Cobra: The cobra is a
symbol of danger and strength, especially male potency
. … Desert: The desert is symbolic of all the obstacles and hardships that stand between people and their dreams. In The Alchemist, characters learn to accept the desert, even listen to it.
What does The Alchemist symbolize in The Alchemist?
Lesson Summary
The symbols in The Alchemist serve to represent
self-development, humility, interconnectedness, and the value of life
. Through Santiago's journey to the pyramids of Egypt, these representations are depicted through Santiago's sheep, alchemy, and the pyramids of Egypt.
What are some symbols in The Alchemist?
- Santiago's sheep. …
- Urim and Thummim. …
- Alchemy. …
- The Oasis (Al-Fayoum) …
- The Emerald Tablet. …
- The Pyramids of Egypt. …
- The Abandoned Church.
What does the treasure symbolize in The Alchemist?
The treasure chest represents
Santiago's destiny
. The ancient gold coins and other precious items are the refined or evolved form of lesser metals. Symbolically, the treasure represents Santiago's actual treasure, which is the evolution of his soul.
What animal does The Alchemist pull out of the hole?
He lets the horse gallop until it finally stops, and the alchemist gets down and finds a hole in the ground. He sticks his arm into it all the way up to his shoulder, then pulls
a poisonous cobra
out.
What is the irony in the Alchemist?
More irony:
The gold that the alchemist created from lead is precisely what causes the thieves to believe
that Santiago is digging for more treasure, and to beat him. For Santiago, and for the reader, this is an unexpected, negative consequence of the alchemist's wisdom and power.
What is the world's greatest lie in the Alchemist?
There you will find a treasure that will make you a rich man. It's this:
that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate
. That's the world's greatest lie.
What is the true meaning of the Alchemist?
The Alchemist tells a story of
a young shepherd boy
who goes on a journey and quest for treasure to realize his ‘personal legend'. … The constant theme in The Alchemist is to pursue your dreams by following what your heart desires.
What does the church symbolize in the Alchemist?
The abandoned church symbolizes
the value of the familiar and of home
. Santiago ultimately did not have to travel any physical distance to find his treasure, which was in his own homeland, but the journey itself was as much a part of his quest as was the final result.
What is the soul of the world in the Alchemist?
” The novel reveals that the Soul of the World is actually
an interconnectedness between living and nonliving things that all have a divine connection
. This pantheistic view, which promotes the belief that all things are a part of god, permeates The Alchemist.
What is the actual treasure in The Alchemist?
By Paulo Coelho
Specifically, treasure. The treasure shows up early on, in a dream that Santiago has about a child transporting him to the pyramids and telling him that he'll find a hidden treasure there. And the treasure does turn out to be pretty awesome, “
a chest of Spanish gold coins
.
Does Santiago marry Fatima?
The alchemist explains that Santiago would have enough money to buy many sheep and camels, and
that he would marry Fatima
. … The alchemist's story convinces Santiago. The pair returns to Al-Fayoum for one night and Santiago tells Fatima he is leaving, but that he still loves her and he will return.
What does the end of The Alchemist mean?
By Paulo Coelho
13) shows us that
Santiago's not ready to stop traveling
. The ending, with Santiago coming back home to Spain to find his treasure, kind of like Dorothy finding that she's had the ruby slippers, her way home, all along, wraps up the novel in a nice circular way.
What is the one thing the alchemist says will make a dream impossible to achieve?
“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve,
the fear of failure
.”
What was Santiago's personal legend?
During the old king's explanation of what a personal legend is, he insists that Santiago not believe in “The World's Greatest Lie.” The old king says this: “
At a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That's the
world's greatest lie.”
What is worse than suffering According to The Alchemist?
It takes courage to listen to your heart, particularly when the heart is fearful. … Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist encourages us to live with the understanding that
fear of suffering
is worse than any suffering itself, and to pursue our heart's deepest dreams in search for our “treasure”.
