Destiny, Omens, Voice of your Heart . Review on The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho

A boy named Santiago

Destiny, Omens, Voice of your Heart these are the essential themes of The Alchemist by the Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho. The book has been praised, appreciated, lauded so much by most that I am afraid of writing about it, but write I will. It has an awesome history since publication in terms of readership and number of copies sold, translation into almost all the languages (42) of the world! The story aims at teaching the reader, as only few can, about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning to read the omens strewn along life’s path and above all following our dreams and believe in destiny. If you dream of finding a treasure follow your dream and destiny will take you to your goal! Well the book talks a lot about destiny, and omens.

Santiago learns about his destiny

This magical story of destiny, omens and treasure hunt is told through Santiago, who lives in Spain. He is an Andalusian, shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure as extravagant as any ever found. From his home in Spain he journeys to the markets of Tangiers and into the Egyptian desert, where a fateful encounter awaits him. In his home country, he has a big herd of sheep and is happy living with the herd and communicating with the animals. He has a dream of finding a hidden treasure and in quest meets a Levanter gypsy woman to know where and how to find the treasure. She does not charge Santiago any money for her advice but takes his promise for a certain percentage of the treasure when he finds it! But more interestingly meets an old man, sitting on a bench in a market square. The old man reveals that he is a king and is wearing a plate of gold studied with precious stones on his chest. He also gives him sermon regarding destiny and finding treasure. He tells him that the hidden treasure is near the pyramids in Egypt. Listen to your heart, treasure near Pyramids. Not only that he gives him two stones; one white called Urim to signify no and a black stone Thummim which tells yes. Santiago makes use of the stones to observe/read the omens in his long and eventful travels. Santiago sells his herd and by selling earns enough money to go on his hunt for the treasure.

Santiago decides to travel to the desert

Andalusian is a coastal place and one gets boats to Tangiers. He bought a ticket and embarked on his journey. Reaching there his first experience was that of meeting a cheat who robbed him of all his money by promising to arrange for his journey to Egypt. He then worked in a shop of antiques, giving the owner useful suggestions which increased his sales substantially. He worked in the shop for some months and saved enough money to embark on his quest for the pyramids. Paul Coelho describes this journey through the desert in some detail with anecdotes. Two of these are interesting and significant. One is Santiago meeting an alchemist. In reality there are no alchemists as base metal cannot be turned into gold. But this one does so and gives some to Santiago too. Besides, he also preaches the philosophy of life, wind Sun and sand. Their lives in the desert revolve around these three elements. Water is scarce. He also comes across a very big oasis where there is a large settlement and again meets some wise men.

Santiago meets Fatima

He cannot move on because fighting is raging between tribes. But he meets Fatima and both start loving each other. Fatima expressed the feeling that no reason was needed for loving. They agreed to marry. Every time something momentous happens he takes out the stones, given by the king, see the omens. Fatima told him that all men have to go for war or for earning and women have to remain behind and so he should also carry on with his quest. He moved on to find his treasure. He reached the Pyramids after a long and arduous journey through the desert.

Santiago returns to Spain

He returns to Spain Returning to Spain and to the old church. On digging finds treasure; Spanish gold coins, gold masks and precious stone studded stone statues and so many other artifacts..

This remarkable tale described as the most magical of all journeys, the quest to fulfill one’s destiny is quite readable. But to my mind destiny, listen to your heart, omens, search for unknown treasure are somewhat incongruent, to my mind anyway. Each one is unto his own beliefs and destiny.