Dreams, destiny, symbols, signs and adventure are core elements readers divulge into upon reading “The Alchemist.” Paulo Coelho refers to realizing one’s “Personal Legend” as pursuing one’s dream. There is a path destined for each of us that leads to fulfillment. In other contexts, this might be referred to as Nirvana. Omens or signs are laid along the path that guides us to the sought destination.
The Plot
The novel tells the tale of Santiago, a Spanish shepherd boy, who had a recurring dream about finding a treasure in the Pyramids of Egypt. A gypsy woman and an old man claiming to be a mysterious king urged him to pursue the vision. The old man reiterated to him that “when you want something, all in the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
Therein, Santiago sold his flock of sheep and traveled to Africa. Unfortunately, a thief stole his money, so Santiago took a job with a crystal merchant. After working there for a year, Santiago earned enough money to buy a new flock of sheep and conveniently return home. At the last minute, Santiago decided to risk it all and join a caravan to Egypt.
In the caravan, Santiago met an Englishman who seeks a renowned alchemist. The Englishman told Santiago about the Soul of the World to which we are all connected, and of the necessity of following our heart's desire or our Personal Legend. When they arrived in the oasis, the home of the Alchemist, Santiago met Fatima with whom he immediately fell in love. Santiago, thinking that love was the treasure he was looking for, considered staying in the oasis with Fatima, but the Alchemist urged him to pursue his vision.
Santiago continued to the Pyramids and was attacked by robbers. Asked what he was doing there, Santiago told them about his dream. One of the robbers laughed at the idea, and told him that he had the same dream, except that the treasure was buried in a tree in Spain. Santiago then realized that what he was looking for is back home, where everything started.
The story ends with Santiago digging at the base of the tree where he had his first dream. He found a trunk full of gold, and decided to return to Fatima. By the end of the novel, it was stressed out that the treasure was the journey itself, the discoveries Santiago made, and the wisdom he acquired.
Review
A short and light read, “The Alchemist” is one of those books that will make you feel like life is vivid again. The novel is profound, yet simple, bursting with optimism. It stimulates a sensation that everything is possible, when we direct our mind to it.
The novel mainly reveals the courage to follow dreams, for if not, one may be doomed by emptiness and dissatisfaction. The Alchemist captures the psyche of man who sacrifices fulfillment to conformity; who knows he can achieve his desires but shies away due to fear of loss and defeat. I am enthralled by the idea that “the secret of life is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.”
Destiny is another mystery pointed out in the novel. It was interesting how twists and challenges were woven, which all took part in leading Santiago to the treasure. This makes me contemplate that everything that happens in our lives are part of a big plan. We may not understand how or why, but eventually, all these will lead into something grand.
Another point that captures me is the ending thought that the destination is just a part of the prize; it is the journey that counts the most. For those that are bound in monotony and conformity, The Alchemist is a good fictional motivation.
:)
15 comments:
Yes, for those depressed in their life. (yung mga bored and sawa na) this is a good novel. Light reading. Sometimes those you would like are those things people would laugh at you or those for some foolish dreams. EVER HEARD THE TERM SERENDIPITY? Its like that.
Now for my question:
1)Do you think there would come a time you have time to move on with this book? Pardon pero our org Ex Libris made a talk (I didn't read the novel so spoilers) on this. Its really a good motivational book but the professor that made the talk (A Philo prof) said to us its like a kick to greating things. Pangstart sa buhay and pwede ibigay sa iba (Have read it and its good).
2) To DARLEEN in particular, do you those Alchemist moments? Yung parang gusto mo ibinibigay ng kusa ng Diyos o ng pagkakataon ng walang effort? Ako kasi minsan di ko lang napapansin. I DON'T SEE THE SIGN.
3) Last na lang seryoso. Another prof who used a feminist perspective criticized it for portraying girls as stationary. Walang chance magtravel unlike Santiago. Do you think (as a girl) its unfair?
