The Alchemist is a positive novel by a well known Brazilian author Paulo Coelho, first published in 1988. It is a well written and simple to read fable except little verbose at places but one would like to finish it in one sitting. The hero of the tale, Santiago, thinks he would introduce one character at a time in a story to make reading easier. The same approach has been implemented in the story. Only three named characters are there, Santiago, Fatima, a love of the hero, and Melchizedek, an old man, the king of Salem. Other characters are the daughter of a dry goods shop merchant, the dry goods shop merchant, the Gypsy woman, the thief, the crystal glassware merchant, the Englishman, the alchemist and few more.
Without mentioning details, the hero as a shepherd, brings up the dream in the beginning of the tale when he spends a night in the small abandoned church. Then he talks some thing else how his father has encouraged his wish to travel with a hope “someday you will learn that our countryside is the best, and our women the most beautiful” [Page 9-10]. He also shows his excitement that he will reach to the girl, the daughter of a dry goods shop merchant, in about four days that she is the one who could make him forget the joys of carefree wandering. But before reaching to the girl he takes help of a Gypsy old woman to interpret his dream. Melchizedek appears voluntarily and shows him a path to a hidden treasure near the Pyramids in Egypt.
A philosophy, reiterated few times, is, “when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it” [Page 23]. “When you play cards first time, you are almost sure to win. It’s beginner’s luck. It whets your appetite with a taste of success.” [Page 30]. The author believes in youth’s courage. The help from universe is possible in young age only because young people know their destiny. Everything is possible because they dare to dream and do everything to accomplish the dream. But when they become older, a negative force influences them that they have no control and their lives are controlled by fate. It is mentioned as the world’s greatest lie. A statement is also available that people are capable of doing what they dream at any time in their lives.
An example of an old person is given as the crystal merchant who believes in “Maktub”, fate, it is written. He has been in the same place for thirty years and thinking it is too late for him to change anything. His dream of going to Mecca is differed by putting a head earning. He knows his dream and also knows the people who are less fortunate than him have realised the same dream but he does not want to fulfil it by saying its dream.
Another example of the young baker is given, he chooses to buy bakery first and decided to follow his dream of travel after sufficient savings.
A small story of giving up early that resulted in broken stone-emerald has been mentioned to demonstrate importance of perseverance in achieving a dream. Another small story is given in support of secret of happiness; enjoy surrounding while enjoying work, “see all the marvels of the world and never forget the drops of oil on the spoon” [Page 34].
Some events show frustrations are also a part of the journey. The hero’s soul fallen silent when the merchant inform him even working for an entire year may not enough to get to Egypt. He wishes he had died because no hope and no treasure. In this frustration he has decided to work to buy some sheep instead of finding the treasure.
The hero wins heart and trust of the crystal merchant by proactive acts. He cleans the crystal glasses and builds a display to attract customers. The sales of glasses also increase by his innovative idea of serving tea in the glasses. It shows importance of proactive acts by which one can change the circumstances/outcomes in favour.
Some events are also available to show there are always hurdles in achieving your dreams as one is being constantly subjected to tests his/her persistence and courage. The hero becomes victim of a thief in the first step towards the treasure. In the morning he was a shepherd, owner of a flock of sheep and optimistic to meet the daughter of the merchant. But in the evening he was crying in a strange land because he lost his money (he has received by selling the sheep) and lost hope to discover the treasure. It seems the beginner’s luck is no more working. Another hurdle was delay in search of the treasure due to tribal wars in the desert. But it turns into a blessing because he falls in love with Fatima during this time. Fatima becomes more important than his dream of treasure.
He wants to stay at the oasis because of his own fear that he may never come back to Fatima. Fatima and the alchemist convinced him that true love makes you strong not weak. Fatima told him she wants him to pursue his dream of treasure. The alchemist takes him on a scenario if he stays back and does not follow the dream: he will initially enjoy with Fatima by ignoring omens about the treasure; then after few years Fatima will be unhappy as she will feel she interrupted his pursue, although, she never asked him to stay; he will be a rich merchant but will spend rest of the life thinking it’s too late to achieve the treasure. “You must understand that love never keeps a man from pursuing his destiny. If he abandons that pursue, it’s because it wasn’t true love” [page 126].
Everything in life has its price. He agreed to pay a part of the treasure to the Gypsy woman to interpret the dream and paid a flock of sheep to the king for showing a path to the treasure. The treasure was there in the sycamore in the sacristy of the small abandoned church, Andalusia countryside, Spain from where the hero has started the journey for the treasure to Egypt. He lost the money in the beginning at Tangier port of Africa. He worked about a year in the crystal merchant’s shop. He joined a caravan to Al-Fayoum, Egypt, travelled the unpredictable desert taking detours. He suffered three days under the threat of death. Even while digging for treasure he had been threaten by refugees. After facing many problems, learning and discovering many things, he came back at the starting point in the church and acquired the treasure.
A philosophy “when we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better, too” [page 158] described using hero’s example who turns out to be a good disciple of the alchemist. Alchemists discover the Soul of the World, the Philosopher’s Stone and the Elixir of Life. The principal that governs all things is called the Soul of the World. A small silver of the Philosopher’s Stone can transform large quantities of metal into gold. The Elixir of Life cures all illnesses and keeps the alchemist young. The hero gathers information about alchemists from the Englishman and his book. He learns from the alchemist how to listen his heart. He understands forces of nature and discovers the Soul of the World under the fear of death.
A strength provider force like love, motivation, moral support, encouragement, good omen and fear was always there to help him in following the dream. First encouragement he received from his father to fulfil his travel wish. Affection for the daughter of the merchant brought a little excitement and uneasiness in his carefree life. Interpretation of the dream by the Gypsy woman and the path showing help from the king encouraged him to follow the dream. A moral support of the king and good omen he felt through the stones when he lost his money. Again he felt presence of the king through the stones when he earned enough money to buy sheep and considered to go back Spain. It inspired him to think that he can always go back to being a shepherd, could always become a crystal salesman again but will never have another chance to get to the Pyramids. Fatima and her love motivated him to follow the dream. The guidance, support and accompany towards the way to the Pyramids from the alchemist provided strength to him. The fear of death helped him to discover the Soul of the World. Does it mean not only courage but support in a form of love, motivational words etc. are also required to fulfil a dream? Are these strength provider forces help from entire universe?
Looking forward for the author’s new novel “The Winner Stands Alone”; the author’s comments on it are available at here.
Posts
