My OperaThe Alchemist. Paulo Coelho
Tuesday, October 23, 2012 10:25:20 PM
What is the book about?
Santiago has his future decided for him by his parents. They want him to be a priest. He however has plans of his own. He wants to be a traveler and to achieve this, he becomes a shepherd traveling with his flock all year round and during such trips, he usually sold wool from his flock to farmers. It was on one such trip that he met the beautiful daughter of the farmer to whom he was immediately attracted. He intends to make his intentions known to her on his next visit come the following year.
It was during the next year’s trip that Santiago had a certain dream twice at an abandoned temple where he had lodged with his flock. He seeks the meaning of this dream and finds that the location of hidden treasure somewhere close to the pyramids of Egypt has been revealed to him.
Santiago decides to pursue this treasure which he later comes to accept as his destiny. However, there are unforeseen encounters and quandaries that threaten to derail him from pursuing his destiny.
My Impressions
This is a fairly simple novel that I didn’t find particularly exciting. It wasn’t very eventful and often left the reader unaffected. My major qualm though is the fact that the book is replete with New Age philosophy (which is generally a conglomeration of theologies).
Throughout the book, a lot of reference is made to biblical passages and characters giving it a misleading quasi-biblical approval. One classic example was the king that Santiago met at the beginning of his journey. This king introduces himself as Melchizedeck, King of Salem (Gen.14:18). Another one of many other biblical reference made in the book is that of Pharaoh’s dream (Gen. 41). Several references are also made to Allah and the Qu’ran. Fatima (a young lady Santiago ultimately falls in love) in talking about some of the men who become deceased in their often perilous travels with their caravan says, “They become part of everything…they become part of the Soul of the World”, which is reference to a belief in Hinduism. Again, the Alchemist (the man who eventually guides Santiago in his quest) says to him, “And everyone who interferes with the destiny of another thing never will discover his own”. This is clear reference to Karma.
It is this eclectic conflation of ideas and beliefs especially those steeped in Eastern Mysticism that I found worrying given that these are often in sharp contrast to the Bible and I surmise the Qu’ran. I admit that this skill is a plus for the author given how he successfully combines these beliefs in the story but what makes this disturbing is that, one may inadvertently end up absorbing and believing some of these pleasing yet misleading philosophy.
Again, endless reference is made to the “Soul of the World”, “omens” and “Language of the World” which can only be perceived through the senses and must be honed if Santiago is to discover the hidden treasure. The Alchemist defines Alchemy saying, “It is about penetrating the Soul of the World, and discovering the treasure that has been reserved for you”. Santiago further affirms this after learning to better perceive this Language of the World saying, “So that everyone will search for his treasure, find it, and then want to be better than he was in his former life”. In advising Santiago to pursue his destiny, the Alchemist tells him to “Listen to your heart…” because it was his heart that will tell him where the treasure was hidden but Santiago knows better and admits to the Alchemist that “his heart is a traitor…” Here, I agree with Santiago as the human heart is “deceitful than all else and is desperately sick” (Jer. 17:9) thus It is unreasonable to trust it. For the Christian, his trust is only to be in God and his revealed word.
Yet the book wasn’t all bad. At least, one could glean some good life lessons like learning to follow your dreams in spite of obstacles which often come as family ties and other love relationships. Even here, I wonder what wisdom is in pursuing a dream to the detriment of loved ones?
Maybe, you can tell me what you think if you have read it but for me, the book reads like a beginners guide to New Age teaching.
Santiago has his future decided for him by his parents. They want him to be a priest. He however has plans of his own. He wants to be a traveler and to achieve this, he becomes a shepherd traveling with his flock all year round and during such trips, he usually sold wool from his flock to farmers. It was on one such trip that he met the beautiful daughter of the farmer to whom he was immediately attracted. He intends to make his intentions known to her on his next visit come the following year.
It was during the next year’s trip that Santiago had a certain dream twice at an abandoned temple where he had lodged with his flock. He seeks the meaning of this dream and finds that the location of hidden treasure somewhere close to the pyramids of Egypt has been revealed to him.
Santiago decides to pursue this treasure which he later comes to accept as his destiny. However, there are unforeseen encounters and quandaries that threaten to derail him from pursuing his destiny.
My Impressions
This is a fairly simple novel that I didn’t find particularly exciting. It wasn’t very eventful and often left the reader unaffected. My major qualm though is the fact that the book is replete with New Age philosophy (which is generally a conglomeration of theologies).
Throughout the book, a lot of reference is made to biblical passages and characters giving it a misleading quasi-biblical approval. One classic example was the king that Santiago met at the beginning of his journey. This king introduces himself as Melchizedeck, King of Salem (Gen.14:18). Another one of many other biblical reference made in the book is that of Pharaoh’s dream (Gen. 41). Several references are also made to Allah and the Qu’ran. Fatima (a young lady Santiago ultimately falls in love) in talking about some of the men who become deceased in their often perilous travels with their caravan says, “They become part of everything…they become part of the Soul of the World”, which is reference to a belief in Hinduism. Again, the Alchemist (the man who eventually guides Santiago in his quest) says to him, “And everyone who interferes with the destiny of another thing never will discover his own”. This is clear reference to Karma.
It is this eclectic conflation of ideas and beliefs especially those steeped in Eastern Mysticism that I found worrying given that these are often in sharp contrast to the Bible and I surmise the Qu’ran. I admit that this skill is a plus for the author given how he successfully combines these beliefs in the story but what makes this disturbing is that, one may inadvertently end up absorbing and believing some of these pleasing yet misleading philosophy.
Again, endless reference is made to the “Soul of the World”, “omens” and “Language of the World” which can only be perceived through the senses and must be honed if Santiago is to discover the hidden treasure. The Alchemist defines Alchemy saying, “It is about penetrating the Soul of the World, and discovering the treasure that has been reserved for you”. Santiago further affirms this after learning to better perceive this Language of the World saying, “So that everyone will search for his treasure, find it, and then want to be better than he was in his former life”. In advising Santiago to pursue his destiny, the Alchemist tells him to “Listen to your heart…” because it was his heart that will tell him where the treasure was hidden but Santiago knows better and admits to the Alchemist that “his heart is a traitor…” Here, I agree with Santiago as the human heart is “deceitful than all else and is desperately sick” (Jer. 17:9) thus It is unreasonable to trust it. For the Christian, his trust is only to be in God and his revealed word.
Yet the book wasn’t all bad. At least, one could glean some good life lessons like learning to follow your dreams in spite of obstacles which often come as family ties and other love relationships. Even here, I wonder what wisdom is in pursuing a dream to the detriment of loved ones?
Maybe, you can tell me what you think if you have read it but for me, the book reads like a beginners guide to New Age teaching.
