Magical Realism and The Alchemist

Every once in a while, you read and revisit books that spark a splinter of motivation and open the door to a thousand dormant thoughts in the mind. One such recent read for me, was the modern classic- “The Alchemist.”

This is a book written by the Brazilian author Paulo Coelho in 1988. The book was originally written and published in Portuguese. An international bestseller which has been translated to 70 languages worldwide. This book has sold over millions of copies for its highly inspirational, awakening and life changing content. The theme is about finding one’s purpose in life and that is what makes it such a ubiquitous read. The style reads simply yet contains powerful emotions, interesting and deep characters, plots twists and inspiring wisdom

The story is about a Spanish shepherd boy named Santiago from the hills of Andalusia. The story, dazzles in its powerful simplicity and soul-stirring wisdom.??

The Spanish boy Santiago is haunted by a recurring dream about hidden treasures that are lying in the pyramids of Egypt. A fortune teller interprets the dream as a prophecy. He finally decides to undertake a journey to follow his dream after meeting an old king who offers him magic stones and advice. Santiago crosses the Mediterranean and Sahara to find his treasures in Egypt and accomplish his personal legend which is his purpose in life.

The book details his journey and the various encounters that he experiences when following his dream. Throughout the journey, Santiago meets many new people and faces a lot of difficulty which ultimately helps him to learn and grow the entire way. He moves from hopeless to hopeful and back again throughout the story. He even meets Fatima, love at first sight, in a massive desert oasis. His quest, coupled with the magical realism genre left me with questions. But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasure found within – the fine line between reality and the spiritual- a convergence that struck a chord with me.

The Alchemist is a fantastic book, and the storytelling is lucid and keeps you involved at each stage. It shows that the journey to your destiny is as important as the destiny itself. I love how the book emphasizes on the importance of faith, hope and spirituality through intelligent use of allegories and the story of an ordinary boy.

The author weaves into the storyline multiple sage concepts which a philosopher could ponder for years on. Insightful ideas about one’s own destiny, about rising above failure, are all things Coelho pens into the comparatively simplistic diction of the text. The story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts.

The book's main theme is about finding one's destiny. The advice that was given to Santiago ("when you really want something to happen, the whole universe will conspire so that your wish comes true") is the core of the novel's philosophy and a motif that plays throughout it.

Rich, evocative, and full of awesome quotes about being, the story of Santiago is a real (and slightly magical) representation of the transforming power of our dreams, whether real or imagined, people in our lives and the importance of listening to our hearts.

Some memorable quotes from the book:

• ?“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”?Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
• “It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.” ― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
• “There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.” Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
• “We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity.” ― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
• “Your Personal Legend is what you have always wanted to accomplish. Everyone, when they are young, knows what their Personal Legend is." Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

If you are reading the book, here are a few questions to ask yourself to truly interpret the ideas presented in the book-

1.?????Paulo Coelho once said that alchemy is all about pursuing our spiritual quest in the physical world as it was given to us. It is the art of transforming the reality into something sacred, of mixing the sacred and the profane. With this in mind, can you define your Personal Legend? At what me in your life were you first able to act on it?

2.?????Did you notice the circular theme? Santiago ended up where he started to find the treasure? Do you think he will return to Fatima and complete another circle?

3.?????Many of the wise people that Santiago meets are really old. What does this tell you about wisdom in The Alchemist? What do young people have to offer?

4.?????Do you think that it's a good idea to use The Alchemist as a self-help book, applying its lessons to your life? Why or why not?

5.?????Where did you think the treasure was while you were reading? Did you think it existed? Would you follow visions and innuendos form others to find your “treasure”?

The Alchemist ultimately supplies insight and inspiration that extends beyond Santiago’s Sahara and into all lives, whether young, old, or teenage. The Alchemist may not be a regular fiction book, but it most definitely still deserves a place on your bookshelf like it does at mine!