Perception of fairy tale in Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist

Abstract

The Alchemist is a fable about a shepherd boy named Santiago from Spain. It is the story of his courage to follow his dream, the twists and turns he has to face in the course of his pursuit. The refreshingly adult 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 merged 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.