The Symbols of Life in The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

The book The Alchemist,  by Paulo Coelho, is a novel in which the pyramids in the book help symbolize a roller coaster as Santiago follows his dream to find the treasure, learning not to give up and to follow his heart. A symbol defines ¨a mark or character used as a conventional representation of an object, function, or process.¨ This book defines a young shepherd's journey whose name is Santiago. Santiago is trying to find a mysterious treasure as he learns to think about what is more important love, as he finds Fatima who he loves, or to keep finding the treasure following his legend. 

Particularly without a doubt, the Pyramids represent dreams which are located at an abandoned church about going to the pyramids to find treasure. Santiago was talking to an old woman about the pyramids and what they mean to each other, and if they exist or not Santiago then states, ¨I have never heard of them, but, if it was a child who showed them to you, they exist.¨ (Coelho 6) This quote shows that Santiago at first doesn't think the pyramids are real at first and therefore ¨never heard of them.¨ Santiago thinks of the pyramids as the dream which were located under the abandoned church, as the old woman says  "It's a dream in the language of the world." (Coelho 6) The symbol of the pyramids helps symbolize the theme, which is a roller coaster, because on a roller coaster many thoughts go through a mind, and just like the dream, Santiago didn’t believe them at first unless a “child who showed them to you, they exist.”  The pyramids didn't seem real at first to Santiago but later on did, as he tried to work hard to accomplish his dream while “on a” roller coaster getting tripped by sudden events or conversations.

Equally important, in the middle, the pyramids shift to symbolize being worthless. As the crystal merchant does not like them and does not support Santiago in trying to find the treasure he is hoping for. The merchant talks about the pyramids and what they mean to him. “I don’t know anyone around here who would want to cross the desert just to see the Pyramids.¨(Coelho 21) The merchant tries to tell Santiago the pyramids are nothing special and don't waste your time, even though Santiago wants to find the treasure and follow his legend. “There just a pile of stones. You could build one in your backyard.¨(Coelho 21) The symbol of the pyramids in the middle help represent the theme of a roller coaster, the particular reason for the circumstance is Santiago wants to complete his journey while the crystal merchant is telling him to not waste his time trying to do something worthless. As Santiago is trying to achieve his goal, it is almost like a dream trying to follow what Santiagos loves to do and won't give up and will accomplish his dream goal to find the treasure.

Ultimately, the pyramids symbolize a roller coaster. This is because of the journey Santiago had taken when trying to take hold of the treasure and his challenges along the way while following his legend with many of the ups and downs along his journey. Santiago went through three main identifications that were thinking the pyramids were a dream, the merchant telling Santiago the treasure and wanting to find the treasure is worthless and then Santiago accomplishing to find the treasure. Santiago talks about achieving his goals and what they mean, ¨I learned that many alchemists realized their destinies, and wound up discovering the Soul of the World, the Philosopher's Stone, and the Elixir of Life. (Coelho 35) This quote shows the accomplishment of Santiago achieving his legend as he learned many people follow their dreams and end up learning something new about the world. Santiago learns about the pyramids and the importance of following his heart, not giving up, "But, above all, I learned that these things are all so simple that they could be written on the surface of an emerald."(Coelho 35) Accomplishing a goal helps symbolize a roller coaster, as when going on a roller coaster there are many ups and downs and at the end when finished its Santiago dreams of seeing the pyramids like he did and ended up following his legend and didn't give up even when the merchant told him it was worthless. Santiago followed his dream and accomplished his dream he wished for.

Ultimately, Santiago dreams of pyramids and wants to find a treasure and follow a personal legend to find the reward. The merchant tells Santiago the pyramids are worthless and don't mean anything, although Santiago still wants to work hard to find the treasure. Santiago accomplishes his dream of finding the treasure and follows his legend and learned life lessons. The pyramids in the book help symbolize success as Santiago follows his dream to find the treasure, learning not to give up and to follow his heart. This connects to the thesis statement because when trying to accomplish something it is like riding a roller coaster, with many ups and downs trying to find a way to succeed, and not give up on what life may throw to you while you take on the difficult challenging journey. This is important to literature/life as anyone should be able to follow their dreams and accomplish whatever they choose to do. No one should get in their way and make them feel any less than they are and help them be successful in life.