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Plot Diagram | The Alchemist | LA9
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The Alchemist
Paulo Coelho
Exposition
This story takes place back in the late 1800s in the southern portion of Spain, called Andalusia. This story starts with a young shepherd named Santiago having reoccurring dreams about a treasure. Santiago became a shepherd to travel the world and is content enough with his sheep. He even wants to marry a merchant's daughter as of now, but has these dreams, making him seek aid.
Extra Details
The story itself starts in the fields of Andalusia next to an abandoned church. That is actually a very important setting because of the epilogue ending the story on the same spot. Also when faced with the choice of pursuing this treasure or living life as a shepherd, Santiago had to really think to make the choice as being a shepherd was easy and traveling to the pyramids was not. This hints to a lesson about hard work and dedication.
Extra Details
Rising Action
Rising Action
From meeting a king to working for a merchant.
The Merchant
The King
The Thief
Santiago at first meets with a gypsy who isn't helpful at all so he decides to give up, but then he is confronted by Melchizedek, the King of Salem. This King takes one tenth of his sheep and convinces him to seek his treasure and provides him with his blessing as well as Urim and Thummim. This confrontation renews hope in him and he trusts in dreams and omens once again. He leaves Spain and travels to Africa to get to the pyramids.
After being broke, Santiago wanders until he meets the crystal merchant whom he works for. He wishes to work for a day and leave, but because traveling to Egypt is not easy, he ends up working for over six months, He brings much wealth and possibilities to the crystal merchant, yet the merchant is unhappy as he did not want to realize his dreams. This experience taught Santiago of how not everyone achieves their dreams in the same way. He also learned of the consequences of not pursuing your personal legend.
Next up, Santiago is robbed on his first day in Africa. He is once again broken and demotivated, but uses Urim and Thummim to get some reassurance. By asking the stones if the king's blessing was with him, he renews hope and thinks of himself as an adventurer facing obstacle rather than a victim of a crime. He seeks out shelter and continues to follow the omens. He also learns from this experience that life takes many strange and unpleasant turns to grant fulfillment.
Pre-Climax Summary
New Characters
New Characters
Pre-Climax
Summary
Fatima. Santiago almost quits his journey for her as she is his one true love. She awaits him as he seeks out his treasure.
The Englishman.
Read only his books and taught Santiago of the power of knowledge. Useful only if applied. Also taught Santiago of the different ways people can learn.
The Alchemist. Acts as his mentor and teaches him of the world and alchemy. Santiago learns much of the soul of the world, his heart and the universal language from the Alchemist.
Plot So Far
So shortly after Santiago left the crystal merchant's shop with his money, he had a personal argument and eventually decided to go seek out the pyramids. In the caravan he met the Englishman and when tribal wars broke out, he was stranded in the oasis. He found true love, Fatima, there and almost stayed, but she persuaded him to go. Then he was helped by his new mentor the Alchemist. The Alchemist tutored him of the soul of the world and the universal language. Santiago learned much form these lessons and this all prepared him for the climax of the story.
Current Conflict
Santiago's main conflict and opposition is himself. During his journey he keeps discovering good reasons to end his journey and stay as he is, but in the end he always continues on. Some examples of him doubting his reason to travel to the pyramids is when he leaves the crystal merchant's shop and spends few hours arguing with himself and when he meets Fatima. He almost doesn't leave when he meets Fatima, but she convinces him otherwise.
Climax
Santiago and the Alchemist are captured. Santiago must turn himself into the wind within three days or face certain death.
Climax
How did he Do it?
How...?
The Alchemist had taught Santiago how to speak the universal language and so, he could communicate with virtually anything. To request such a task, though, he decided to explain something he had learned from Fatima—true love. He asked whether the desert could help him because of love and then proceed to explain love. When the desert didn't understand he requested to meet with something more powerful. He continued questioning and requestioning until he met the hand that wrote it all. Here he just prayed and discovered that he was a part of the soul of the world, meaning he could do anything as he was part of everything.
Falling Action
Falling Action and Resolution
Santiago and the Alchemist talk as they approach the pyramids. The Alchemist talks about a king and his sons and how everyone has a part in the world, knowingly or not. Then, the Alchemist parts. Santiago continues to the pyramids and celebrates when he reaches them. In a cruel twist, he is robbed and beaten to near death and discovers his treasure is back in Spain, at the abandoned church.
Resolution
The resolution is with Santiago digging up his treasure back in Andalusia and the story ends with Santiago saying "I'm coming Fatima." This in turn ends the book as Santiago has not only journeyed to the Pyramids and made the adventure of a lifetime, but now has acquired his treasure.