Ryan ChartrandSimple, short and beautifully written, “The Alchemist” is a book about following your dreams. Through the eyes of a young child, author Paulo Coelho shows his readers the importance, difficulty and possibility of achieving lifelong goals.
The protagonist, a young boy named Santiago, has spent the latter part of his childhood as a shepherd wandering throughout the land of Andalusia.
Wanting to the travel the world, he has gone against the wishes of his parents, who have spent their lives saving money for him to go to a seminary. Still, the boy holds on to his desire throughout his adolescence.
When Santiago is troubled by a recurring dream, he goes to a Gypsy to find its meaning. The dream is about a shepherd boy who is seeking a lost treasure. The Gypsy interprets the dream’s meaning, telling Santiago that he, too, is meant to find a treasure, and that he must begin his journey. The message from the Gypsy, along with the wise encouragement of an old king that he meets, pushes Santiago in his quest to reach his goal.
The theme of holding on to a childhood dream through the endless travails of life drives the story forward. Throughout the novel, some characters try to dissuade Santiago from finding his treasure, known as his “Personal Legend,” and distract him from his mission. Still, he continues on his path.
We learn the basis of the title after Santiago’s encounters with the Gypsy and the king. At this point in the story, he decides to join a caravan headed toward an oasis in the desert of Andalusia.
With the caravan, he meets an Englishman who has spent two decades in search of a true alchemist. Santiago realizes that part of his personal mission is to meet a true alchemist.
During the long journey, Santiago reads some of the Englishman’s seemingly endless stack of alchemy books, learning about the intricacies of the trade. Finally, the caravan reaches the oasis, the supposed home of the alchemist. However, before he is finally found, Santiago and his companions face more difficulties.
The book is similar to other recent (and not-so-recent) books in its focus on an individual’s quest to realize a dream. Where it differs is in its simplicity. “The Alchemist” is told as a fable, with minimal characters that take on roles representative of larger issues. What it lacks in length, it makes up for in depth.
The book’s mythic storyline is intriguing and uplifting, making it an inviting and encouraging read for people of all ages. It is enjoyable from start to finish, never focusing on the negative for very long.
Because of its brevity and overall simplicity, the book is a great option for the hectic last few weeks of school, when you really should be studying, but want to take a little break for some reading.
There’s nothing new about the content; the story is timeless, but the setting and characters are new. “The Alchemist” presents the time-old concept of pursuing dreams in a new way, while keeping things simple and enjoyable.