The Alchemist:
As Langston Hughs says, ‘hold fast to dreams for if dreams die, life is a broken winged
bird that cannot fly’, Paulo Coelho endures this spirit of celebration of life is his book ‘The Alchemist’ and blends it perfectly with mystery, suspense, omens, spirits, and a magical ambience to reminds us of daring to dream and dreaming big. In Coelho’s own word it is a ‘magical fable about following your dream’.
In Coelho’s book the protagonist Santiago discovers his treasure after going through a journey which is full of hard times. Santiago is a shepherd who while taking his flock out falls asleep in a church. There he dreams that he has gone to Egypt to visit the pyramids and that he would find fortune there. This dream leads to a journey to Africa. On his way he encounters a lot of trouble with his money stolen. But never for one moment does he entertain the idea of quitting and going back. He also finds the love of his life Fatima during the course of his traumatic and turbulent journey. But absolutely nothing is able to stop him from following the light and going towards the unknown.
Coelho’s writing develops suspense in a manner which is spellbinding and throughout the novel one wonders whether Santiago will be successful or not. The book especially becomes irresistible towards the end when Santiago reaches the pyramid. As Santiago stands facing the pyramid a shocking event take place where he is attacked by some inhabitants. This event is about to leave conclusion in the mind of the reader that Santiago’s search for treasure is over when suddenly the turning point of the novel takes place. Just as when Pandora opened her box and with all the troubles emerged Hope similarly in Coelho’s book when the inhabitants attack Santiago he tells them that he had taken the trouble of this journey only to follow his dream that he would get treasure. Listening to this one of the attackers starts laughing and says that even he dreams that one day he would find treasure in a church. He describes the church and Santiago realizes that his effort has not gone a waste. He knows where exactly his treasure is! That is the most beautiful part of the story for hope floats all over again and dream conquers over the practicality of existence. Coelho’s book is a realization of celebration of human spirit.