The Alchemist
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Prologue Part One Part Two Epilogue
Themes
All Themes The Pursuit of Your Personal Legend Maktub and What is Meant to Be The Interconnectedness of All Things Alchemy and the Value of Simplicity The Unimportance of Death and Fear
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Santiago The Alchemist Melchizedek (the Old Man) Fatima The Englishman The Camel Driver The Crystal Merchant The Fortune-teller The Thief (the Young Man) The Elder Chief of Al-Fayoum The Enemy Chieftan The Leader of the Refugees Santiago’s Heart The Desert The Wind The Sun The Merchant’s Daughter Narcissus The Lake
Symbols
All Symbols Santiago’s sheep Urim and Thummim Alchemy The Oasis (Al-Fayoum) The Emerald Tablet The Pyramids of Egypt The Abandoned Church
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The Alchemist

by

Paulo Coelho

Upgrade to A+
Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
  • Prologue
  • Part One
  • Part Two
  • Epilogue
Themes
  • All Themes
  • The Pursuit of Your Personal Legend Theme Icon
    The Pursuit of Your Personal Legend
  • Maktub and What is Meant to Be Theme Icon
    Maktub and What is Meant to Be
  • The Interconnectedness of All Things Theme Icon
    The Interconnectedness of All Things
  • Alchemy and the Value of Simplicity Theme Icon
    Alchemy and the Value of Simplicity
  • The Unimportance of Death and Fear Theme Icon
    The Unimportance of Death and Fear
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Santiago
  • The Alchemist
  • Melchizedek (the Old Man)
  • Fatima
  • The Englishman
  • The Camel Driver
  • The Crystal Merchant
  • The Fortune-teller
  • The Thief (the Young Man)
  • The Elder Chief of Al-Fayoum
  • The Enemy Chieftan
  • The Leader of the Refugees
  • Santiago’s Heart
  • The Desert
  • The Wind
  • The Sun
  • The Merchant’s Daughter
  • Narcissus
  • The Lake
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • Santiago’s sheep Symbol Icon
    Santiago’s sheep
  • Urim and Thummim Symbol Icon
    Urim and Thummim
  • Alchemy Symbol Icon
    Alchemy
  • The Oasis (Al-Fayoum) Symbol Icon
    The Oasis (Al-Fayoum)
  • The Emerald Tablet Symbol Icon
    The Emerald Tablet
  • The Pyramids of Egypt Symbol Icon
    The Pyramids of Egypt
  • The Abandoned Church Symbol Icon
    The Abandoned Church
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
Download this Chart (PDF)
Download the Teacher Edition
Download this Chart (PDF)

The Alchemist Study Guide

It's easy to cite LitCharts for use in academic papers and reports.


MLA

Champlin, Nikola. "The Alchemist." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 21 Mar 2016. Web. 13 Jun 2025.


Chicago

Champlin, Nikola. "The Alchemist." LitCharts LLC, March 21, 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2025. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-alchemist.

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