"What's the world's greatest lie?"
"It's this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That's the world's greatest lie."
Paulo Coelho's, The Alchemist, is a true masterpiece. The novel depicts the journey of a young Andalusian shepherd, Santiago, on his way to find his Personal Legend. For two nights, Santiago encounters the same dream, illustrating a young girl showing him a path to a treasure at the foot of the Egyptian pyramids. This is his Personal Legend, and throughout the book, the boy travels and meets many figures in order to find his treasure.
Coelho describes the Personal Legend as a goal somebody can regard fulfilling; however, the book emphasizes that not everybody can embrace this Legend since what "makes a dream impossible to achieve" is "the fear of failure." The Alchemist attacks the theme of pursuing one's dreams and following the heart's desires, acting as a metaphor to life, and the limited opportunities we have. Through Santiago's adventures, he meets two important figures: a King, and an Alchemist. They both teach him invaluable lessons.
The first lesson is from Melchizedek, who claims to be the King of Salem. In their encounter, he urges Santiago to continue following his Personal Legend in order to achieve true happiness. He sees Santiago's sheep and takes several of them. The flock symbolize an existence blind to their Personal Legends. Despite the unconditional love Santiago has for them, he expresses in a veiled way how his animals only yearn for food, water and nothing else. The King convinces the boy to focus on finding happiness, and not stray off his path.
The second lesson is from the Alchemist, who Santiago meets in the desert on his way to the Pyramids. The Alchemist teaches the boy the importance of believing in himself and trusting his heart. He shows Santiago how to connect with the Soul of the World – an interconnectedness between living and nonliving things that have a divine connection. Meanwhile, his profession and performance in alchemy paints a strong parallel to Santiago's mission. The Alchemist describes the process of turning metal into gold as if the metal were realizing its Personal Legend. For Santiago, he must do the same, and release the impurities of himself in order to realize his own goal. He must eradicate the desire for an affluent lifestyle as a shepherd, and his yearning for acceptance among others. "Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure."
All said and done, The Alchemist is a great book full of meaningful metaphors and images similar to the problems we face in today's society. I thoroughly enjoyed each page of it, as I found the simple yet beautiful writing very impactful. The novel has taught me lessons no other book or human can, which is why I hope that someday, everyone will find this treasure and read it. It is a 10/10 from me.
