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Sahara desert, sand dunes, and Al-Fayoum oasis (Geography);
Santiagos life, elemental force, universal language, Soul of the
World, paradise, battle and alchemy (Philosophy); Melchizedek
(Theology); Santiago (Psychology); Santiagos father and the leader
of the refugees from the tribal war (Mythology).
The historical foundation of the novel throws light on the
Moorish Invasion and the Spanish Inquisition. The adventures of
the Moorish people had created a collective personal legend for
their community by invading almost all parts of Europe. The
Moorish eye of the Andalusian girl represents the history of the
Moorish invaders in the Iberian Peninsula. Moorish eye implies
the racial mixing of the Moors with the natives. This suggests that,
once we achieve our personal legend, it will survive through many
generations in some way or the other.
The other historical incident which Coelho hints through The
Alchemist is The Spanish Inquisition which was established in 1478
by Catholic monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella to maintain Catholic
orthodoxy in their kingdoms and it was under the direct control of
the Spanish monarchy.
Coelho employs Melchizedek as a symbol to represent the
Great Spanish Inquisition. Later in Africa, Santiago being a past
seminarian, cannot even remember the name of Melchizedek, who
gave him the precious stones of prophetic quality. This forgetfulness
indicates the Jewish alienation in Spain due to the inquisition.
The Egyptian pyramid is another historical symbol used in the
novel to declare that human beings can create wonders in this world.
Ancient Egyptians collectively generated their personal legend by
building pyramids almost two thousand years before, which still
stands as a monument of their collective personal legend.
Paulo Coelho has made extensive use of the geographical
features of various places in the novel. He has represented the
cultures and lifestyles of two different but neighbouring continents
through geographical symbols like Andalusia and the Sahara
desert,in which Andalusia stands for the European continent
whereas the Sahara desert represents the African continent.
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The alchemist warns them that the boy is a sorcerer who can even
destroy the military camp by changing himself into Simum. Later,
when the Simum occurs spontaneously, everyone in the camp
consider the boy as a sorcerer who can create dangerous desert
winds. They respect him and set them free.
Al-Fayoum oasis is the most beautiful and romantic
geographical symbol. It is the meeting point of Santiago and Fatima.
There he understands the meaning of true love, which transforms
and raises him to the highest level of his personality.
Santiagos life unveils the philosophy of Existentialism that
the human existence is an investigation of the meaning of being.
Santiagos journey symbolises his search for the meaning of his
own life. Dreyfus says that, according to Existentialism, the existence
is inclusive of diverse possibilities from which man must make a
selection and he should be committed to that selection. It also
advocates that human beings are fully responsible for creating the
meaning of their own lives and people actually make decisions
based on what is meaningful to them rather than what is rational.
Santiagos life extends to him a variety of possibilities from which
he has to choose. He has to select from the alternatives like
priesthood or shepherding, going back to Andalusia or crossing
the desert to reach Egypt, and finally, living in the Al-Fayoum oasis
with Fatima or going to Egypt in search of his treasure. From all
these alternatives he makes the wisest choices of shepherding,
crossing the desert, and going to Egypt in search of his treasure.
He is truly committed and responsible to his selections. It is obvious
that Santiago is assertive of his basic interests and is also capable
of dismissing the Sartrean existential angst of being for others.
Existentialism also preaches that human nature and human identity
vary depending upon the values and beliefs one holds. Santiago
believes in Melchizedeks words that, When you want something,
the entire universe conspires in helping you to achieve it (Coelho
23). Even in the most difficult situation, this belief only gives him
enough courage to pursue his path. It makes him a confident man
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the disguise of the alchemist affirms that There is only one way to
learn, its through action (Coelho 132).
Like Melchizedek, Gautama Buddha also played both the
roles of a king and an ascetic in his life. According to the teachings
of Buddha, salvation is achieved by human effort, apart from divine
help (McDermott). Melchizedek counsels Santiago that the worlds
greatest lie is at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of
what is happening to us, and our lives become controlled by our
fate (Coelho 18). Like Buddha, Melchizedek teaches Santiago
the importance of human effort in material and spiritual life.
We can trace a semblance between the warrior-priest
Melchizedek and the last prophet of Islam named Muhammad.
Muhammad served not just as a prophet, but as a military leader
who helped to defeat the Makkans during the Battle of Badr
(Muhammad). Like Melchizedek, he also declared the existence
of one true God. In The Alchemist, Santiago finds the similitude
between the Muslim crystal merchant and learns the five obligations
of Islam such as: believe only in one true God, pray five times a
day, fast during Ramadan, be charitable to poor, and at least once
in life a visit to the holy city of Mecca. Through this merchant
Melchizedek suggests that religion is only a means not an end in
itself.
Santiago acts as a psychological symbol in the novel. His
aspirations, life-style, and needs act as the basis for the psychological
foundation. Analytical psychology, individual psychology and
humanistic psychology are the major branches of psychology used
in the novel. The intuitive aspect of analytical psychology shapes
the character of Santiago. It exalts the importance of paying heed
to our heart since this leads to the development of intuition that
helps in critical situations. Alchemist teaches Santiago to listen to
his heart so that he can acquire knowledge directly from the soul of
the world. Santiago uses his intuitive abilities to save the oasis from
death and destruction. Thus the prophetic aspect of his personality
is developed. Alfred Adlers Individual psychology conveys that
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The theme of this novel, the vision of life, is built upon the
foundations of various disciplines like historical-geographical,
philosophical-theological and psychological-mythological
foundations. The historical-geographical foundation suggests the
need for following ones personal legend and observing nature.
The philosophical theological foundation conveys the
interconnection of various things in this world. Psychologicalmythological foundation confirms the need to follow our heart.
Coelho proposes these principles and establishes his vision of life
that when a person really wants something, the entire world will
help him to achieve it just because a deep-rooted desire is first
born in the Soul of the World.
PlatonicIdealism.en.wikipedia.org.MediaWikiversion1.18wmf1
(r106062).Wikimedia Foundation, 4 Feb.2011.Web. 25 May.2011.
Sandmel,Samuel.2009.Neoplatonism.MicrosoftStudent2009
DVD.
Redmond:Microsoft Corporation, 2008. DVD-ROM.
Transcendentalism. Microsoft Student 2009 DVD.Redmond:
Microsoft Corporation, 2008. DVD-ROM.
*
REFERENCES
Advaita Vedanta. Microsoft Student 2009 DVD.Redmond:
Microsoft Corporation, 2008. DVD-ROM.
Coelho,Paulo. The Alchemist. Trans. Alan.R.Clarke. New Delhi:
Harper Collins, 2006. Print.
Dreyfus, Hubert L. Existentialism. Microsoft Student 2009
DVD.Redmond: Microsoft Corporation, 2008. DVD-ROM.
Kassin, Saul. Psychology. Microsoft Student 2009 DVD.
Redmond: Microsoft Corporation, 2008. DVD-ROM.
McDermott, James Paul. Buddhism. Microsoft Student 2009
DVD.
Redmond:Microsoft Corporation, 2008. DVD-ROM.
Melchizedek. Microsoft Student 2009 DVD.Redmond:
Microsoft Corporation, 2008. DVD-ROM.
Muhammad (prophet). Microsoft Student 2009 DVD.Redmond:
Microsoft Corporation, 2008. DVD-ROM.
Narcissus (mythology). Microsoft Student 2009 DVD.Redmond:
Microsoft Corporation, 2008. DVD-ROM.
Neoplatonism. en.wikipedia.org. MediaWiki ver sion
1.18wmf1(r106062).Wikimedia Foundation,24 May.2011.Web. 25
May.2011.
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