THE CONCEPT OF «FATE» IN P.COELHO’S' NOVEL «THE ALCHEMIST»

ABSTRACT

The article explores the concept of «fate» in Paulo Coelho’s novel The Alchemist, emphasizing its artistic and philosophical dimensions. The author presents fate not as a fixed path, but as a journey shaped by personal choices, inner voice, and the pursuit of one’s Personal Legend. The study also highlights the cultural and cognitive interpretations of the concept of fate, illustrating its variations across cultures. By analyzing symbolic elements and the novel’s core message — «When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it» — the paper sheds light on the relationship between fate and free will. This research aims to deepen the understanding of how literature can express universal human values such as belief, persistence, and personal growth.

Keywords: Fate, Personal Legend, free will, symbolism, destiny, dreams, self-discovery, inner voice, Coelho, literature.

«The Alchemist»  is a work that has become a global bestseller. Through this novel, the author narrates each individual’s journey in discovering their Personal Legend and the struggle to fulfill it by listening to their inner voice and following the path set by destiny. In this sense, the concept of fate presented in the novel is not only a literary image but also serves as the structural and ideological core of the entire work [1]. This concept is not just part of the author’s creative worldview but also appears as a universal category that guides the reader toward self-discovery.

Nowadays, the growing demand for works focused on spiritual exploration, inner harmony, and personal development further highlights the relevance of this topic. Especially among young people, issues such as believing in one’s dreams, finding one’s path, and striving toward destiny without simply relying on it remain pressing. Therefore, analyzing the concept of fate in The Alchemist is not only a literary study but also a matter of great spiritual and moral significance. This is what makes the topic of this article relevant.

The goal of this research is to explore the artistic and philosophical dimensions of the concept of «Fate» in Paulo Coelho’s novel «The Alchemist». The study focuses on the importance of symbols and dreams in the story and aims to reveal the connection between fate and free will.

Today, the term «concept» is one of the central notions in linguistic studies. This idea is examined not only in linguistics but also in psychology, philosophy, logic and cultural studies. According to scholar А. Qaidar, a concept is a system of meanings in the consciousness of an ethnic group, referred to as the «World of Language» [2]. Meanwhile, Zh.Mankeyeva associates this notion with textual pragmatics, the language of literary works, discourse, and linguistic personality theories. R. Syzdyq analyzes concepts through their linguistic representation and emphasizes the expressiveness of words. In her view, each word carries a hidden meaning and has the ability to create an image. This phenomenon is described through the notion of the «thematic field.» In general, a concept is a complex cognitive structure that reflects national identity and worldview. For this reason, it remains a significant subject of research in contemporary science. Analyzing scholars’ views, it becomes clear that a concept forms different understandings depending on a nation’s culture, religion, and language. This makes it a unique structure that expresses the worldview and essence of each nation through languagе. In general, a concept is a reflection of a certain concept in language, culture and consciousness [3]. It defines the way of thinking of the people, characterizing National knowledge and worldview. Therefore, the study of the concept problem remains relevant in linguistics and other fields of science. N. Uali emphasizes the difference between the concept and the concept. According to him, if a concept is a set of essential features of a particular object, then a concept is a set of all knowledge about that object.

A concept is a meaningful structure that belongs to a certain culture and language community. It is connected to specific words, symbols, associations, and images. According to scholars, a concept is a system of knowledge, understanding, and emotions stored in a person’s mind. It helps people group and process ideas through their language awareness. A concept in the mind goes much deeper than just the basic meaning of a word. For example, the concept of fate is interpreted differently across cultures [4]. In Western cultures, fate is often linked to personal success or material wealth, while in Eastern cultures it is connected to spiritual balance and harmony with nature. These concepts are not only about vocabulary meanings — they also include emotional, psychological, and cultural aspects.