Good day. :)
^ 2) Do you have those Alchemist moments? Share na lang ng example sa iyo.
the version i got online has a prologue which irked me, then i looked up other versions and there were no prologue. meron ba talaga? still not finished with it though.
-aria
Ate I read it through online also. The Pilgrimage is the one I have na hardcopy.Yes there is a prologue.
Musta na kayo ng RL mo? Para bang Alchemist moments?
I like this book because of its mala "pursue your happiness" na mantra. When i read this book nung high school i remember extolling my friends to follow their personal legend. We have less "regrets" in life if we follow out personal legend. The ideal na situation is for us to-without fail- follow our personal legend at all cost. But we are falliable and to follow your personal legend is easier said than done. One of the things i like sa book ay yun pinakita nya na we do go astray sa ating journey but we can always redeeem ourselves and geto back on track.
Don
On a somewhat tangential na note, do you guys believe in predistination? How do we find out our personal legend?
Don
Hey Walking Poet! Long-time-no-talk! hehe :D
Para sa iyong mga katanungan:
1. Hindi ko maunawaan kung bakit ikokonsidera ang magmove-on sa ideya na ibinahagi sa libro. Mukhang wala namang masama sa konsepto ng pag-abot ng pangarap. Otherwise, wouldn't it be satirical / ironic to seize realizing dreams? (if that is what you mean by moving-on) In short, di ko gets. hehe. Paki-elaborate yung "kick to greating things" :P
2. I somehow believe in Predestination na nabanggit ni Don. Yun bang lahat ng nagyayari sa atin ay parte ng plano ni God, and the least we can do is trust Him. Tulad ni Santiago, may mga hinihiling tayo sa Kanya, and it's our choice kung ippursue natin ang paghahanap ng signs na magllead sa gusto natin, or we can remain passive (i.e. Santiago could have just returned to being a Shepperd).
Siguro ay kailangan lamang ng konsentrasyon sa paghahanap at pag-internalize ng mga signs. Minsan, kapag snet mo yung mind mo sa kagustuhan na maintindihan ang gusto ni God, sasagutin ka nya sa iba't ibang paraan.
Sabi nga sa bible, "You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart."
3. Re girls being stationary: maaring hindi naman siya nag-aaply. Tignan mo na lamang si Au na kung saan-saan na naglakbay (kahit pa mag-isa) sa kagustuhan nyang mag-travel. haha. Sa tingin ko, if traveling is part of realizing a dream, it has nothing to do with gender.
Meron sigurong factors like family (to which girls are more bound) na icnonsider si prof mo. Pero, is traveling part of those girls' dreams? Maybe their personal legends impel them to be stationary. Trip-trip lang yan. haha. Boys can be stationary too, when they do not have the means not to be, or when they are scared, or too lazy. :P
Tama nga si Don, it is easier said than done. :(
agree with dar in number 3!!! kanya kanya lang yan. unless the book explicitly said na gusto mag-travel ng female characters pero hindi ideal iyon sa isang babae
I guess thats' one of the main points of the story- breaking away of stereotypes and moving out of our comfort zone to do what we think is our personal legend. Santiago chose to leave the "comfortable" life of a shepherd to go to Egypt, along the way he met a series of unfortunate event but in the end everything turned out fine. But the book is emphatic to stress that the journey is more important than the destination-something that we should keep in mind when we ourselves follow our own personal legend
1) First question.Ang sabi kasi ng prof na naglecture dun, for beginners talaga.Pang encourage na magphilosophy.After that bout of depression, move on ka na.Magbasa ka na kasi may gana ka na sa buhay. Time for serious business ganun.
Ganito na lang:
Are you willing to part it or do you think you needed it pa (the book)?Or willing to share it to anyone who needed it more.
-marvin
Dar agree din ako sa comment number 2 mo! Oks na perspective sa tingin ko ang pagtingin sa personal legend na somehow linked sa ating spiritual na journey din :)
Don
wow ang dami daming points.
