Vikas Raval

A Thematic Study of Life Philosophy in Paulo Coelho's "The Alchemist" Vikas Raval

Life philosophy constitutes one of the most important pillars of life studies. The fundamental task of philosophy of life is to think deeply about the questions, what is life and the way of living life. Paulo Coelho is among those writers whose aim of teaching life philosophy means the meaning of life and the way of living life through their works. This book deals with the philosophical and thematic study of The Alchemist that talks about a young Andalusian shepherd named Santiago in his journey to Egypt, after having a recurring dream of finding treasure there. The Alchemist is "more self-help than literature". An old king tells Santiago, "when you really want something to happen, the whole universe conspires so that your wish comes true". This is the core of the novel's philosophy and a motif that plays all throughout Coelho's writing in The Alchemist.