Who is the alchemist in the alchemist?
The alchemist is another teacher figure in the novel, guiding Santiago through the last leg of his trip.
What do the characters in the alchemist represent?
The characters in The Alchemist are a reflection of the genre of the novel itself. As an allegorical novel, each character represents something more than a mere being living and operating within a fictional context.
Who is Melchizedek in the alchemist?
Melchizedek/King of Salem An anonymous old man who is in fact a powerful figure from the Old Testament, he explains to Santiago what a Personal Legend is and urges the shepherd boy to follow his dream. Aside from Santiago himself, Melchizedek is the most important character in The Alchemist.
What is the soul of the world in the alchemist?
In The Alchemist, the Soul of the World represents the unity of nature. All living beings, are connected, and they have to undergo similar processes, as they share the same spiritual essence. Fear. Giving in to fear is what hinders the fulfillment of one’s own Personal Legend.
Who are subtle face dolls?
A conman and Face and Doll's criminal associate. Subtle poses as a respected doctor of alchemy and mystic, and he cons several characters into believing he has the power to create the philosopher's stone.
Who is dapper in Alchemist?
Dapper is a law clerk, and he is exceedingly gullible. When he arrives to see Subtle—who Dapper thinks is an alchemist and mystic—he is nearly late because he lent his watch to a thief the night before.
When did Lovewit appear?
The Alchemist, comedy in five acts by Ben Jonson, performed in 1610 and published in 1612. The play concerns the turmoil of deception that ensues when Lovewit leaves his London house in the care of his scheming servant, Face.
Who is Epicure Mammon?
Mammon represents gullibility in Jonson's play, as he easily falls for Subtle and Face's con, but he also represents greed and vice. Mammon is chiefly concerned with getting rich and having sex with lots of women, which, Jonson implies, are very common sins.
Who are the 3 cheats in The Alchemist?
The Alchemist focuses on what happens when one human being seeks advantage over another. In a big city like London, this process of advantage-seeking is rife. The trio of con-artists – Subtle, Face and Doll – are self-deluding small-timers, ultimately undone by the same human weaknesses they exploit in their victims.
Who is NAB in alchemist?
Abel (“Nab”) Drugger He is an honest, tobacconist who just starts his new shop in the street. He wants Face, disguise as “Doctor” to guide him in starting a new business. He likes Dame Pliant, a rich widow, and wants to marry her.
Who is Lovewit in alchemist?
The character of Lovewit is a small part of the play—his name is never even spoken by the other characters—but he nevertheless represents deception and vice in The Alchemist. Lovewit agrees not to discipline Face for a young, rich woman, and he deceives others to help Face get away with his crimes.
Who is the butler of Lovewit?
Face / Jeremy the ButlerSubtle and Doll's criminal associate and Lovewit's butler. After Lovewit escapes the city for the country during an outbreak of the plague, Face runs his criminal scams and cons out of Lovewit's city home.
Who is DOL common?
"Mrs Corey was a big woman with a gift for comedy. She was popular in a variety of roles, but especially in old women parts: scolding wives, mothers, governesses, waiting women, and bawds." In his Diary, Samuel Pepys, who admired Corey's talents, calls her "Doll Common" after her part in Ben Jonson's The Alchemist.
Who told mammon that subtle was a cheat?
Surly warns Mammon that Face and Subtle were really cheating him. Mammon say's to Face about his interest on Dol Common and to satisfy his lust in any cost with her.
Why does Epicure Mammon seek the Philosopher's Stone?
Each of Subtle's victims want the philosopher's stone to satisfy selfish and greedy ends. Abel Drugger wants the stone to bring him wealth and guarantee his new apothecary shop is successful, and Sir Epicure Mammon wants the stone to turn all the metal in his house, and all the metal in England, into gold.
What help did dapper ask from subtle and face?
Face meets him at a tavern and tricks him into believing that Subtle is a doctor who can use magic to help him up his gambling game. Dapper's willing to pay Subtle to conjure up a "familiar" (a spirit that helps people practice magic—think witches' black cats) to help him win a bunch of money (1.1. 190-193).
What does the Alchemist wear?
He dresses in black, rides a white horse, and carries a scimitar, the Philosopher’s Stone, and the Elixir of Life. He often speaks cryptically, but he understands the Soul of the World and the importance of Personal Legends. Read an in-depth analysis of The Alchemist.
Who is the camel driver?
Camel Driver. A friendly former orchard owner and devout Muslim who feels content with his life despite losing his orchard in a flood. He has made the pilgrimage to Mecca and lives his life in service of omens from God.
Who is the Englishman?
Englishman. A well-educated science student determined to learn the secrets of alchemy by learning from a true alchemist. He is a skeptic and loves reading his books. Read an in-depth analysis of Englishman.
Who is Santiago in the book?
