Discourse analysis of “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho

Abstract

The study investigates the relationship between literature and religion by interpreting the religious and cultural symbols of an international creative work which is “The Alchemist” by the Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho. The study scrutinizes the Islamic, Christian symbols, the mythological effects and heritage of people which contributed to framing the discourse of the novel. 

The study also strives to implement the analytic, descriptive and contrastive approaches which help fulfill its objectives along with the symbolic analysis of the prominent narrative elements that the writer made use of in the process of building his universal novel and religious philosophy.

The study came up to framing the most prominent elements of the religious discourse and the elements of using Islam, Christianity, the Arabic intellectual contributions to the novel and uncovering the image of the Arab/Muslim.