eval science of transforming rock into gold, allegorically to symbolize the spiritual alchemy of Santiago achieving his Personal Legend. Initially Santiago is far from clear about what an alchemist is, but he senses the imperative toward personal transformation: "To realize one's destiny is a person's only real obligation," says the king of Salem (Coelho 22). The artifacts of alchemy accrue gradually: Umim and Thummim, references to the Philosopher's Stone, indeed the fact that Santiago's journey is to Egypt. The origins of alchemy have been traced to a kind of mythological fusion. Lindsay explains that many early writings and experiments by alchemists in Egypt, Greece, and Persia were attributed directly to Hermes. In Greek cosmology, the god Hermes, who had multiple and diverse cosmic was considered the source of knowledge; hermetic writings were secret except to the elect. The figure of Hermes Trimegistos has been described as the triple title for "the all-knowing revealer . . . Greatest and Greatest God and Great Hermes." Hermes Trimegistos is identified with the Egyptian god Thoth, 'whom every god invokes, of whom every demon is afraid . . . inventor and initiator of magical means and magic writing'" (Lindsay 166-172 passim). That same figure is associated with "belief that all substances are the result of a developmental process and are thus capable of undergoing transformation" (Lindsay 186). From that concept to attempts to transform base metals into gold is a short step, although the operative concept is one of transformation. It is the latter idea that dominates The Alchemist.
Transformation seems hardly likely for Santiago. His home is Andalusia, that part of Spain that was conquered by the Moors and later reconquered by the Christians. His situation is quite humble, in that he is a shepherd rather than an artisan. Nothing in Santiago's background suggests tha
...