The Alchemist Review - Week 9

 

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Review

 

“When you really want something, all the Universe conspires in helping to achieve it”. Effortless words spoken have never been more true. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, is a captivating read that challenges you to think beyond your contained realm. This book possesses you to envision  your own personal legend and the possibilities of what your life could be with a little sacrifice, motivation and hope. Coelho’s story focuses on a Shepherd boy, Santiago. Santiago had a recurring dream of a treasure among majestic pyramids in Egypt. This treasure he dreamt of was later brought to his attention by several strangers among a village that he often visited with his sheep. These strangers, a gypsy fortune teller and an ancient King, Melchizedek, would send Santiago on a journey where he would find love, defeat, hope and discover a language without words. Santiago’s faraway journey leads him across a desert encountering all walks of humanity. It is Santiago’s journey and although he had guidance from an Alchemist and people of the desert, it was up to him to complete his journey. He was the deciding factor in his own fate. To turn back to the life that he knew? Or to follow through to the unknown with hopes of finding his treasure.

 

A part of the story that captivated me was when Santiago put complete faith and trust in a stranger he met in a bar. This stranger was going to help Santiago in pursuing his journey by buying a camel and leading Santiago across the desert. Santiago gave all of the money he had from selling his flock to this boy, this stranger that was going to help him. The stranger lead Santiago out of the bar and lost him in a crowd of merchants in the village’s circle. The stranger took everything and ran. Santiago was left with absolutely nothing but the clothes on his back and his stones Urim and Thummim. The stones that Melchizedek had given him as guidance. Santiago slept on the street and awoke with strength. That was not going to stop him or be the end of him. He was going to continue on with his journey regardless of the strangers actions. He could not let the stranger define who Santiago would be in his own life. He pushed forward with nothing and eventually succeeded. It was inspirational to read.

 

What I loved most about this book was the beauty within the message Coelho was sending. The realization that if we let go of the now that we all live in, we can become our own perfection. Coelho instills that we will get knocked down and we will want to turn back but if we rise to the occasion and pursue whatever it is that will become our personal legend, the end result is the treasure. There was nothing I didn’t like about this story. The underlying messages and words spoken from various characters throughout the book were of wisdom, of strength and courage. Fatima, a woman of the desert that Santiago falls in love with, simply says that she is a woman of the desert and Santiago must continue on with his journey regardless of how much they love each other. She will be waiting for his return. Another hidden message. Let love go and if it is meant to be, it will return to you.

 

After reading The Alchemist several times, I have already recommended this book to a few friends. I believe the story is clever and entertaining but the hidden messages within the book can help anyone who feels stuck in a Ground Hog like effect in their lives.  This book, I feel, would be inspirational and helpful to many of us who wake up wishing we had more.



 

 

 

 

A Story of Life

(The Alchemist)

 

A shepherd lay amongst his sheep.

An old Church shelters above.

A captivating sycamore tree in his sight.

And visions that would give him a shove.

 

A personal legend pursued.

A boy entertaining his dreams.

His path to his own perfection.

Sacrifice was part of the scheme .

 

The journey to his treasure

In which he saw in his sleep

Would test the limits of his character.

From a boy to a man he would leap

 

Befriended by several strangers

With tall tales of the desert’s sound.

A glance from a woman in the oasis

Would compel him to stick around.

 

An Alchemist became his ally,

His mentor and his close friend.

Encouraging the boy to push forward.

Leaving love would not be the boy’s end.

 

The boy pressed on his journey.

Leaving love as the Alchemist advised.

This woman was a woman of the desert.

Her love returning would be her prize.

 

The boy reached the majestic pyramids.

The destination where his treasure lay.

Brutality was all he found.

Much to his dismay.

 

After the beating was over

The thief would solemnly speak.

His dreams of treasures under a Sycamore tree

Lead to disappointment and were only for the weak.