The Alchemist:Themes, Motifs, Allusions, Vocabulary

Alchemy: [al-kuh-mee] -noun, plural -mies for 2.

1. a form of chemistry and speculative philosophy practiced in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance and concerned principally with discovering methods for transmuting baser metals into gold and with finding a universal solvent and an elixir of life.

2. any magical power or process of transmuting a common substance, usually of little value, into a substance of great value.

Writing Prompt

• In your Literature Log, write a response to the following prompt:

– What is your personal legend? How would you go about pursuing it?

Biography• Paulo Coelho has led an extremely interesting

life. Rebelliousness defined his youth. He was a hippie. He wrote popular lyrics for some of Brazil's most famous pop music stars, including Elis Regina and Raul Seixas. Shortly after, he worked as a journalist.

• In 1986 Paulo Coelho walked the Road to Santiago, a medieval pilgrim's route between France and Spain. He later described this experience in ‘The Pilgrimage’, published in 1987. The following year, his second book ‘The Alchemist’ established his worldwide fame.

Biography

Paulo Coelho on the Road to Santiago

Themes

• Theme: /theem/ -noun 1. a subject of discourse, discussion, meditation, or composition; topic: The need for world peace was the theme of the meeting.

2. a unifying or dominant idea, motif, etc., as in a work of art.

Themes

• Fate versus WillFate is constantly intertwined with will, and a key theme of the book focuses on how much in life is under one's control, and how much is controlled by fate. The old king states that the world's greatest lie is that "at some point during our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate."

Themes• Love

Love is described as a part of the Soul of the World. Love occurs in life and Nature. As everything supports each other, they love each other. Santiago tells the desert that it shows love for the alchemist's falcon by offering it game, after which the falcon shows love to man as it offers the game to eat, and the man shows love for the desert as after one dies, his body is reintegrated into the desert sands. There is also love in people, demonstrated by Santiago's love of Fatima's beauty, and Santiago's knowing that it is part of his Personal Legend to love her. Also, there is true love, a brief definition given by the alchemist; "True love is love that allows you to reach your Personal Legend."

Themes

• Controlled LuckThe theme of controlled luck is prominent in this book, as the old king and the alchemist both tell Santiago about how if one really wants to fulfill his or her Personal Legend, the whole universe will conspire to help make it happen. Coelho refers to this as the idea of "beginner's luck", or the concept of favorability. Santiago is blessed with beginner's luck, when he decides to go to Africa. He manages to sell all of his sheep very easily, and is given "a taste of success" that whets the appetite to fulfill one's Personal Legend.

Themes• Spiritual Enlightenment

In The Alchemist, a kind of spiritual enlightenment is accomplished by fulfilling one's Personal Legend, and adding to the Soul of the World, which is the "light" of most religions. The spiritual influence of this book is omniscient, for example in Santiago's "turning himself into the wind" stunt. He learns the Language of the World, which is basically the language of the Soul of the World. As the Soul of the World is related to the Soul of God, Santiago is able to perform miracles after he has reached into the Soul of the World.

• Omniscient: [om-nish-uhnt] adjective 1. having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or

understanding; perceiving all things. –noun2. an omniscient being. 3. the Omniscient, God.

Motifs

• Motif: [moh-teef] -noun 1. a recurring subject, theme, idea, etc., esp. in a literary, artistic, or musical work.

2. a distinctive and recurring form, shape, figure, etc., in a design, as in a painting or on wallpaper.

3. a dominant idea or feature: the profit motif of free enterprise.

Motifs• Omens

Omen: [oh-muhn] -noun 1. anything perceived or happening that is believed to portend a good

or evil event or circumstance in the future; portent. 2. a prognostic. 3. prophetic significance; presage: a bird of ill omen. –verb (used with object) 4. to be an omen of; portend. 5. to divine, as if from omens.

Being able to observe and read omens is a key motif throughout the book. Santiago recognizes the hole in his pouch through which Urim and Thummin fell in Tangier as an omen, as he had promised the old king that he would make his own decisions, not let the stones do it for him. The crystal merchant of Tangier recognizes Santiago's presence in the shop as an omen, as two customers came into the shop as he was cleaning the crystals for the merchant. Santiago later finds that going to the desert was a good omen, as he was able to meet Fatima, his love. Santiago reads omens in the flight of two hawks and has a premonition of an attack on the oasis as he is in the Sahara Desert. Omens play a key role in the unraveling of Santiago's fate.

