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The Alchemist By Paulo Coelho Analysis

Decent Essays

Robert Frost, an American poet, wrote in his poem, “The Road Not Taken,” “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” Santiago of Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist has that split road, two decisions: one that is unpredictable and one that is safe. If he makes the safe and popular choice, he knows he will regret it and always wonder what would have happened. If he makes the unpredictable choice, the one that is chosen less, he will follow his heart, and find his treasure. Santiago decides, and is following his heart through his journey to the Pyramids to find his treasure. In the novel, The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho, Santiago learns, “Remember where your heart is, there you will find your treasure.” First, Santiago learns a valuable lesson about self awareness. Next, Santiago understands a new feeling he is experiencing. Last, Santiago unexpectedly learns a new truth about his treasure.
To begin, Santiago learns a valuable lesson about self awareness. For example, while Santiago is talking to King Melchizedek, he tells Santiago a story of a wise man who gave a spoon with oil to a boy, and told him to walk around the palace. The boy does, but does not see any of the wonderful things around him, yet when he looks at those things, he drops the oil, Santiago learns the lesson from the story:"The secret of happiness is to see all of the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil in the spoon” (35).

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