The
alchemist By Paulo Coelho F.Y.I.: This Book is classified as FABLE, although it is very much different to common fable
stories.
Exposition: When Santiago, a young shepherd boy from the Spanish countryside of Andalusia, has a dream that reveals the location of a hidden treasure buried at the Egyptian Pyramids his simple life is suddenly torn in two. Part of him wants to take the chance to go searching for it and the other part of him wants to
continue his easy life as a shepherd. Character: Main (no names are given on the other characters) Santiago – His nature is to be curious about the world though, and he craves traveling so that he can find things out for himself. He chooses to become a shepherd so that he can travel and learn things firsthand. Complication: Santiago listens to his heart and decides to go on a dangerous search for the treasure. He sells his flock of sheep and heads to Africa, where he is quickly robbed of all his gold and left despondent on the streets. He decides that he was foolish to believe in his dreams and quickly gets a job with a crystal merchant in order to save up enough money to go back home. Because of his persistence, he made the shop grow that again lit his forfeited dream. The local
alchemist, a mysterious man who reminds Santiago of the old king helps Santiago continue his journey. After many adventures, dangers, and important life lessons Santiago finally reaches the Pyramids.
Climax: He begins to dig deep into the sand looking for treasure, but before he can get far a pack of thieves’ shows up, beating and robbing him. They force him to continue digging, and then leave when no treasure is found. One of the thieves, as destiny would have it, tells Santiago an important clue and when they’re gone Santiago can’t help but laugh, because now he knows where his treasure truly lies.
Denouement: It ends up being right back where his journey began, under the very tree where he had the prophetic dream years before. He digs and finds a beautiful chest full of gold and gems. His next and last journey will be back to the desert to be reunited with the woman he loves.