Magical realism is a form of literature described by Stephen M. Hart (305) as evolving within Latin American cultures, focused in part on the attempt to understand the reality of one's existence within a world that is chaotic and from which one can be disconnected. Paul Coelho's (135) The Alchemist fits within this genre and features a travelling shepherd boy who tells the Alchemist he encounters that
"My Heart Is Afraid that it will have to suffer," the boy told the alchemist one night as they looked up at the moonless sky." Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself". The text has been criticized for its use of clichés drawn from earlier and more profound and moving works within the genre of magical realism (May 1) and lauded for its ability to evoke a mood that transcends its internal textual clichés (Hart 206).
The magical elements of the quest undertaken by the text's protagonist are readily apparent in the following statement: "I'm not afraid of failing. It's just that I don't know how to turn myself into the wind" (Coelho 145). As noted by May (1), however, the book-length fable (as this is) is difficult to master "for it must simultaneously exhibit a naïve simplicity that speaks to children and be grounded in a universal wisdom that appeals to adults." The problem with Coelho's book, in the view of May (2), is that the plot and the characters of this story are classically familiar - too much so, thus eliminating any sense of surprise when the reader learns (as I did) that the secret to happiness lies within the self and not within the external world.
On the other hand, Hart (305) believes that despite its clichés (the coming-of-age and travel adventure in search of identify), this book is very appealing. This is because there is a distinct "cultural bi- or trifocalism" that makes it a valuable addition to the magical realist genre, particularly for younger readers....