Jul 19, 2004 09:21 PM
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(Updated Jul 19, 2004 09:44 PM)
Inside every older person is a younger person - wondering what the hell happened.
anonymous
The Alchemist
On his return from an official trip, my husband kept a book on the table and told me, ?Read this. Its your type. You?ll like it?.
I was curious to know what type I belonged to and whether I could prove him wrong about me. It was a thin book. I read it at one go.
And sat thinking.
Yes, it was definitely a book of my type and it touched me instantly.
Paolo Coelho?s The Alchemist is the story of a young boy named Santiago who lived in Spain. He studied Latin, Spanish and Theology and his father wanted him to be a priest. But Santiago wanted to see the world. To him, ?knowing the world was much more important than knowing God and learning about man?s sins?. He told his father that he wanted to travel.
?Amongst us, the only ones who travel are shepherds?, said his father.
?Well, then I?ll be a shepherd!?
Santiago buys his flock of sheep and sets off on his journey to explore the vast unknown world. He is perplexed by a dream that keeps coming back to him. He visits a gypsy woman who explains the meaning of his dream. He is to come upon a hidden treasure at the foot of the Pyramids of Egypt! More out of curiosity than for love of wealth, Santiago follows his dream with relentless zest. On his way, he learns to read the language of omens and to interpret the signs that guide one ahead.
Santiago travels from the hills of Andalusia in Spain to the deserts of Tangier in Africa to the Pyramids of Egypt in pursuit of his dream. His various encounters and experiences reflect the magical uncertainties of life and the art of carving a dream out of them. Santiago finds the treasure at last but not before an interesting twist in the story! I will not expose the surprise but let you discover it for yourself!
Through the boy, we learn the effortlessness of positive attitude that is so akin to children but is unfortunately lost in the process of growing up. It is an age old concept presented brilliantly through the innocent wisdom of a shepherd boy We see how the boy strikes a balance between striving to realise his dream and accepting the failures of his life. We see how destiny pulls him across but there is also the promise that if a desire is strong enough, then ?all the world conspires in helping to achieve it?!
The main attraction of this book is its simplicity. True to the subject, the language is poetic tinged with the fragrance of fresh soil. The philosophic message in the book comes alive with simple wisdoms of life strewn through its pages. It has a magical quality to inspire and elevate one?s spirit. It teaches us to be as humble as a child and listen to the heart, learn from nature and gain happiness in the ups and downs of life. For, whatever happens in life carries a meaning, and the secret of decoding its mystery is to have faith in life itself!
The book drags a bit towards the end, especially when the boy and the alchemist set off for the Pyramids and is accosted by the tribesmen and their military leader. The event of the boy?s turning himself into wind is too far fetched and perhaps the weakest part of the book. But the symbol of the alchemist is remarkable. True, it is a gift to be able to burn the mundane metals of life like an alchemist and attain the two great wonders?the Elixir of Life and the Philosopher?s Stone. The first makes us immortal and the latter turns a metal into gold! The word ?alchemist? is therefore a symbol. That there is a real alchemist in the book is a coincidence to strengthen the main theme. The concept of Urim and Thummim is equally fascinating and the fact that Santiago uses them only once throughout the book goes to show that the author believes in working towards one?s chosen goal instead of depending on fate.
Yes, The Alchemist is a book I loved because it contains the story of hope, aspiration and the undaunted spirit of man. It tells us of Maktub (fate) and destiny, luck and coincidence, symbols and omens with the naivety of folklores. The Alchemist is worth every line of its 177 pages and I strongly recommend you to read it if you are an idealist at heart with a faith in the meaning of human existence!
Every Oak tree started out as a couple of nuts who stood their ground.
Anonymous