Santiago. An adventurous young Andalusian shepherd determined to fulfill his Personal Legend, which is to find a treasure at the foot of the Egyptian pyramids. He is the book's protagonist. Read an in-depth analysis of Santiago.
What does the Englishman represent in The Alchemist?
Given the allegorical nature of The Alchemist, the Englishman represents the limits of knowledge acquired from books.
What is the Alchemist novel about?
As an allegorical novel, each character represents something more than a mere being living and operating within a fictional context. In fact, The Alchemist itself, aside from being structured like a quest-oriented adventure novel, is a parable of fulfilling one’s own destiny.
What does Santiago learn from the Alchemist?
Under the alchemist’s guidance, Santiago learns to communicate with the world around him, eventually leaning into his own supernatural abilities. Thanks to the alchemist, he undergoes a transformation that echoes the nature of alchemy—the transformation of an element into a more valuable one.
What does the Chieftain want from Al Fayoum?
The Chieftain wants to maintain Al Fayoum as a neutral ground, and, as a consequence, his rule is strict. Yet, he believes in dreams and omens. Frey, Angelica. "'The Alchemist' Characters.".
Who is the one who transforms Santiago from a shepherd into a spiritual seeker?
He also gives him a set of stones, Urim and Thummim, that will answer, respectively, yes and no. Melchizedek is the one who, metaphorically, transforms Santiago from a simple shepherd into a spiritual seeker, and is the first character to showcase any use of magic in the novel.
Who is the old woman in the dream of the pyramids?
Old Woman. She is a fortune teller who interprets Santiago’s dream of pyramids and buried treasures in a straightforward manner and makes Santiago promise he will grant her 1/10 of the treasure he is poised to find. She pairs black magic with iconography of Christ.
Who is the crystal merchant?
Crystal Merchant. The crystal merchant serves as a foil to Santiago. A merchant in Tangier with a less-than-friendly disposition, he hires Santiago to work at his shop, which results in his business soaring. His Personal Legend consists of making a pilgrimage to Mecca, but he accepts the fact that he will never fulfil his dream.
Who is the title character in Alchemist?
Alchemist The novel's title character. An inordinately learned man, he lives at the oasis and can turn any metal into gold. The alchemist helps Santiago make the journey from the oasis to the Egyptian pyramids. Fatima A beautiful Arab girl who lives at the oasis.
Who is Melchizedek in The Alchemist?
Aside from Santiago himself, Melchizedek is the most important character in The Alchemist. Crystal Merchant A middle-aged resident ...
What does the Englishman stand for in The Alchemist?
In The Alchemist, the Englishman stands for the limits of book learning. Camel Herder Once a prosperous farmer, his valuable orchards were wiped out by a flood, forcing him into a new line of work. He teaches Santiago the importance of living in the moment.
Where does Santiago Shepherd go in The Alchemist?
Santiago Shepherd boy, the protagonist of The Alchemist. He travels from Andalusia in southern Spain to the Egyptian pyramids in search of hidden treasure, learning life lessons along the way.
What is the crystal merchant's personal legend?
The crystal merchant's Personal Legend is to make a pilgrimage (or haj) to Mecca, but he knows he will never fulfill this dream. He is Santiago's foil, a character who characterizes another by contrast.
What happened to Santiago and the Alchemist?
As they travel toward the pyramids, Santiago and the alchemist are taken prisoner by a tribe engaged in the desert wars. The alchemist bargains for their lives by asking that they be given three… read analysis of The Enemy Chieftan
Where does the Alchemist meet Santiago?
The Alchemist. The title character of the story, the alchemist meets Santiago in the oasis where Santiago’s desert caravan stops to avoid the tribal wars. The alchemist is a mentor for Santiago, and he travels with him… read analysis of The Alchemist.
What happens when Santiago and the Alchemist are taken prisoner by a hostile tribe?
When Santiago and the alchemist are taken prisoner by a hostile tribe, the alchemist barters for their release and uses as leverage the opportunity to see Santiago turn himself into the wind. Santiago then listens… read analysis of The Sun.
What is the goddess of the forest?
The goddess of the forest appears in the brief prologue to the novel, in the context of a story read by the alchemist. In the story, the goddess questions the lake about her weeping, and assumes she weeps for the dead Narcissus .
Who is the merchant's daughter?
The Merchant’s Daughter. The daughter of a merchant to whom Santiago sold some sheep. She is the object of Santiago’ s affections at the beginning of the novel, and he impresses her with his stories. Although Santiago anticipates… read analysis of The Merchant’s Daughter.
Who is the elder chief in Al Fayoum?
The elder chief is the leader of the tribal people living in the oasis Al-Fayoum. Santiago goes to the chieftains with his vision of a future in which the oasis, a supposed neutral zone, is… read analysis of The Elder Chief of Al-Fayoum.
