The Alchemist: Defining Islam and Arabs Through Defaming Dr. Abbas Abdulmalik Mohammed Mutahar (1) Dr. Mujeeb Ali Murshed Qasim (2)

Abstract

This paper scrutinizes Paulo Coelho's novel The Alchemist (1988). It sheds light on the serious and hazardous relationships between the Western and Eastern Worlds. These relationships are full of stereotypes which are dependent on ancient orientalist generalizations and simplifications which mostly show Muslims as fanatics and irrational, and Arabs as primitive, barbaric, violent and aggressive. Hence, this paper provides a critique on the authenticity and accuracy of the Orient's fabricated images and distorted notions presented in Coelho's novel The Alchemist (1988). This paper includes an introduction, two sections and a conclusion. The first section tracks down the history of Orientalism from its first emergence until the 9\11 attacks on the USA. The following section provides an oriental analysis for some of the images and scenes found in The Alchemist. The paper concludes that The Alchemist is a real example of a neo-orientalist piece of literature that still shows the Islamic East as the Western dangerous ‘enemy right door’ and it, then, can never be considered reliable in presenting the Islamic East.

Key Terms:

The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho, Orient, orientalist, neo-orientalist