Perception of Fairy Tale in The Alchemist

Abstract

This thesis explores the issue of perception of fairytale in The Alchemist. It is a fable about a shepherd boy named Santiago from Spain. It is the story of his courage to follow his dream, and the twists and turns he has to face in the course of his pursuit. The refreshing aspect of Santiago’s journey is that although he is guided and influenced by a mystical king and the alchemist, it is through his own self-reflection that he begins to understand the meaning of life. The wisdom he gains comes not from finding his treasure, but from the path he takes in seeking his destiny. Santiago’s message is that by following our dreams and seeking our destiny, we can find ultimate meaning and happiness. In this way, Paulo Coelho has embedded the ingredients of a fairytale in this beautiful enchanted novel. By giving a moral message to the readers, The Alchemist imparts wisdom as found in children’s fairytales. This thesis has tried to find out how Coelho tends to give the perception of a fairytale in The Alchemist that seems to give a positive lesson to its readers. Since theoretical support plays a major role in the completion of a research, this thesis draws on the concept of fairytale and especially the theory of Vladimir Propp’s Morphology of the Folktale. By following the structural pattern of a traditional fairy tale, Coelho creates psychological intensity to overcome depression and isolation through dream like use of elements. Ingredients of a fairy tale can be found in the novel. Coelho’s strategy for revealing the truth to Santiago is a significant aspect for the novel.