The Alchemist- 2

8/7/2019 The Alchemist- 2

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THE ALCHEMIST

Group 2

Abhinandan T.S.Brassart JulienDeep NarulaPankaj MishraSharat ChanderVikram Singh


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OUTLINE OF THE BOOK


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Prologue: Narcissus becomes a Flower

The Alchemist (who appears much later in the narrative) findsa book which tells the tale of Narcissus Narcissus fell in love with his own image, which he saw reflected in a

lake. He spent days just looking at the reflection in his lake

One day he slipped and drowned. A flower grew where he fell, andthe plant was known as the Narcissus

The lake wept for Narcissus. It turned into a lake of tears.

But it turns out, that the lake never noticed that Narcissus wasbeautiful. The lake could see its own reflection in the eyes ofNarcissus. That was all that mattered to the lake. That was why thelake wept for Narcissus.

Comment The Prologue is disjoint from the narrative. But it brings up the

theme of selfishness, that is central to the book.

Is it possible to pursue personal desires, and live a good life?


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Part-1a: Santiago: The Shepherd Boy

Wished to travel. Took his fathers leave to do so.Becomes a shepherd. Owns a jacket to keep himwarm, and a book which can be traded.

Resting at a church with a Sycamore, in theSpanish region of Andalusia. Is infatuated with amerchant girl in a nearby town. But is alsotroubled by a recurrent dream, whichencourages him to travel to the Pyramids to findhidden treasure.

Its the possibility of having a dream come truethat makes life interesting


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Part 1b: The Old King and The

Interpreter of Dreams At the next town, Santiago seeks out an old woman who

interprets dreams. She tells Santiago that treasure awaits him at the Pyramids, and

demands a part of the fortune as her fee.

In the Town Plaza, Santiago meets an Old King whoencourages him to follow his dream.

God has prepared a path for everyone. You just have to readthe omens he left for you.

The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world,

but never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon Comment

The secret of happiness resonates with the Prologue: Is itpossible to chase ones deepest desires, and yet live a good life.


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The Old King Speaks

There is only one thing that makes a dreamimpossible to achieve: the fear of failure. (TheOld King)

At a certain point in our lives, we lose controlof whats happening to us, and our livesbecome controlled by fates. Thats the worlds

greatest lie. Whoever you are, or whatever it isthat you do, when you really want something,all the universe conspires in helping youachieve it.(Melchizedek, the Old King)


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Part 2a: Maktub: It is written

The Crystal Merchant dreams about going to Mecca. Santiago justwishes to buy sheep. Santiago helps turn the business around.

Less than a year later, Santiago has earned enough to leave. Heencourages the merchant to follow his dream of Mecca.

But for the Merchant, two things are Maktub: He will not go to Mecca Santiago will not buy sheep

Santiago decides to join a Caravan to Egypt

Comment Santiago overcomes his first setback. But his conversations with the Crystal

Merchant reveal the theme of Universal Language. A code that all things of theUniverse, animate or inanimate, must follow.

Santiago begins to realize that there exists a Universal Current of Life. Hunches,Omens and Intuitions offer glimpses into the same. If interpreted well, they showus the Maktub: Its all written there.

Santiago believes that the series of events in his life are not mere coincidences,but omens that he is nearing his Personal Legend.


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Part 2b: The Alchemist, and Fatima

The caravan reaches an oasis. A co-traveller,the Englishman, has told Santiago that anAlchemist lives there.

Unknown to Santiago, the Alchemist has readthe omens, and knows that a disciple isarriving on the caravan. The caravan is forcedto halt at the oasis due to a huge tribalconflict.

But first, Santiago meets Fatima and falls inlove with her.


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Part 2b: Fatima and the Second Challenge

Santiago so far thought the war was a curse. Now he thinks it is ablessing. He wants to marry Fatima, and settle at the oasis. ButFatima encourages him to find his treasure.

As he contemplates his dilemma, Santiago sees an omen. He

warns the oasis about an impending attack. The attack is foiled,and the Alchemist now knows who his disciple is.

The Alchemist, having rejected the Englishman, seeks outSantiago, and reminds him of his dream. He tests Santiago, andfinds him fit for tutelage.

Comment

The second challenge is not Santiagos prediction of the attack. Thesecond challenge is the dilemma between living with Fatima, andpursuing his dream.

You must understand that love never keeps a man from pursuinghis destiny. If he abandons that destiny, its because it wasnt truelove. Love that speaks the Language of the World.


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Part 2c: The Third Challenge

The alchemist, impressed with Santiago, agrees to guide him to thePyramids. They are captured by a tribe, and suspected of spying.