Motifs• Personal Legend

The Personal Legend is a being's reason to live. Everything in the world has a Personal Legend, and by reaching one's Personal Legend, one adds to the Soul of the World, the purity of the world. The boy's Personal Legend is obvious, to find his treasure at the Egyptian pyramids. The alchemist fulfilled his Personal Legend, to become a true alchemist and accomplish the Master Work. The crystal merchant's Personal Legend is to visit Mecca, and the Tarifa baker's Personal Legend is to travel the world. The Personal Legend of a person surfaces at childhood, and one can never find true happiness without fulfilling it. The Personal Legend of Santiago drives him to his treasure as he chooses to accomplish his Personal Legend, just as the alchemist’s was to become the most famed alchemist in the world. Others, like the Tarifa baker and the crystal merchant, choose to ignore the Personal Legend, and thus shape their life to be forever wanting.

Allusions

• Allusion: [uh-loo-zhuhn] -noun

1. a passing or casual reference; an incidental mention of something, either directly or by implication: an allusion to Shakespeare.

2. the act of alluding.

3. Obsolete. a metaphor; parable.

Allusions• Melchizedek is a figure mentioned by various sects of both Christian and

Judaic traditions. He is commemorated as one of the Holy Forefathers in the Calendar of Saints of the Armenian Apostolic Church on July 30.

• Melchizedek's name can be translated (from Hebrew) as “Zedek is my king” or “My king is righteous”. In Genesis, Melchizedek is also referred to as king of Salem (generally believed to be ancient Jerusalem), and priest of El Elyon. Traditionally El-Elyon is translated as most high God, and interpreted as a reference to Yahweh (by tradition), or God (in other words, Zedek is king of Salem and priest of God). Many scholars believe that the name refers to Zedek - regarding El Elyon as referring to the most high god, and using Melchizedek's name as the indicator of who the deity was (in other words, Zekek the most high god).

• If the majority of scholars are right in taking the name as a reference to Zedek as the most high god (rather than “priest of God”), then it would imply that Zedek was the main deity worshipped at Salem at that time. Jerusalem is plausibly referred to as city of Zedek (ir ha-zedek) in the Book of Isaiah, as well as home of Zedek (neweh zedek) in the Book of Jeremiah, and as gates of Zedek (sha'are zedek) in the Book of Psalms, though it is also true that in each of these cases zedek is traditionally translated as righteous (as in city of righteousness).

Allusions

Statue of Melchizedek. Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome.

Allusions

• In the Tanakh, Melchizedek brought bread and wine to Abraham after Abraham's victory over the four kings (led by Chedorlaomer) who had besieged Sodom and Gomorrah and had taken Abraham's nephew, Lot, prisoner. Melchizedek is also described as blessing Abraham in the name of El Elyon (God), and in return for these favors, Abraham gave Melchizedek a tithe, from the spoils gained in the battle.

Allusions

Meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek by Dieric Bouts the Elder, 1464-1467

Allusions• Tithe: [tahyth] noun, verb, tithed, tith·ing.

-noun1. Sometimes, tithes. the tenth part of agricultural produce or personal income set

apart as an offering to God or for works of mercy, or the same amount regarded as an obligation or tax for the support of the church, priesthood, or the like.

2. any tax, levy, or the like, esp. of one-tenth.3. a tenth part or any indefinitely small part of anything.-verb (used with object)4. to give or pay a tithe or tenth of (produce, money, etc.).5. to give or pay tithes on (crops, income, etc.).6. to exact a tithe from (a person, community, parish, etc.).7. to levy a tithe on (crops, income, etc.).-verb (used without object)8. to give or pay a tithe.

• In The Alchemist, Santiago must twice pay one-tenth of his possessions. In the first instance, he pays one-tenth of his flock; in the second, he pays one-tenth of his treasure. In the Biblical reference, Abraham pays Melchizedek one-tenth of his battle winnings in exchange for being blessed in the name of God.

Allusions• The Melchizedek priesthood is a prominent feature of "Mormonism" - that is, The Church of

Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

• Melchizedek is the main brain of Zalem in the Battle Angel Alita (GUNNM) graphic novel series.

• The Urantia Book describes, among other things, the origin and purpose of a vast array of spiritual beings, including an order of beings called the "Melchizedeks". And this order includes an individual who supposedly once incarnated on earth, by the name of "Machiventa Melchizedek".

• The Dominion of Melchizedek, a micronation known for bank fraud, purports to be based on a "Melchizedek Bible" [13] inspired by the Biblical Melchizedek.

