The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, a Brazilian author, is an allegory about transformation that happens in one’s life though following one’s dreams and the spiritual journey of finding one’s identity and purpose. The story follows an Andalusian shepherd boy’s journey from Spain and across the desert of North Africa to the pyramids of Egypt in search of a treasure he dreamed of.
He was expected to go into the priesthood by his parents, however he decides to become a shepherd and wander the countryside. Through this backstory Coelho shows how Santiago is one who follows his own path in life, and we learn how important it is not to let the expectations of others turn one from realizing their destiny.
Along his journey Santiago encounters a king, a crystal merchant, and an Alchemist. The King encourages Santiago to start his quest for his purpose that he envisioned in his dream. The crystal merchant taught him about regret that comes from not pursuing one’s purpose and the Alchemist was an ancient sage that helped reinforce these lessons and guide Santiago towards fulfilling his purpose.
The Alchemist teaches him about the “soul of the world” that binds together all of nature. According to the novel, the Soul of the World has created a purpose for everything and to achieve this purpose each thing must tap into the Soul of the World which purifies it. This continual purification ultimately leads to perfection. The notion is that all things ultimately strive towards one purpose and each thing has its own path and all of nature conspires towards helping one find its purpose.
The pantheistic world view dominates the theme of the novel. Alchemy is an ancient branch of natural philosophy that teaches base metals can be transmuted into “noble metals” like gold. The perfection of the human body was thought to result from the alchemical magnum opus “great work”. Alchemy is a blend of chemistry, medicine, and philosophical religious themes. Ancient Alchemy’s theme is consistent with the pantheistic view that God and the universe are one in the same.
The Alchemist is an interesting read, it flows well and can be easily read in one sitting. It has some themes that can be useful to anyone, such as we all have a purpose that should be pursued, and we will all encounter obstacles in the journey to realize that purpose. It also gives insight into themes that have become popular in today’s culture like the “law of attraction”. I do not necessarily agree with the pantheistic view that God and the universe are one and the same. I am more of a monotheist that believes the creator and creation are separate and God is personal and not simply part of the nature of things. Even though the novel leans more towards the pantheistic viewpoint I believe this allegorical work has valuable lessons to teach about perseverance, persistence and patience and the importance of finding one’s purpose and destiny and working towards fulfilling it.