The Alchemist Essay

Peter Sanfacon

Mr. George

World Lit Honors

4 January 2011

Prompt: Although Santiago gains spiritual perspective by following his Personal Legend, his original motive was monetary gain. Through the story of The Alchemist, what is Coelho trying to say about the relationship between material wealth and spiritual wealth?

The Quest for Wealth: Material or Spiritual?

            In The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, one of the recurrent motifs is Material Wealth vs. Spiritual Wealth. This concept is evident in Santiago’s pursuit of his Personal Legend, which happens to be a treasure. After a recurring dream, Santiago is told to seek out a treasure at the Egyptian Pyramids by a gypsy. He is skeptical until a man named Melchizadek tells him that it is his Personal Legend and that he must pursue his dream to find true happiness. Originally, Santiago believes that what Melchizadek is referring to is that he will find happiness from the wealth he discovers at the pyramids. He eventually finds out that coveting greed does not lead to happiness on its own. What Santiago eventually finds is contentedness once he has overcome obstacles and has reached the place he has dreamed of. Coelho uses this story to derive from it an internal meaning: finding spiritual satisfaction. Coelho delivers to the reader the message that Santiago is not in jubilation because he finds treasure, but because he finds what he is looking for. Through the narrative of The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho asserts the idea that what is most important about a journey is not what is wanted, but how badly it is wanted, and whether or not one is willing to do anything to achieve his goal.

            Santiago originally covets traveling, the thought of marrying the daughter of a merchant, and learning more about his treasure. However, Santiago doesn’t truly want any of these things; his heart is not in it. Melchizadek tells Santiago that one’s Personal Legend is his “mission on earth” (22). Santiago then asks, “Even when all you want to do is travel? Or marry the daughter of a textile merchant?” (22) Santiago does not yet believe that he has a higher purpose or an ultimate goal. Melchizadek goes on to say, “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it” (22). Melchizadek is trying to tell Santiago that when he truly wants something, he will get it. He is never completely committed to traveling or marrying the merchant’s daughter, that it is why he ceases to pursue those dreams. Santiago then meets a boy who is seemingly willing to help him travel to the Pyramids. However, while the boy is inspecting Santiago’s money, a beautiful sword distracts Santiago. He then has a painful realization: “He was afraid to look around, because he knew what he would find. He continued to look at the beautiful sword for a bit longer, until he summoned the courage to turn around” (38). The boy who Santiago thought to be a new friend runs off with all of his money, leaving the possibility of achieving his dream slim to none. If what Melchizadek was saying were true, then Santiago would have succeeded in continuing on his path to the Pyramids. If “all the universe conspires in helping [one] achieve” one’s goal something is desired, then this means that Santiago doesn’t want it enough. His heart is not in it. Thus, he is not yet ready to continue on his journey to achieve his Personal Legend.

            Santiago stops trying to reach his goal because it may yield financial benefits, and instead continues to walk the path he chooses just because of the fact that it is his goal. Santiago is eager to return to Tarifa to see the merchant’s daughter when he thinks to himself, “It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting” (Coelho 11). Even Santiago himself believes early on that the simple act of wanting something may improve his life. The very thought of his dream coming true pulls him from his monotonous existence into the realm of possibility. Santiago states that this possibility “makes life interesting”, which also refers to the fact that his life will cease to be stagnant and he will be free to enjoy his life. This is an example of Coelho’s thesis: Santiago is clearly content just by wanting something wholeheartedly. While Santiago is working for the crystal merchant, Santiago talks to him about his dream of going to Mecca. When Santiago asks the merchant why he doesn’t just go to Mecca, the crystal merchant describes to Santiago a very important revelation: “Because it’s the thought of Mecca that keeps me alive. That’s what helps me face these days that are all the same, these mute crystals on the shelves, and lunch and dinner at that same horrible café. I’m afraid that if my dream is realized, I’ll have no reason to go on living” (55). The crystal merchant doesn’t need to pursue his dream to be happy. He is perfectly content with just wanting to go to Mecca and never actually going. This is another crucial part of Coelho’s message: all that is important about one’s dream is to be content with one’s choices and oneself. Both the crystal merchant and Santiago are different when it comes to their pursuit of their respective Personal Legends, which is apparent when the crystal merchant says, “you dream about your sheep and the Pyramids, but you’re different from me, because you want to realize your dreams. I just want to dream about Mecca” (55). Through this statement, the crystal merchant teaches Santiago that it is perfectly fine not to pursue one’s dreams, as longs that person is content with the decision.

            By contrasting the concepts of material wealth and spiritual wealth, Coelho brings to light what is truly important about a person’s journey: to develop a stronger confidence in one’s abilities and to truly want something with one’s heart. After reaching a village, the alchemist tells the chief that Santiago can turn into the wind in three days. The chief vows to kill them both if Santiago is unsuccessful. On that third day, judgment day, something unbelievable occurs: “When the simum ceased to blow, everyone looked to the place where the boy had been. But he was no longer there; he was standing next to a sand-covered sentinel on the far side of the camp” (153). The alchemist is trying to teach Santiago to wholeheartedly believe in his dream and himself. This lesson also harkens back to what Melchizadek said: “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it” (22). If Santiago does not truly want to turn into the wind, then he will not; he will fail. What would await him would be death at the hands of the chief. However, this is not the case. He was successful in turning into the wind. This is because he believes he has to, to realize his Personal Legend. That makes him completely committed to the task at hand. The alchemist is left smiling “because he had found his perfect disciple” (153). He finds a person who undoubtedly believes in himself. This is most likely the alchemist’s Personal Legend: to help Santiago realize his own Personal Legend. This is why the alchemist was never afraid that Santiago would fail and then be killed by the chief. The whole world conspires to help the alchemist succeed in his pursuit of his Personal Legend, which happens to be Santiago’s success in pursuit of his own. So the alchemist knew that there was no way that Santiago wouldn’t turn into the wind, because he would be killed, thus failing his Personal Legend. If Santiago fails, then the alchemist fails; the alchemist cannot fail because he wholeheartedly believes that he can succeed in his Personal Legend.

            Coelho’s theory that everyone must be determined to be successful is discernible from the journeys of Santiago and the alchemist. Material wealth is gained through desire, but spiritual wealth is gained through undeniable yearning to succeed. Both the alchemist and Santiago benefit from spiritual wealth by the end of The Alchemist. This narrative is about staying true to one’s heart; both the alchemist and Santiago succeed in this endeavor.