The alchemist proclaims Santiago as a man of extra-ordinary powers. Hesays Santiago will transform himself into the wind in 3 days. Once again,at the doorstep of the Pyramids, Santiago is fearful. The alchemist tellshim to overcome his fears, so that he can listen to his heart.

As the tribe watches, Santiago speaks in turn to the desert, the wind andthe sun, seeking their help. Finally he turns to the hand that wrote all.He becomes the wind. Santiago has learned the Language of theWorld.He earns his freedom.

Comment

Having talked at length about pursuing and achieving ones dream, the authornow reveals why it is important to do so: No matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history

of the world. And normally, he doesnt know it.


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Part 2d: The Pyramids

At the Pyramids, the boy is attacked by

robbers, who steal his possessions.

As they leave him, one of them tells himabout his recurrent dream, of a church with aSycamore, in the Spanish region of Andalusia,

where the shepherds sleep. There at the roots

of the Sycamore, lies the treasure.

The omens had spoken. Santiagos heart

burst with joy.


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Epilogue: Maktum

Back at the church, Santiago finds his treasure.

Life really is generous to those who pursue their destiny.

Comment:

It is here that two parallel quests become one. The physical treasure that Santiago sought was close to home. A spiritual journey is not about becoming someone else. It is

about finding oneself.

y Obstacles that Santiago overcame:y Fear of following his dreamy Fear of failurey Love, although it is the stimulus to follow your dreamy Fear of realizing the dream


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Analysis of the Protagonist in view of the theme of the book, and interms of Leadership


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Vision and Action

Vision

The act or power of anticipating that which will, or

may come to be A vivid, imaginative conception or anticipation

Something seen. An object of sight.

Action

Something done or performed

An exertion of power, or force


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Santiago: Vision and Action

Does Santiago have a Vision? Yes. The treasure.

Yes. He sees the omens that no one else can.

Does he lose sight of it at times? When the going gets tough

Selling his sheep

Losing his money

Meeting Fatima

Captive of a Tribe

What does he do then? Listens to his heart

Reads the omens

Learns very quickly from his surroundings

Is not just a dreamer. Is a visionary.

Comment/Learning When does a dream become a vision?

When we step out to achieve it.

A dream is intangible. A vision is tangible.

If we have the courage to pursue our dreams, the visions shall follow automatically.

If we want something badly enough, the entire universe will conspire to help us achieve it.


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Santiago: Vision and Action

Is Santiago a man of Action Emphatically, yes.

When the vision gets blinkered, action can helpclear your thoughts

Santiagos conduct at the Crystal Merchantsshop shows us the complimentarity of Vision andAction in his persona.

Vision helps us define our goals. Action helpskeep us alive. Together, Vision and Action chartour destiny, and help us achieve our dreams.


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Santiago: Leadership Style

Kurt Levin identified three different styles of leadership Autocratic Participative Laissez Faire

Santiago is extremely young. He only led sheep. But we find enoughclues to his leadership style: He is focused on following his dream. He heeds the omens. He listens carefully to the old man at the Plaza, to the camel driver, the crystal

merchant, the Alchemist. Finally to the desert, wind, sun and the hand that wroteall. In short, he takes everything seriously.

Interpretation His devotion to his dream will prevent him from becoming Laissez Faire. His sensitivity to the omens, and the Soul of theWorld, will prevent him from

becoming Autocratic. Maktum. Santiago, in due course, shall become the quintessential Participative

Leader.


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Comparison of Leadership Style of Chief Protagonist(s) with that ofanother protagonist(s) from literature/history/mythology


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Thought Process

Leadership is defined as the process of social influence in

which one person can enlist the aid and support ofothers

in the accomplishment of a common task.

Importance of Leader and a Follower

Leadership Style of the Alchemist vis--vis Santiago

Hersey-Blanchard Situational Theory of Leadership

Comparison with the leadership style of Dronacharya vis--vis Arjun


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Hersey-Blanchard Situational

TheoryModel runs on two fundamental concepts:

Leadership Style____________

Characterized in terms of amount of

direction and support that the

leader provides to the followers.

S1: Directing/Telling

S2: Coaching/Selling S3: Supporting/Participating

S4: Delegating

Characterized in terms of

the competence and commi-

tment of the followers.

D1: Low Competence, High

Commitment D2: Some Competence,

High Commitment

D3: High Competence,

Variable Commitment

D4: High Competence,

High Commitment

Development Levels__________


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Comparison

Leadership Style Supporting / Participative (S3) leadership style adopted by the Alchemist as

compared to the Coaching / Selling (S2) style adopted by Dronacharya

x

..I dont know how to find life in thedesert said the boy.

