Matt McNeill
THE ALCHEMIST
“And,
when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve
it.”
The novel The Alchemist describes the journey of a
shepherd boy in his quest to find something greater. This book is filled with
thought provoking lessons that will undoubtedly touch the reader and make them
think, such as following one’s dreams and trusting in oneself. The reading
provides a spiritual experience which will surely leave the reader feeling
enlightened and thankful for a solid read.
The novel by Paulo Coelho was published in 1988, originally
written in Portuguese as the writer is Brazilian born. Coelho, an
unconventionally brought up writer with dark moments in his life, has a
complicated history; at one point, even, he was admitted to a mental institution
by his parents in an attempt to help his ‘introversion’. As a result, his style
is said to be thought provoking and inspiring, as seen in a previous writing The
pilgrimage. This theme also plays through and can be seen in The
Alchemist.
This book begins with a
young shepherd boy named Santiago who has a recurring dream which interests
him. In his dream, he is told to go to the pyramids in search of treasure.
Santiago soon seeks advice and begins his journey to find his treasure. Along
the way he meets many people, and at times is met with opposition.
Santiago and the people he comes in contact with share influence
from each other, proved by the growth in character of Santiago as he continues
his journey. He learns to trust in himself and follow his dream to complete his
journey. He also experiences a spiritual deepening as he seeks to understand
what forces drive the world.
The plot of the story, a boy on a journey for
treasure, may not seem entirely original. However, this does not take away from
the experience. The many lessons on faith and trust that ensue will captivate
the reader and give a desire to keep turning pages. The geography in which the
story takes place also gives a broad culture base where the reader can uncover
and dig into new characters and backgrounds. This allows readers with various
interests and curiosities to stay attached to the book throughout the entire
story. Being so captivating, it does a great job of depicting messages and
lessons.
The Alchemist shares lessons
with the reader and contains similarities with other works in terms of
structure. A boy’s journey through unknown circumstances and desire to go on is
similar in ways to the work of Elie Wiesel's Night or popular
film The Life of Pi.
This novel, while the most well-known of the author, can be seen
as very similar to Coelho’s work immediately prior to The Alchemist.
His book The pilgrimage also is said to contain messages and
lessons which reveal the authors own symbolic journey through life.
Upon finishing this
novel, the writing will stick with the reader. This overarching lesson of faith
proves inspiring for anyone seeking it.
This novel suits anyone looking for a work of
spiritual inspiration, a gripping tale of adventure, or simply a good story.
The inner workings are better understood by adults as opposed to children, and
thus would be more enjoyed by those. However, as a student nearing graduation,
I also appreciate the journey based on leaving what is known and following your
own desires in order to find something greater.
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