Hero's Journey
In The Alchemist
(Archetypal Theory)
12. Return With The Elixir
Santiago arrives back to the sycamore tree by the church. Instead of a flock with him he brings a shovel, symboling the amount he has changed from a shepherd to an alchemist. He digs up the ground and to no surprise finds jewels and gold. He is more than satisfied with the experience and exclaims, "I'm coming,Fatima" (Coelho 73), indicating his love for travelling and Fatima has not weakened.
11. Resurrection
Santiago's fun digging session didn't last long and is beaten up by two men for money. Neither believe in his dream and one of them explains that he had one before where there was treasure under a sycamore tree at a church.
"You're not going to die. You'll live, and you'll
learn that a man shouldn't be so stupid. Two years ago, right here on this spot, I had a recurrent dream,
too. I dreamed that I should travel to the fields of Spain and look for a ruined church where shepherds
and their sheep slept. In my dream, there was a sycamore growing out of the ruins of the sacristy, and I
was told that, if I dug at the roots of the sycamore, I would find a hidden treasure. But I'm not so stupid
as to cross an entire desert just because of a recurrent dream" (Coelho 71). Santiago instantly raised and realized where his treasure was located. Having himself dig there for hours and getting beat up was hard on Santiago, but once he knew where the treasure really was, he gained back his confidence and strength. It's also described Santiago, "felt that death was near" (Coelho 71).
Two men
- Villain Archetype/ Ally
One of the men unintentionally encourages the hero while struggling to reach his goal.
10. The Road Back
Santiago reaches the spot where the treasure is located and starts digging with no hesitation. He is full of emotion to finally reach his goal after sacrificing and going through so much.
9. Reward (Seizing The Sword)
Santiago continues his travels with The Alchemist when The Alchemist demonstrates turning lead into gold. Santiago is given a slab of the creation, worth more than anything he has owned before, and leaves to dig up his treasure at the pyramids.
8. Ordeal
Santiago arrives at the caravan and meets The Englishman. He has all sorts of knowledge and desire to learn how to become an alchemist. The Alchemist is travelling to Al-Fayoum oasis to meet and learn from a true alchemist. At the oasis Santiago meets a young girl who instantly becomes the love of his life, Fatima. Later while staying at the Oasis, Santiago has a vision of an incoming attack from an enemy tribe. He warns the council in charge and they are impressed to find out he was accurate about the attack. This attracts the attention of The Alchemist staying there and him and Santiago start to become companions. Santiago tells The Alchemist about his earlier vision with treasure and why he is travelling. The Alchemist convinces Santiago to leave Fatima and to travel to find his treasure. On their way to the pyramids, they are taken by soldiers to a prison camp where The Alchemist falsely tells them Santiago can turn himself into the wind to buy them some time. Santiago is given three days, and on the third, he rebirths himself as the wind to escape from the soldiers proving his power and skill. This was by far his most dangerous test or crisis he had to face. It was either success or death.
The Chief + The Soldiers
- Villain Archetype
Fatima
-Temptress/ Love Archetype/Ally
Fatima does allow Santiago to travel and continue with his journey but unintentionally tempts him to stay at the Oasis with her love and beauty.
The Alchemist
- Wizard/Magician/Mentor Figure
The Englishman
-Mentor Figure/Ally
7. Approach To The Inmost Cave
To make his stolen possessions back and continue with his journey to Egypt, Santiago finds a crystal shop and works for the merchant there while re gaining his wealth. He learns to read omens extremely well resulting in the business at the shop to increase rapidly. Santiago became a very rich man and had to make a decision between heading home or continuing with his travels. Its tempting to stay and the merchant doesn't want him to leave from all the success he brings. He ultimately decides to keep going and purchases access to join a caravan.
The Crystal Merchant
- Threshold Guardian
6. Tests, Allies, Enemies
Santiago immediately is faced with a huge obstacle. He too easily trusts a man at a bar. Santiago runs into a man at the bar who tells him he will buy two camels to travel to Egypt the next day. "All around him was the market, with people coming and going, shouting and buying, and the aroma of
strange foods… but nowhere could he find his new companion" (Coelho 16). Santiago turns around and discovers his new "friend" has ditched him alongside all his possessions.
Scammer in Tangier - Betrayal/Vilian Archetype
5. Crossing The Threshold
Santiago has become mentally and physically ready to continue his journey. He sells his flock of sheep to his friend and takes a ride to Tangier, Africa on a boat. Santiago's sheep was symbolic of sacrificing something he cares about to show his dedication. Once he arrives in Tangier, he is no longer a young shepherd boy but an adventurer.
4. Meeting The Mentor
Santiago shortly after meeting the gypsy runs into an old man named Melchizedek. As him and Santiago engage in a conversation, Santiago quickly learns hes a king of Salem and has magical powers! Melchizedek repeats the gypsy message to Santiago but this time spends his time convincing him. The king hands Santiago two rocks, Urim and Thummim to help him read omens. This gift will later help Santiago make decisions in his journey. Santiago ponders after his conversation with the king on what he is leaving behind and the serious risk he would be taking by leaving Andalusia.
Melchizedek (The King of Salem)
- Wise Old Man/ Mentor/Ally Figure
3. Refusal Of The Call
Santiago prior to meeting the gypsy had fears about them. "The boy had already had experience on the road with Gypsies; they also traveled, but they had no flocks of sheep. People said that Gypsies spent their lives tricking others. It
was also said that they had a pact with the devil, and that they kidnapped children and, taking them away
to their mysterious camps, made them their slaves" (Coelho 5). From this fear, Santiago struggles with believing what the gypsy had to say about his destiny. He decides to call off what he heard and move on.
2. Call To Adventure
After a while of being a shepherd, Santiago starts to experience a dream repeatedly after sleeping under a sycamore tree by a ruined church. In this dream, a child plays with his sheep before lifting him up with his hands and bringing him to the Egyptian pyramids to get Santiago to find his treasure. Santiago heads to a gypsy to learn what the meaning behind these dreams are. She tells him to travel to Egypt and confirms that there will be treasure there for him to find. She even makes him swear to give her 10% of what he finds when he reaches his riches.
The Gypsy - Herald Archetype
1. The Ordinary World
The readers are introduced to main protagonist, Santiago a young Andalusian shepherd. Santiago has parents that wanted him to be a priest, but his ambition to travel the world overrides his parent's hopes and chooses to become a shepherd. He builds a sense of responsibility for his flock of sheep's safety while traveling. Santiago travels around selling his sheep's wool to merchants and eventually lays eyes on the daughter of one of them. Santiago is satisfied and enjoys his simple life of making a living for himself every day.
Santiago - Hero/Villian Archetype
Santiago himself is his own antagonist or villain archetype.
Other than small villain character appearances/obstacles, his own ability to mistrust and get distracted is his worst enemy in his journey.
