Historical Roots

Literary alchemy originated from is scientific counterpart, an ancient practice which focused on transmuting impure metals, like lead, to gold, and creating a philosophers stone (a legendary substance that was believed to be the elixir of life). Upon our entrance to into a class required during high school - chemistry - we were told how Chemistry was derived from this ethereal practice known as alchemy. This leads many people to have the misconception that alchemy is dumb chemistry. But this assumption is false because alchemists were not solely concerned with the purification of the metal, but that of the soul as well.

The alchemists efforts in changing lead to gold were based on the premise that he, as well as the subject, will go through the same types of changes and purification's as the materials he is working with. This was considered possible because it was believe that the metal being worked with and the alchemists we not separate from each other, but rather that they were in a relationship, and as the metal transformed the alchemist would go through similar transformations. Historically there was an Arabic alchemy, a Chinese alchemy, a Kabbalistic alchemy, as well as a Christian alchemy, each one differing superficially with respect to their spiritual traditions, but in every one the alchemist was working along with science to advance their spiritual perfection.

So how does this obscure science relate to literature? Well actually it's not so obscure, and it is the underlying method of creating some of the greatest works of literature largely due to William Shakespeare. Alchemical efforts were such commonplaces in England during his time period that he, as well as his peers, recognized that stage drama was essentially alchemical. If we are all watching what's going on stage and everything is working as it is supposed to then the object-character dissolves and goes through changes similar to metals, then we, as the audience should identify with them and pass through changes in accordance to theirs. They started purposely integrating alchemical imagery and language in their dramas, thus creating literary alchemy.

This stream of English literature would go on to run through the next five centuries of poetry, stage work, stories, and novels. You may not have recognized it, but it's a big part of things you have either viewed or read. Some well-known pieces that contain this underlying structure are Charles Dickens Tale of Two Cities, JK Rowling's Harry Potter series, and Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games.