Who is the Englishman?
The Englishman. a British man who has come to northern Africa in search of the alchemist. He has studied alchemy from books, but he wishes to complete the Master Work—the production of the Philosopher’s Stone and… read analysis of The Englishman. Get the entire The Alchemist LitChart as a printable PDF.
How old is the Alchemist?
The Alchemist. The titular character of the novel, he is a scimitar-wielding, black-clad 200-year-old man who lives at the oasis. He believes in learning by doing something rather than reading it.
What does the soul of the world represent in The Alchemist?
Pantheism. In The Alchemist, the Soul of the World represents the unity of nature. All living beings, are connected, and they have to undergo similar processes, as they share the same spiritual essence. Fear. Giving in to fear is what hinders the fulfillment of one’s own Personal Legend.
How long did it take for Coelho to write The Alchemist?
Fun Fact: Coelho wrote The Alchemist in two weeks, and, after one year, the publisher gave the rights back to Coelho, who felt that he had to heal from the setback, which led him to spend time in the Mojave desert.
What is the goal of Alchemy?
Alchemy. Alchemy’s goal was to transform base metals into gold and to create a universal elixir. In the novel, alchemy serves as a metaphor of people’s journeys in pursuit of their own Personal Legend.
What hinders the fulfillment of one's own personal legend?
Giving in to fear is what hinders the fulfillment of one’s own Personal Legend. As we see with the crystal merchant, who never heeded his calling to make a pilgrimage to Mecca out of fear, he ends up living in regret. Alchemy. Alchemy’s goal was to transform base metals into gold and to create a universal elixir.
When was The Alchemist published?
The Alchemist is an allegorical novel published in 1988 by Paulo Coelho. After an initial lukewarm reception, it became a worldwide bestseller, with more than 65 million copies sold.
Who is the main character in the book Personal Legend?
Major Characters. Santiago. Santiago is a shepherd from Spain and the protagonist of the novel. While at first he is content with tending sheep, once he gets acquainted with the concept of Personal Legend, he sets out on an allegorical journey to pursue it.
Where are the secrets of alchemy?
In fact, all the secrets of alchemy exist on the small Emerald Tablet, and these secrets cannot be expressed in words.
What does the symbol "alchemist" mean?
The Alchemist describes the process of turning base metal to gold as equivalent to the base metal realizing its Personal Legend. In the parlance of the book, the metal must rid itself of all impurities to achieve a higher evolutionary state.
Why did the alchemist choose Santiago as his pupil?
The alchemist chooses Santiago as his pupil rather than the Englishman largely because Santiago does not depend on books and reason to understand the world.
Why did Santiago have to rid himself of impurities?
Similarly, Santiago must rid himself of impurities, such as his desire for his parents’ acceptance, his desire to live as a rich shepherd, and even his desire to live with Fatima, in order to realize his own Personal Legend and achieve a higher state.
What is Jonson's stance on the alchemy of the title?
Usage terms Public Domain. Interestingly, Jonson adopts a much more ambiguous stance on the alchemy of the title. On the surface, the con artists' specific choice of cons, as well as the sordid portrayal of alchemy in the play, suggests that Jonson disapproves of alchemical deceptions.
What is the Alchemist about?
There are very few plays from the English Renaissance that modern readers find impossible to put down – but Ben Jonson ’s 1610 comedy The Alchemist is one of them. For centuries, critics and audiences alike have delighted in its sharply drawn characters, its labyrinthine plot, its deftly interlaced imagery and its general brilliance. The antics of Doll, Subtle and Face capture our attention so completely that we almost forget that these are three con artists engaged in highly criminal as well as decidedly cruel schemes. The Alchemist, simply put, is a supremely clever story masterfully told.
What is the name of the play that Doll begins by bullying Subtle and Face?
Doll, who often assumes the most vulnerable, submissive roles in the cons, begins the play by alternately bullying and cajoling Subtle and Face into an uneasy truce – a 'venture tripartite' , as she calls it (1.1.135).
Is The Alchemist a metatheatrical play?
Metatheatricality: The Alchemist as a self-consciously theatrical play. Jonson’s relationship with the theatre was somewhat fraught. Whereas he often seems disdainful of the commonness of the stage, he also clearly revels in the imaginative opportunities it presents him. The Alchemist showcases this ambiguity.
Who wrote the play The Alchemist's London?
Written by Eric Rasmussen.
Is Jonson as nuanced as Shakespeare?
This category seems remarkably unfair, for at the height of his powers Jonson is as nuanced, insightful and witty as Shakespeare. Indeed, The Alchemist ’s long stage history attests to this: the play has attracted sizeable audiences in every era since it was written.
Who is the most puzzling character in Volpone?
And then there's Lovewit, who may be the most puzzling character in the play.