In Paulo Coelho’s novel «The Alchemist», the concept of «fate» is described in a deep and philosophical way. In this story, fate is not something that is fully written or fixed. Instead, it depends on each person’s choices, decisions, and willpower. Even though people do not know what will happen in the future, they begin each day with hope. The freedom to choose is a person’s greatest treasure. Because the future is unknown, life becomes meaningful, exciting, and valuable. Every action we take is a result of the choices we made before. If everything was already decided, life would lose its meaning. That’s why a person must try to make the right decisions and follow their personal mission in life. Coelho expresses this idea through the term «Personal Legend» [5]. It is each person’s life goal, dream, and their journey to reach it. The main character, Santiago, is a shepherd from Andalusia. He could have spent his whole life looking after sheep, but he chooses to follow the voice of his heart and go on a journey to find his dream. His journey is not only a physical one, but also a spiritual search and a path of self-discovery. Every choice Santiago makes, every challenge and victory he experiences, brings him closer to his fate. He gives up a comfortable life and steps into the unknown to find himself [6]. One of the key ideas in the novel is the phrase: «When you want something with all your heart, the whole universe helps you to achieve it.» This shows the importance of belief, courage, free will, and persistence in following a dream. Fate is a chance given to a person, and reaching it depends on the choices and actions they take.

In «The Alchemist», the image of the Alchemist represents a teacher and wisdom on the path to discovering fate. His conversations with Santiago describe a person’s spiritual growth. The stones Urim and Thummim, which help solve mysteries and guide people toward the right choices, symbolize the importance of eternal life and faith. These symbols and dreams are signs of the concept of fate. Dreams are the key to understanding one’s Personal Legend. The boy’s dream about the treasure, which he sees not once but twice, becomes the reason for his journey to find his fate. Ignoring dreams means ignoring fate. One example of this is the crystal merchant, who always dreamed of going on a pilgrimage to Mecca, which every Muslim should do at least once in life. Even though he imagined the journey and touching the sacred stone many times, he never took action. He lacked the courage. This shows what happens when people don’t follow their dreams. This event helps Santiago understand that he must follow his own dream. Signs are the language of the universe — they guide people through intuition and direct them toward their destiny. The key to understanding these signs is listening to your inner voice. Signs are like secrets of life: if we understand their meaning, we get closer to our goal. Understanding signs means knowing yourself and living in harmony with the universe.

When a person chooses their path, they are responsible for the results of that choice. Fate is not only shaped by outside forces — it is also built through our own actions and decisions. Every day and every choice helps us understand the meaning of life. What is happening in our life today is the result of the decisions we made yesterday. If we were not free to choose, life would lose its meaning. That is why every choice we make is very important. In Coelho’s works, there are several key aspects of understanding fate:

First aspect – trusting the voice of the heart. A person can find their true path only by listening to their inner self. This means paying attention to inner feelings, trusting that voice, and applying it in life. Coelho believes that only those who follow their heart can find true happiness.

Second aspect – overcoming fear. Many people are afraid to change their fate, but to live a full life, one must overcome fear and believe in their own strength. Coelho suggests that defeating fear and believing in ourselves is the way to face life’s difficulties.

Third aspect – every challenge has meaning. The characters in the novel face many hardships, but these experiences help them grow and find their destiny. Every difficulty in life brings new opportunities and lessons, so it is important to overcome them.

In Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, the concept of fate is closely connected to personal belief, actions, and choices. The author does not show fate as something fixed, but as a path that can be shaped by the individual. This idea is relevant because achieving any goal or success in life depends on a person’s beliefs, actions, and intentions.

As a result of this work, the following conclusions were made:

The artistic and philosophical foundations of the concept of «fate» were systematically analyzed through the content and structure of «The Alchemist».

The concept of «fate» in the novel was explored and interpreted.

References:

1. Жиренов С.А. Когнитивтік лингвистика. – Алматы: Жазушы, 1976. – 264 б.
2. Степанов Ю.С. Константы: Словарь русской культуры. Опыт исследований. – М.: Академический проект, 1997. – 824 с.
3. Аханов К. Тіл білімінің негіздері. – Алматы: Санат, 1993. – 496 б.
4. Ильясова Н.А. Тілдік бірліктердің коммуникативтік-танымдық мәні: ғылыми монография. – Алматы: Нұр-Диас, 2017. – 328 б.
5. Амренова Р. Қазак дүниетанымы әлеміндегі «тағдыр» концептісі // ҚазҰУ хабаршысы. Филология сериясы. – 2009. – №3 (119). – Б. 59–64.
6. Coelho P. The Alchemist. – New York: HarperOne, 2014. – 182 p.