A quest for self-discovery and knowledge

The Alchemist is a novel that tells the story of an Andalusian shepherd named Santiago who actually has become an inspiring figure for everyone. Those who are afraid of achieving their goals or those who do not even know the aim of their lives can take inspiration from this novel.

Even author Paulo Coelho's parents wanted him to become a lawyer but Coelho wanted to become a writer and he has done so. The protagonist of this novel Santiago's parents wanted him to become a priest but he wanted to explore the world and so he became a shepherd.

Reading books and travelling to many places around the world can make one wise. Santiago, as a shepherd, had been to many places thereby learned a lot from life. He keeps a book with him; a book that gives him company during his journey. One day he saw a Pyramid in his dream. But he was not ready to embark on a journey to Egypt. He rather was going through a phase of infatuation with a merchant's daughter in Tarifa. 

Meanwhile a Gypsy woman tells Santiago about hidden treasures in the Pyramids and encourages him to set off for Egypt in search of the hidden treasure. At Tarifa he meets a mysterious man named Melchizedek. He claims himself to be the king of Salem. He reminds Santiago of his aim of life. 

Santiago was not impressed in the very beginning but when the mysterious man reveals his past, the names of his closest ones; he thinks this man is really someone with something special in him. From Melchizedek he learns the philosophy of life. Melchizedek informs him that everyone stops at a point and thinks that it is not possible to step any further and surrenders to fate. 

Melchizedek reminds me of the horse that reminds the poet Robert Frost of his destiny in the famous poem 'Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening':

"The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
 But I have promises to keep,
 And miles to go before I sleep,
 And miles to go before I sleep."

Santiago also had miles to go before he reached his destiny.
The 'Spoon and Oil' story told by Melchizedek is an allegorical representation of life's journey. The oil in the spoon symbolizes the worldly duties and responsibilities that one must not forget throughout the journey of life. Melchizedek's gift to Santiago during his journey was the two magical stones 'Urimand and Thummim' representing the inner conflict of human life - ("To be or not to be….").

Actually, when someone sees a dream and then thinks he cannot achieve it, the dream dies. Men are afraid of their journey and the obstacles that they might face to achieve their dream. Even when men approach and face some difficulties and obstacles on the way they decide to quit their journey and rest in peace but the protagonist of this novel was not stepping backward even when he was faced with severe hazards, even at the teeth of death. At Tangiers he lost everything. His coins were looted by a thief. He was at a loss to continue his journey. He was sheltered by a merchant who deals in crystal. This man had a dream of visiting Mecca for Hajj. But he remained a merchant and could not set off for Mecca just because he was afraid that he would not be able to make it. He could not do it because he did not do the right thing at the right time. Had he set off for Mecca in his youth for Hajj he could have fulfilled his dream. But he missed a great opportunity. He thinks it was 'maktub' that means, written before. But he did not realize that future is written to be changed.

Santiago throughout his journey meets different people with different languages and culture.  But he discovers the language of the universe and learns that it is the same for all.  The language of nature, the language of the desert, the language of the air, storm--these are the languages of the universe. Santiago reads them and follows them towards his destiny.

Towards the end Santiago meets another mysterious character--The Alchemist, the ultimate guide of Santiago towards his destiny, the Pyramids. The Alchemist possesses 'The Elixir of Life' and 'The Philosopher's Stone'. 'The Elixir of life' symbolizes immortality and 'The Philosopher's Stone' symbolizes wealth--the two most precious things humans run after.  

At al-Fayoum, Santiago finds an Arabian girl named Fatima with whom he falls in love and for a while he thinks that she might be his ultimate destiny. Later he realizes that true love cannot demotivate one from achieving the destiny of life. The Alchemist reminds Santiago that he did not meet the girl in the Pyramids which is his real destiny. 

The Alchemist advises Santiago to listen to his heart for reaching his goal. But Santiago gets confused when his heart sometimes does not permit him to follow his dreams. There lies the inner conflict of every individual. But the Alchemist informs him that the heart does not betray with any one rather it becomes afraid of the consequences or hazards. 

So, a strong will power is essential for every individual to reach the goal of life. Santiago through his journey learns the language of the universe and discovers that we all are parts of the universal soul.

Everyone needs a strong will power to discover 'The Philosopher's Stone' that symbolizes the ultimate wealth of human life and 'The Elixir of Life' that symbolizes immortality. Immortality and wealth are the most precious things that men seek out throughout their life. 

The twist of this novel appears when Santiago does not find any treasure in the Pyramids and this is the point where people lose their hope and surrender to fate, but Santiago's will power, struggle and spirit were too worthy to submit to failure. The readers were given the twist another time at the end of the story when Santiago finds the treasure in Andalusia from where he begins his journey. The readers of this novel are not meant to be disappointed rather they can learn from Santiago's spirit and struggle. 

The reviewer is a Lecturer, Department of English, Victoria University of Bangladesh.