Paulo Cohelo Al Chemist Book Review

8/13/2019 Paulo Cohelo Al Chemist Book Review

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Book Summary and Analysis


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Book Summary & Analysis:

The ALACHEMIST

Author:

Paulo Coelho

Submitted by:

AAMIR A!AR ALI

Course:

M"T#$% MAA"ERIAL P'LIC(

Course Instru)tor:

MR* ARSHA+ AB+,LLAH

MARCH %-. %$$/

INSTITUTE OF

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION,

KARACHI


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PRE0ACE

In the first place, I would like to thank Al-Mighty Allah to give me courage and wisdom not only

to read this valuable book, but to draw some really valuable lessons that can be applied to ones

everyday life.

As far as the course of managerial policy, for which this review is written, is concerned, it has

very little to do with this course. However, it provided me with an opportunity to reflect myself

on the theme of personal search, the search for the ultimate reality. he one from !hom we are

and to !hom we will return. his book gives a very important lesson that very often in the search

of our destiny, we tend to look outwards. !e often try to find the happiness outside. In doing so,

we fail to reali"e that the true source of happiness lies within ourselves.

his book review is the book summary and analysis for one of the very few international

bestsellers from the #atin America, a continent which had previously been known only for sugar

cane production in $ra"il, the %uban cigar etc. his book was probably the first mark by any

#atin American on the international literary scene.

I would like to pay gratitude to our course instructor for giving us the opportunity to gather these

valuable pearls of wisdom through reading this insightful novel.

&arachi, 'akistan

March (), ())*


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TABLE '0 C'TET


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E1EC,TI2E S,MMAR(


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AB',T THE B''3

+ew decades back, while talking about #atin America, what used to come to the minds were

either their world famous eports like $ra"ilian ugar %ane, %uban %igar or it used to be

$ra"ilian +ootball legends like onaldo etc. $ut, the continent was nowhere in the international

literary scenario, until 'aulo %oelho appeared as one of the greatest #atin American author and

his book Alchemist gaining the international recognitions.

his book is an allegorical novel. It was originally written by a $ra"ilian novelist and lyricist

'aulo %oelho in 'ortuguese language with the title /O Alquimista and first published in 0*11.

ince then, it has been translated into 23 languages, a world record for the most translated book

by a living author. In the very short span of two decades, this book has become of one of the

bestsellers in the history, with over 24 million copies being sold in around 04) countries,

reflecting the universal appeal of its theme. Its 5nglish translated version that has been reviewed

here was published initially in 0**6 with the title /he Alchemist.

Its I$7 is ))2(4)(038 and it is published by Harper %ollins 'ublishers. his book has 033

pages and has hard paper back. his book has won several international recognitions. +ew most

well recogni"ed of them are9

he 7ielsen :old $ook Award ())8 for its outstanding sales in the ;& retail market

he %orine International Award ())( for the best fiction in :ermany.

he :olden $ook Award 0**4 and 0**2 in


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SETTI"

he setting of this novel begins with its main character antiago, a shepherd, living in the

Andalusian region of pain. He then moves to angier, the Al-+ayoum oasis, and finally entersthe lands of 'yramids, 5gypt. In the end, his reaches back from where he started, that is pain.

he time is present day.

CHARACTERS

he characters in this novel are not so many in numbers and it revolves around one central

character. However, these characters can be divided into two categories, the ma=or characters and

the minor characters.

Ma4or Chara)ters:

Santiago:

antiago is the name of a shepherd who is the central character in this novel. He sees a dream

repeatedly and finally decides to start the =ourney to find the treasures which he thinks are there at

the 'yramids in 5gypt. >uring his =ourney, he comes across a number of other characters like a

:ypsy woman, an ?ld &ing, a merchant, an 5nglish man, and an alchemist. All of thesecharacters taught something to antiago. He is a man who follows his dreams and despite trials

and tribulations, ultimately reaches his destination.

The Gypsy Woman:

he :ypsy !oman is the first one who, antiago has met and consulted about his dream. he

appears to be mysterious, yet a religious women. his fact is asserted on the basis of having the

picture of the acred Heart of @esus on her wall. he advised antiago that he must go to

pyramids and follow his dreams. his advice was, however, not free of cost. He asked antiago to

give one tenth of his findings, which was eventually given by antiago, being an honest man.