Life attracts Life, said the Alchemist

.Theres life here.I dont know the

language of the desert, but my horse knows

the language of life, said the boy

..I have no idea how to turn myself into thewind, said the boy

..the world is only the visible aspect of

Godalchemybrings spiritual perfection

into contact with the material plane, said

the Alchemist

Guru Dronacharya hung a wooden bird

from the branch of a tree and then

summoned his students. He then asked

each of his students to describe what they

could see. Some replied that they could see

the garden, the tree, flowers, etc. When it

was Arjuns turn, he replied that he could

see the birds eye only.

Dronacharya was taking a bath in a river

when all of a sudden a crocodile appeared.

The crocodile attacked Dronacharya, who

called his disciples to help him. All except

Arjun went away to get help. Arjun instead

decided to use his Dhanur Vidya to kill the

crocodile with his bow and arrow.


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Comparison

Development Levels Santiago was high on competence but variable on commitment (D3).

Correspondingly Arjun passed from D1 (Low Competence, HighCommitment) to D4 (High Competence, High Commitment)

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I want to stay at the oasisIve foundFatima, and, as far as Im concerned, she is

worth more than the treasure. said the

boy

..My heart is a traitor, the boy said to theAlchemistIt doesnt want me to go on.

Arjun once noticed his brother, Bhima, who

was a voracious eater, eating in the dark asthough it was daylight, and realized that if

he could practice archery in the dark he

would become an even greater master of

this skill.

Arjun was once playing with his brothers

when he noted that his teacher, GuruDronacharya was giving some lessons to

Ashwatthama. Even though Dronacharya

did not intended to give Arjun those lessons

at that time, he had to relent in front of

Arjuns incessant desire to learn whatever

his teacher had to offer to his disciples.


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Comparison of the Protagonist with another Leader/Business Leader


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Santiago and Kepler Wessels

KeplerWessels

Cricketer

Captain, South Africa: 1992-94

Santiago Kepler Wessels

As a young boy, set out tofollow his dream

As a young boy, excelled inseveral sports. At 16, received

a US scholarship for tennis.But left that lucrative option,

because he felt cricket was hiscalling.


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Wandered from Andalusia in Spain, toAfrica, in search of his treasure.

Wandered from Orange Free State, SAto Australia, to pursue his cricketing

dream.

Temporarily forced by circumstance tosettle in Tangiers.Worked at a Crystal

Merchants shop. But once he hadsaved enough money, went back tochasing his dream. Subjected to trialsand tribulations in Africa. Kept up his

passion for his dream.

Forced by circumstance to pursueinternational cricket in Australia.

Played Test Cricket and One-Daymatches for Australia: 1982-86. Retiredat the age of 29, expressingdisillusionment with Australian Cricket.

Never recognized as a great player inAustralia. Kept up his passion and

commitment for cricket.


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Returned to Andalusia, where he finallyachieved his dream, and accomplished

his Personal Legend.

In 1992, South Africa returned tointernational cricket. KeplerWessels

was pulled out of obscurity, and chosen

over more established peers to leadthe new team. Overcomingwidespread fears of racism and

disunity,Wessels lived his finest hour,and forged a world-class team.

His Personal Legend was

accomplished, in the very land he grewup in.


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The similarities

Pursuing their passion: travel/treasure or cricket

Maktub: The journey in Africa, and the return to Andalusia

The foray in Australia, and South Africas return to

international cricket

The journey of self-discovery Andalusia to Egypt to Andalusia

South Africa to Australia to South Africa

Life really is generous to those who pursue their destiny.


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John Osher, Entrepreneur

Set-up his first business in college: Selling ear-rings at aprofit.

Never looked for a job. Just set-up businesses and sold

them at a profit.

Then spent years on a beach, until he felt it was time toset-up something else.

Best-known for the electric spin toothbrush in 1999. Sold

it to Procter & Gamble in 2001. The first low-cost massmarketed mechanical toothbrush.

Maktum. He followed his visions. Success followed him.


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Relevance of the Theme in todays world


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Vision and Action for Everyone

One of the key messages of the book is:

It is possible to pursue your dream and live a goodlife.

This is a call to vision and action

Your dream is what will help you achieve yourPersonal Legend

A good life can have any interpretation. You couldbe a good husband, a good wife, a good parent, ora source of solace for society in general.

The Personal Legend is reconcilable to a good life.


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Vision and Action for Leaders

Follow your vision. Do not allow your team to

drift.

Read the omens. Listen to the language ofthe world.

As we have mentioned earlier, to follow the

learnings of The Alchemist, implies becoming

a Participative Leader.

Kurt Lewin accepts this to be the best form of

leadership in todays world.


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MAKTUM.

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The Alchemist- 2