Paulo Coelho’s book The Alchemist illustrates the connection between pagan beliefs of dine beings to humans and nature. Paganism is a broad religion that many people have found interest in and taken part in its practices. it has been around for thousands of years and has continued to gain many followers to this day. The Alchemist displays two main themes of paganism through parts of the book. The themes are the beliefs of gods and the use of magic. One of many things that pagans believe is to worship many gods or goddesses. One goddess is called “Mother Earth”. There are many elements that are being pan of Mother earth which can help the human beings to connect with our inner wisdom and force by meditation. Also. this ritual that people do help them to stay connected With mother earth This meditation helps to accomplish great knowledge and prosperity.
According to pagans, “The planet Earth is the foundation of our lives but the element of earth also exists in the form of energy that is around us and within us.” This means that to get the basic knowledge and the benefits from the planet, people first need to know how the elements of earth work. The author of The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho, represents this natural force in the desert, Wind, and the sun. For example, when Santiago tried to convert himself into the Wind, he tried to concentrate to be able to become one With this powerful force which represent in the Wind. However, Santiago failed in his first endeavor with talking With the desert. After. Santiago was trying to talk with desert, Wind, sun and the soul of the world. He finally achieved to talk with the soul of the world. which helped him to covert himself into the Wind. Pagans would communicate to spirits through rituals and gatherings to Worship them and show their appreciation.
Much like the boy in the book. he shows great knowledge and appreciation for the wonders each one of the spirits offers to him and the world. This is why they are so willing to aid him in his ambition to become the Wind. Another relation to paganism in The Alchemist is its multiple situations involving magic. Pagans used magic through rituals and healing With their tactics of natural herbs and spells to help one overcome illness or injury. The Alchemist displays various scenarios of magic. One for instance is when the old king told the story of when he assisted a miner in reaching his destiny, The miner was on the verge of giving up his dream of finding a gem until the king formed himself into a rock. The miner struck the king as the rock and a beautiful gem emerged. The Alchemist demonstrates magic through his ability to turn lead into gold. Like the miner found positive results in his encounter with magic, Santiago benefits as well by receiving a quarter plate of gold.
Pagans vary Widely in their understanding of divme beings, although most revere the world as both good and spiritually enchanted. Many pagans reiect the belief of one god creating the universe; this belief is thought to be hostile towards nature. Most forms of paganism involve some sort of recognition that nature is scary. One concept, Monism, is the belief that everything is united together. Within this approach, worshipping nature and the divine are identical acts. The second belief is polytheism. The belief that the earth (or the cosmos) is the tangiable home to many gods and godesses and other spinual beings, Animism is the understanding that a spirit fills all living thingsrevery animal. plant, and inanimate obiect has its own sprit. This view holds that all things are enchanted and alive. The pagan understanding of divme beings is seen in The Alchemist.
While the belief of one god creating the earth is not rejected, the idea of nature as being sacred and alive is accepted in the book. The concept of animism is seen in the book When Santiago asks for help from the dessert, Wind, and sun to transform himself into the Wind, Santiago understands that all things are alive and conscrous. Animism is also seen in thummim and urim. When Santiago questions his personal legend, the stones give him answers to guide him on his Journey. One more pagan concept shown in the alchemist is monism Monism is revealed in the book when Santiago Inquires about transforming into the wind, When asking for help. he has to talk to the desert, Wind, sun and finally the soul of the world. Each part of nature is working together to achieve the goal of Santiago becoming the wind. This shows that nature and man are united together, It has been said that no writer makes an unreal character representing their own life.
But In many occasions, authors whether or not do not want to have this imaginary character represent their life. They are ending wtth characters that have similarities With their life. One of the greatest writers, Paulo Coelho, seems to reflect his life in Santiago from the book The Alchemist. Paulo always hoped to become a writer, however, his parents had other plans for him. Paulo‘s parents wanted their son to be a lawyer, While he tried pleasing his father by going to law school, he grew a strong connection to pursue his dream as a writer, Consequently, he decided to travel through South America, North Africa. Mexico, and Europe where he was able to learn the challenges in life. After two years of traveling. he decided to return to BraZiI where he began a successful career as a famous novelist. Paulo’s life is very similar to Santiago‘s stony. Santiago wanted to pursue his own legend but his parents wanted him to become a priest, which was avery respectable position.
Santiago persevered through many struggles while he was traveling to achieve his personal legend. It is quite evtdent that both lives are similar. Paulo Coelho reflects himself in Santiago‘s life. Both men made many sacrifices to reach their dreams and at the same time they encountered astonishing challenges along the way. They learned to believe in themselves and determined goals in their life. In the end, when you read Santiago‘s life you are also partly reading a piece of Paulo’s life, Coelho’s message regarding Catholicism and Islam is to show the similarities between the two religions. One of the idea‘s that is connected to both Catholicism and Islam is the idea that God has a certain fate planned for every person, In the book, each person is respectful of others’ religion. There are no arguments or disputes over what is different or wrong with either religion.
Above all, paganism is a religion that worships many gods and goddesses. It is quite obvtous that many pans in The Alchemist were borrowed and derived from paganism. Coelho uses multiple gods the Pagans believe in to represent the natural forces included in The Alchemist. The magic performed was also based off paganism and ultimately gave the book the intricate. interesting themes it had. Paganism played a large factor in a noticeable portion of the book and lead Santiago down the path he ended up going. Without paganism, The Alchemist would not have the values. lessons. and most likely impact or success that it has on its audience.
