Lead turning into gold. Beggars turning into learned "doctors." Prostitutes turning into insane scholars. Butlers turning into captains.
Yup: The Alchemist has it all when it comes to transformation. In fact, the entire plot hinges on the idea that we're all suckers looking for a little magic in our lives—that's why people pay good money to be swindled by conmen that can offer them hope.
But there's also a meta idea of transformation in The Alchemist: the idea that a big room, some fancy lighting, and some dudes dressed up in face paint can make you believe in an entire other world. Perhaps the most magical transformation of all is the transformative nature of the theater.
Questions About Transformation
- Who life is most transformed by the events that unfold in The Alchemist?
- Does this play make a distinction between "good" transformation and "bad" transformation?
- Which character believes most in the power of transformation? Why?
Chew on This
Every transformation in The Alchemist is symbolic of the transformative power of the stage.
Ben Johnson believes that a belief in religious transformation is the most dangerous belief there is.