The Old King:


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He is the second person who helped antiago and gave him two stones, ;rim and hummim. He

also motivated the shepherd to continue his search and the pursuit of the dream and the omens he

is occasionally blessed with. he name of the king was Melchi"edek. his name is that of biblical

character who is considered to be the one who had guided prophet Abraham in pursuing his

dream as well.

The Crystal Merchant:

He is a man for whom antiago begins to work and who profits from the boys aptitude in

improving sales. He teaches antiago how important it is to follow through and not give up on his

dream. His dream had been to travel to Mecca on a pilgrimage, but because he never does, hes

afraid that the reality will destroy the dream and so he never goes. His sense of regret encourages

antiago to take what he has earned there and buy a ticket to angier.

The Englishman

He is a young man who has spent ten years of his life reading about alchemy with the hope of

discovering the Master !ork. He goes with antiago on the caravan to the oasis so he can find

the oldest alchemist of them all and learn his secrets. He teaches antiago that not all information

can be found in books and that one should observe what goes on around him as well. he

5nglishman eventually discovers that for himself after consulting with the alchemist.

The Alchemist

He is rumored to be over ()) years old and lives on the Al-+ayoum oasis. He has an advanced

sense that antiago is coming to the oasis and knows it is his responsibility to lead him to the

pyramids. Along the way, he teaches the boy much about listening to his heart and reaching out

for his dream no matter what the cost. He never does anything for the boy ecept guide him and

allows him to learn for himself.

he alchemist has the 5liir of #ife and the 'hilosophers tone, which allow him to make any

metal into gold. hat is his 'ersonal #egend, which he had achieved many years before. His name

is not capitali"ed, because the title could be taken by anyone, like antiago, who learns the truth

of the Master !ork.


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Minor Chara)ters

Fatima

he is the beautiful young woman whom antiago meets at a well on the oasis. he directs them

to the alchemist, but in the process of that first conversation, antiago falls in love with her and

she eventually falls in love with him. As a desert woman, she is willing to wait for him to find his

treasure and fulfill his 'ersonal #egend.

The Camel Driver

antiago meets him on the caravan =ourney to the oasis and from him learns all about the

importance of the present. He had lost everything to the flooding of the 7ile, but now he is

content to work as a camel driver and take one day at a time.

The Trial Chie!tain

He demands that antiago turn himself into the wind and in the process, discovers that the boy

has seen the glory of :od.


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C'0LICT

Prota5onist

he protagonist of a story is the main character who traditionally undergoes some sort of change.

antiago is the protagonist of this novel. It is his story and his maturing and learning about life

that composes the plot. hrough his trials and tests, we also learn about life.

Anta5onist

he antagonist of a story is the force that provides an obstacle for the protagonist. he antagonist

does not always have to be a single character or even a character at all. he antagonists in this

story change at times - sometimes it is the people who give antiago advice he doesnt want tohear sometimes its real villains like the thief in angier who steals all his money - but for the

most part, the antagonist is antiago himself. He must learn to accept the problems on his =ourney

and not give up. He must accept himself and his own limitations as well as his strengths to

persevere and find his treasure. #ike many protagonists, he is often his own worst enemy, but in

the end, he overcomes adversity and triumphs.

Clima6

he clima of a plot is the ma=or turning point that allows the protagonist to resolve the conflict.

he clima comes when antiago comes to the pyramids, digs on the spot where he sees the

scarab beetle, and yet is rewarded by being beaten by some Arabs who want his treasure. It is

only at the point that he reali"es where his treasure actually is.

'ut)ome

antiago reali"es he must return to pain after the leader of the Arab refugees who beat him tells

him his recurring dream about a ruined church with a sycamore tree growing out of its sacristy.

He knows the church, because that is where he had his dream about the pyramids. He returns

there and finds a conBuistadors buried treasure under the sycamore tree and determines to take itand go back to the oasis and marry +atima.


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PL'T S,MMAR(


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THEME


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M''+


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CHAPTER7!ISE S,MMAR( A+ AAL(SIS


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PART I S,MMAR(


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PART I AAL(SIS


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PART II S,MMAR(


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PART II AAL(SIS


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PART III S,MMAR(


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PART III AAL(SIS


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PART I2 S,MMAR(


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PART I2 AAL(SIS


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PART 2 S,MMAR(


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PART 2 AAL(SIS


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PART 2I S,MMAR(


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PART 2I AAL(SIS


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PART 2II S,MMAR(


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PART 2II AAL(SIS


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'2ER ALL RE0LECTI'S

Paulo Cohelo Al Chemist Book Review

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