• Christians believe that Jesus is the Messiah spoken of as "a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek" (Ps. 110:4), and so Jesus plays the role of High Priest once and for all. Jesus is considered a priest in the order of Melchizedek because, like Melchizedek, Jesus was not a Levite, and thus would not qualify for the Levitical priesthood (Heb. 7:13-17).

• The Book of Mormon of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints describes the work of Melchizedek in Salem in Alma 13:17-18. According to Alma, Melchizedek was King over the wicked people of Salem, but because of his righteousness, his people repented of their wickedness and became a peaceful city.

• A collection of early Gnostic scripts found in 1945, known as the Nag Hammadi Library, contains a tractate pertaining to Melchizedek. Here it is revealed that Melchizedek is Jesus Christ[8]. Melchizedek, as Jesus Christ, lives, preaches, dies and is resurrected.

Allusions• Isaiah 1:21–26

21 How is the faithful city become a harlot! She that was full of justice, righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.

22 Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water.

23 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; every one loveth bribes, and followeth after rewards; they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

24 Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: Ah, I will ease Me of Mine adversaries, and avenge Me of Mine enemies;

25 And I will turn My hand upon thee, and purge away thy dross as with lye, and will take away all thine alloy;

26 And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning; afterward thou shalt be called The city of righteousness, the faithful city.

Allusions

• Dross: [draws, dros] -noun 1. waste matter; refuse.

2. Metallurgy. a waste product taken off molten metal during smelting, essentially metallic in character.

3. British. coal of little value.

Allusions• Jeremiah 31:23

And Judah and all the cities thereof shall dwell therein together: the husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks.

• Psalm 118:19 Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will enter into them,

I will give thanks unto the LORD.

• Genesis 14:18-20 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine;

and he was priest of God the Most High.

19 And he blessed him, and said: 'Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Maker of heaven and earth;

20 and blessed be God the Most High, who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand.' And he gave him a tenth of all.

Allusions• Santiago

The Way of St. James or St. James' Way, often known by its Spanish name, el Camino de Santiago, is the pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where legend has it that the remains of the apostle, Saint James the Great, are buried.

A major Christian pilgrimage route:

The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is the ultimate goal of the pilgrimage.The Way of St James has existed for over a thousand years. It was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during medieval times. It was considered one of three pilgrimages on which a plenary indulgence could be earned; the others are the Via Francigena to Rome and the pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

Legend holds that St. James's remains were carried by boat from Jerusalem to northern Spain where they were buried on the site of what is now the city of Santiago de Compostela. There are some, however, who claim that the bodily remains at Santiago belong to Priscillian, the fourth-century Galician leader of an ascetic Christian sect, Priscillianism, who was one of the first Christian heretics to be executed.

There is not a single route; the Way can take one of any number of pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. However a few of the routes are considered main ones. Santiago is such an important pilgrimage destination because it is considered the burial site of the apostle, James the Great. During the middle ages, the route was highly travelled. However, the Black Plague, the Protestant Reformation and political unrest in 16th- century Europe resulted in its decline. Until the 1980s, only a few pilgrims arrived in Santiago annually. However, since then, the route has attracted a growing number of modern-day pilgrims from around the globe. The route was declared the first European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe in October 1987; it was also named one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites in 1993.

• Paulo Coelho made the journey and wrote about it. The Pilgrimage (Diário de Um Mago, in Portuguese) is a 1987 novel by Brazilian novelist Paulo Coelho. It is a recollection of Paulo's experiences as he made his way across Northern Spain on the Pilgrimage of Santiago de Compostela in 1986.

Allusions• The Philosopher’s Stone

The philosopher's stone (Latin: lapis philosophorum; Greek: chrysopoeia) is a legendary substance, supposedly capable of turning inexpensive metals into gold; it was also sometimes believed to be a means of making people younger. For a long time it was the "holy grail" of Western alchemy.

In the view of spiritual alchemy, making the philosopher's stone would bring enlightenment upon the maker and conclude the Great Work.

• The first book in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series is entitled, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. In the United States, the title was changed to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

Vocabulary

• Alchemy• Theme• Omniscient• Motif• Omen• Allusion• Tithe• Dross

Images

                                                               

                         

The VR Romanesque Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

Paulo Coelho

Images

The Alchemist in Search of the Philosophers Stone, by Joseph Wright. 1771.

Images

Works Cited• http://paulocoelhofanclub.com/eng/pc_bio.htm• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Alchemist_(book)• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melchizedek• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tithe• http://dictionary.reference.com/• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pilgrimage• http://www.humnet.ucla.edu/santiago/iagohome.html• http://www.paulocoelho.com/engl/• http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/wright/• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosopher's_stone