Free Will In The Alchemist

The Alchemist is about a young boy from Spain by the name of Santiago. He went on a journey to pursue his personal legend. While on his personal legend he gains knowledge from the experiences and feels love with a girl he met. At the end of the journey, Santiago gets 2 types of rewards. One tangible and one un-tangible. The rewards he got were knowledge and love and he also got gold. He only realizes this at the end of the journey when he reaches the pyramids. He finds out the actual treasure is at where he started.

I thought that this story was short but it did not end in a cliffhanger like other books. I think The Alchemist is about believing whether life has free will or it is a pre-determined destiny. While reading this

book, it really does test your mind to its greatest by questioning reality. Do you have a choice in your life or is everything already planned out for you. I personally think it’s free will but this is only MY opinion. I thought the book could have a sequel or at least continue for at least another chapter. I wanted to know whether Santiago and his relationship with Fatima. Since, he went back to Spain to get the treasure, how will it affect his relationship with Fatima? I also would like to know more if he repays the lady who interpreted his dreams because she is a gypsy and he fears gypsies. There also wasn’t a lot of information about Santiago’s appearance so it did make it easier for readers to imagine what he looks like. I like books like that, we can put ourselves into the character’s shoes and imagine what he sees.