The Philosopher's Stone

    "The boy learned that the liquid part of the Master Work was called the Elixir of Life, and that it cured all illnesses; it also kept the alchemist from growing old. And the solid part was called the Philosopher’s Stone… ‘They discovered that the purification of the metals had led to a purification of themselves’… ‘The Philosopher’s Stone has a fascinating property. A small sliver of the stone can transform large quantities of metal into gold.” (81)

    The alchemist learns from the Englishman and his books about the Philosopher’s Stone. He learns that the people finding this stone, the alchemists, were fulfilling their personal legends. Turning something normal into something amazing also shows the gold has a personal legend. This shows interconnectedness because everything is a part of the Soul of the World and everything has a personal legend. It also shows that something small can be turned into something great. Santiago was one shepherd in a large world. He seemed like any other man, but through patience and determination he found his personal legend and was satisfied with his life.

    The Philosopher’s Stone is an important allusion in The Alchemist. The red stone is the solid part of the Elixir of Life, allowing the stone to heal all forms of illnesses and bring life to those around it. It can also allow those who possess it to achieve immortality. The stone is not only magical with its healing powers, but also with the ability to turn metals into gold. Just one small sliver of the Philosopher’s Stone can transform any small mineral or metal into gold. This seems to portray the metal’s personal legend of turning into gold, its purest form. Purification of the soul is another way in which the stone works. Finding the Philosopher’s Stone is considered the Great Work of alchemy, one of the hardest steps in becoming an alchemist. Alchemists around the world waste their life looking for the stone, in an attempt to achieve their personal legend (The World Book Encylopedia). Throughout many different cultures in many different centuries the stone has been searched for. After years and years of searching, alchemists have devoted their lives to be coming an alchemist and achieving their master work. From learning the ways of the world the alchemist will get a great sense of fulfillment from finding or making the Philosopher’s Stone (Rahim).

    
    Many people are familiar with the Harry Potter series. The first book by J. K. Rowling is called Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. In other countries it is also called Harry Potter and the Philsopher's Stone. This stone is a major part of the plot of this book. This magical stone, able to heal and turn things into gold, is hidden in the fictional setting of Hogwarts, a school for wizards. Harry and his friends attempt to find this stone, to keep it from those who want to use it for all the wrong reasons. Eventually Harry is able to grab the stone and escape, when the stone is destroyed because it has too much power. This is similar to the allusion in The Alchemist, because the stones are both sought after and contain the same healing powers.


Works Cited

"Alchemy" The World Book Encyclopedia. 1999. A. 1. Chicago. 1999. 334

Rahim, Habiben. "Alchemy: Islamic Alchemy." Reference. Detroit. Lindsay Jones. 2005. Macmillan Reference USA. 3/4/12.

N.P., Web. 3/4/12. <http://www.barewalls.com/i/c/435968_Harry-Potter-And-the-Sorcerers-Stone-Canvas-Print.jpg>