Subject, reader comments, summary: analysis of the alchemist’s book

We all go on a dream-filled journey when we fall asleep. In a dream, we sometimes go to different places, see different people and try to achieve different goals. Good dreams or bad dreams, when we open our eyes we realize that they are not real. What if what we see in a dream comes true? For something you saw in a dream, would you drop everything and chase abstractions?

This is exactly what the character Santiago mentioned in the book does and decides to go after the treasure he saw in a dream. Written by Paulo Coelho in 1987, the allegorical work was completed in exactly two weeks. When you understand that the journey in the book is actually a journey within ourselves, you will understand why the work was written so quickly.

The Alchemist, with a total of 188 pages, has been translated into 26 languages ​​and published in 42 countries. If you’re ready to embark on this journey that has touched the souls of over eight million readers, let’s take a look at the book together.

alchemical theme

The protagonist of the book, Santiago, is an Andalusian teenager who lives with his mother and father. Under pressure from his father and mother, Santiago receives a religious education and decides that he does not want to be a priest. Whenever Santiago falls asleep under a fig tree, he dreams of a little boy calling him to a hidden treasure.

This treasure is in the Egyptian pyramids and Santiago decides to go to Egypt. After telling his family that he wants to hit the road, our character drops out of school and goes to the pyramids.

As the character progresses on his journey, he unconsciously experiences an inner development. After all, the real treasure awaits Santiago.

Summary of the alchemist

Santiago is very impressed with his dream of treasure and tells his family that he will go after the treasure. The character’s father gives him some money and asks him to buy a lot. Santiago takes his herd and goes on an adventure.

At the start of the adventure, he meets the old King of Salem. After telling the king what happened, the king offers to buy Santiago’s herd. Santiago sells the herd to the king and takes two enchanted stones from the king. One of the stones is black and the other is white. By stating that the white stone means “Yes” and the black stone means “No”, the king tells our character that he should use them when he finds himself in a difficult situation.

Following the king’s advice, Santiago meets an Arab along the way and unfortunately forces the man to steal all of his money. Left penniless, he starts working for a crystal merchant and stays there for about 6 months.

Having accumulated enough money, he decides to go on a journey and meets an Englishman along the way. The Englishman, who says he is looking for an alchemist, goes with Santiago and takes him to the alchemist. The Alchemist gives Santiago advice and tells him to move on. The character then meets a girl named Fatima and falls in love with her. Despite the fact that he faces many difficulties, our character after a while reaches the place that he saw in a dream. With tears of happiness, he begins to dig where the treasure is buried. A few hours later, covered in sweat, Santiago realizes that he has already reached his true treasure. The character who suddenly opens his eyes realizes that he is sleeping under a fig tree and that it is all a dream. When he looks back, he sees that there is a treasure in the ground he dug in his dream. Click here to view and purchase the book.

Analysis of the Alchemist’s Book (What is the book trying to tell?)

The book should emphasize that the treasure is within us. Everyone has a treasure, and it is possible to reach this treasure only with wisdom and calmness. The ability to listen to your inner voice and have the courage to change is truly the path to treasure.

This is where character development begins when Santiago learns that he must make his own decisions while traveling, using the words “Yes” and “No”. We need to know how to say yes or no, always listening to our inner voice.

The real treasure is stealing a character on the road, working for 6 months, falling in love, getting a lot of advice from an alchemist, and exchanging ideas with an Englishman. It is not the end of the path that is important, but what you add to yourself along the way.

Our character completes his character development by going on a dream journey and realizes that he is a real treasure. The language of the book, written very philosophically, is simple, but the metaphors are heavy.

alchemist book reviews

“This is an inspiring book with a fictional and fantastical story. He argues that every life that arises in this world has a purpose. Our goal is to find and work to achieve it.”

Message from: @MrPersonne

“This masterpiece made a huge impression on me. It seemed to me that the book takes on a human body and gives me advice.

Message from: @furcandemirell0

excerpts from the book

“Things make more sense when people are happy.”

“Then why should I listen to my heart? Because you will never be able to silence him.

“People love because they love. Love has no excuse.”

“If you can always live in the present, you will be a happy person.”

“I am just like everyone else. I look at the realities of the world not as they are, but as I want them to be.”

You may be interested in:

Topic, Summary, Reader Comments: Brave New World Analysis

Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize Winning Work: An Analysis of To Kill a Mockingbird

Ray Bradbury’s classic dystopia: Fahrenheit 451 book review