The Alchemist

The Alchemist

In the novel, The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho symbols and allusions are used to show the balance of sacrifice in relation to reward. The conflict of the story is the tension Santiago has with himself in whether or not to try to find a treasure in the Pyramids of Egypt. He wants to leave his simple life as a shepherd and pursue his Personal Legend to find the treasure. He later finds out that the treasure was buried where he started, the sycamore tree. One of the many symbols the author uses throughout Santiago’s journey is the sycamore tree. “...an enormous sycamore had grown on the spot where the sacristy had once stood” (3). The symbol of the tree fits in perfectly with the universal theme of sacrifice in relation to reward. The sycamore tree represents Christ. In the bible the prophet Amos, a shepherd as well, also sat under a sycamore tree. “Amos answered Amaziah, ‘I was neither a prophet nor a prophet's son, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. But the LORD took me from tending the flock and said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'” Amos 7:14-15. His journey is similar to Santiago’s journey. Another symbol that really connects with the universal theme is his jacket. “..when he thought to complain about the burden of its weight, he remembered that, because he had the jacket, he had withstood the cold of the dawn. We have to be prepared for change, he thought, and he was grateful for the jacket's weight and warmth. The jacket had a purpose, and so did the boy” (34). This symbol also shows the sacrifice in relation to reward. Even though Santiago was in the heat all day he felt the jacket had a purpose. The sacrifice was bearing the weight of the jacket, the reward was the comfort and warmth he would be able to get, and he was grateful for it. Another symbol used in the novel is the Desert. The Desert symbolizes not just the difficulties but the sacrifice in order to achieve a goal. The Desert is the biggest problem Santiago comes upon throughout his journey. Throughout the novel, Coehlo uses many different literary symbols to show the relationship of his personal theology and philosophy to everyday life, or in this case a journey, and I thought the book was alright.