1. marvs, do you mean na nakaka depress yung libro? it forces you to look at your life, encourages you to seek philosophy to find meaning, pero eventually you have to move on and put all the things you learned into action? at dahil nakaka-depress ang libro, nailalagay ka sa isang dilemma tulad ng dilemma ni santiago dun sa baker (ibabahagi mo ba sa ibang tao yung learnings mo sa book para ma-uga ang stability nila, pero eventually ma-eenlighten sila; or hahayaan mo na lang sila sa masaya pero unfulfilling nilang buhay)?
personnally di ko kailangan yung libro, or hindi pa. mas malungkot kasi ang sitwasyon ko kay santiago. di pa dumadating ang recurring dream ko, or, wala pa akong nare-recognize na personal legend. so, kailangan ko ito bilang motivation pagdating ng personal legend ko.
in terms of sharing it, oo, perfect timing nga rin kasi may aunt akong nag-retire. nagwork sya for family all her life, at nag iisip ako ng motivational book na ibibigay sa kanya, at voila! dumating ang the alchemist. so, baka may personal legend syang hindi pa nafu-fulfill at malamang nakalimutan na nya (tulad ng baker), pero baka magising iyon through this book.
2. predestination. di ako naniniwala. :) share ko lang, walang intelligible input.
3. dun sa sagot ni dar sa number 3, regarding sa attachment ng girls sa family: sa tingin nyo ba mapu-pursue pa rin ba ni santiago yung dream nya kung may family involved? masyadong madali kasi e. wala syang mother na pinapakain, etc. kahit yung crystal merchant, na pinakitang pinili ang hindi pag pursue sa dream nya, walang factors tulad ng responsibility na na-consider.
kahit kasi yung attachment nya kay fatima, hindi naman ma-consider na critical yun, or hindrance sa dream nya. so madali para kay santiago na habulin ang dreams nya.
favorite parts ko sa libro: yung sinabi ng merchant yung dream nya about being a pilgrim to mecca. effect siguro ng exposure ko sa fanatism ng mga muslim sa media, kasi pag sila yung nagde-declare ng belief nila kay Allah, naniniwala talaga ako. para kasing way of life talaga nila ang religion at parang napa-sincere ng mga declarations nila about God.
2000 years ago siguro I would feel the same way about the Christian martyrdom, and a few hundred years back, about the Jewish loyalty to Yahweh.
so para sa akin, na enhance yung libro sa paggamit nya ng muslims sa kwento.
next fave part, yung kinausap ni santiago ang desert, wind at sun para gawin syang wind. natuwa lang ako. pag may display kasi ng natural power, usually chants or incantations ang ginagawa diba. super cool lang na conversational ang exchange naganap between santiago and the elements at that moment.
last question: may pag asa ba si santiago at fatima? mukhang isang strict religious sect ang mga tao sa oasis. christian si santiago, i-aallow ba syang pakasalan si fatima (or nag-avoid na naman ng conflict ang author para magmukhang madali lang ang flow ng buhay para kay santiago-naglast ang beginner's luck nya hanggang sa end.
^ OK guys let's put a historical info.Medieval age yun setting. Spain was actually a WAR ZONE between the Muslims and Christians.And sadly, the name of SANTIAGO (Saint James) were despised by the Muslims.Butcher daw.Patron saint ng Spain.
Ah yes I don't believe in predestination PERO sometimes, some things are just out of our control.Life is a mystery.That's why its fun to live.Surprising.
@ Dar.Di siya depressing.It makes you travel to try another things again.I have that Alchemist moments too.Elementary near sa Laoag, High School sa Batac. College sa UP in QC. Post-graduate(I will miss UP), might be another school.
Please talaga let me visit Bicol. Sino taga Bicol?Never been there. Sheena? Nakausap ko kapatid mo.SWS na pala.LOL. Pa-aapply.
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