. He is anxious about his choice that can either
make him or ruin him. However, the fact that he can, “always go back to being a shepherd”
(67) or a crystal salesman, becomes his greatest support. With his unconquerable human
spirit he overcomes his anxiety and decides to go ahead with his treasure search.

Santiago’s authentic journey:

The meaning of the word ‘authentic’ by several dictionaries of English language is ‘real or
original’. In existentialist philosophy the word ‘authentic’ applies to an individual who lives
in the recognition that one’s life and choices are one’s own responsibility. An authentic man
possesses self-determination, creativity and spontaneity. The adventurous spirit of Santiago
understands that making a decision is only the beginning of things. It is like “diving into a
strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of’’ (71). Thus in facing the
challenges and obstacles and in overcoming the anxiety that comes along with his freedom of
choice, Santiago represents himself as an authentic being.

Santiago is largely self-taught, unique, self-creative individual. His suggestion of selling tea
in crystal glasses while working in the crystal merchant’s shop in Tangier tells about his
innovative potential. Unlike the Englishman, going only by theories and believing what
others believe; Santiago believes in what he knows from experience. He confesses, “Well,
usually I learn more from my sheep than from my books” (5). Impressed by his nature the
alchemist chooses Santiago as his disciple in place of the learned Englishman. Paulo Coelho

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Existential Attribute of Choice in Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist
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 The South Asian Academic Research Chronicle ISSN 2454-1109
A Peer Reviewed Refereed and Indexed International Inter-disciplinary Open Access Monthly e-Journal
Vol 2. Issue 10; October 2015

through the character of the alchemist asserts that, ‘there is only one way to learn…It’s
through action” (132). This enables in making Santiago’s journey more purposeful.

Saga of art of living:

By enlarge, Paulo Coelho in his novel The Alchemist has focused on the art of living i.e. how
to make life more interesting in following one’s dream. He suggests that one has to find out
one’s personal legend. But at same time one should keep in the mind that the fruit of the
journey lays not in the destination but the journey itself. Thus by following his personal
legend Santiago opens all the door of his inner self. Thus Coelho with the help of
Malchizedek , the old king of Salem assures Santiago as well as the readers that “ when you
want something , all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it” (20). The Alchemist
is all about Santiago’s choice of pursuing his dream of finding the hidden treasure in the
pyramids. It begins with his departure from his native land and continues with his journey to
the pyramids aided by wise men including an alchemist. It ends with an enlightenment
drawing upon him that leads to his eventual return to discover the treasure buried at the place
from where he began.

Works Cited:
Arias, Juan. Paulo Coelho: Confessions of a pilgrim. Trans. Anne Mclean London: Harper
Collins 2001 Print
Coelho, Paulo, E-mail interview by Anupama Bhattacharya ‘Everybody is a magus’ life
Positive. n.p,.n.d. web 16 jul. 2004
Coelho, Paulo, The Alchemist, Trans. Alan R. Clarke. New Delhi. Harper Collins. 2004, Print

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More Vijay Raosaheb

Research Student,
School of Languages, Literature and Culture Studies,
SRTM University,
Nanded 431 506

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 The South Asian Academic Research Chronicle ISSN 2454-1109
A Peer Reviewed Refereed and Indexed International Inter-disciplinary Open Access Monthly e-Journal
Vol 2. Issue 10; October 2015

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