The Englishman

[Barbara Larkin]

That reminded me of someone searching hills and valleys for their glasses, only to be told at the end of their journey it's been on their head the entire time. It's needing someone to tell you something plainly obvious so you can react with "Why didn't I think of that?" You'd not react negatively, per se, so much as wonder why you weren't more proactive to begin with.

[Valkyrie9]

I would have been rather discouraged. The Englishman has spent years studying his books and has traveled so far to meet the alchemist and finally get some help. Being told to go and try, instead of receiving help would have been very demotivating. I was struck, however, by the Englishman's response that he is going to try something he has waited ten years to do, and that he is just glad that he didn't wait twenty years.

[Valkyrie9]

My first reaction would have been discouragement, followed by despair. After a period of sadness, I would have realized the alchemist was right. I am at a point in my life where I both really, really want to achieve my goals, and am afraid that I never will--or that it might be better to just leave them as dreams rather than try to make them real.

It appears that, right now, you are both the Englishman and the crystal merchant. Don't wait too long before deciding what you are going to do. Your heart and your omens might stop talking to you if you ignore them for too long.

[Valkyrie9]

Maybe I would gain the confidence I needed to believe I can do anything. Sometimes you just need to hear you are capable and important and capable of anything by someone you admire and think he is wise. Maybe, in the end, that's all we need, someone to believe in us so we can believe in ourselves.

Wow! I never thought of it this way. By telling the Englishman to go and try, the Alchemist is really saying "I know you can do it. Stop doubting yourself and go and try". Thank you for this insight!

[Valkyrie9]

It's a bummer that there weren't much scenes including the English man. I feel like he was disregarded a little too much.

I would also have liked to see a little more of the Englishman. He seemed like an interesting character, and I think we could have learnt more from him.

[Bigwig1973]

It would probably depend on the circumstances! But, whatever those might be or had been, that is still a long way to travel for an answer like that. The Englishman character kind of reminds me a little of the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland: he always seems busy and always has something on his mind - almost as if the whole transmutation thing didn't really matter that much. But, ultimately and personally it would suck but having an ulterior motive for being there would most certainly lessen the blow.

[Bigwig1973]

The British band Dire Straits released a live album in 1984 entitled "Alchemy". I was trying to reconcile the "Walk of Life" video with this book, somehow. However, that particular song is not included in that live album. What I'm thinking, is that the path to reaching a goal (including becoming an alchemist) is probably kind of like the video, which includes I think only baseball, football, and basketball. There's indications of friendship and teamwork, a "sweet loving woman", the advice and reactions of all the people could be seen to mirror the advice someone learning any trade may face. It's also sometimes humorous, like when the two players on the same team are trying to catch the same ball and they completely run into one another. Additionally, it has been suggested that alchemy is "evil", in which case the nervousness of the people could indicate fear of a supposedly evil presence.

[markodim721]

I think I would listen to an alchemist and try to turn lead into gold.

[Hiruni Hansika]

The Englishman travels many miles to find the alchemist, so that he may finally understand how to transform lead into gold, only to have the alchemist tell him: Go and try. In light of this, The Englishman reacts rather positively, by deciding to go and do it. If you were the Englishman, what would your reaction have been?

I would have being discouraged but only temporarily. I would get a good nap, wake up and start afresh. I would go through the texts and double check what I missed. But the questionI have is whether I'll find the same treasure as Santiago?

[hageorge3]

Yes at first l would have been disappointed with the reply of the alchemist but then when l get to think about it l would realize that he has a point. Because everything in life you have to try first, and in trying you will get a better understanding in whatever you had set out to do. Try, try again if at first you dont succeed, try try again as the saying goes....

[AlphariusRE]

Two years ago, I would have been dejected, said something on the lines of f#*! it. But the experiences have made me realise that, there's always a chance of striking gold once we start trying and working towards a goal.

[Samuel Mamo]

It would be a disastrous moment for me. I could think all the past years as a waste.

[fire_spice]

The Englishman travels many miles to find the alchemist, so that he may finally understand how to transform lead into gold, only to have the alchemist tell him: Go and try. In light of this, The Englishman reacts rather positively, by deciding to go and do it. If you were the Englishman, what would your reaction have been?

I would be really upset for one. But I would also be thankful because there is wisdom in what the alchemist said. Probably asking him to think beyond the lead and gold altogether. Above all I would appreciate the journey the most.

[Victoria Elizabeth Apili]

The Englishman travels many miles to find the alchemist, so that he may finally understand how to transform lead into gold, only to have the alchemist tell him: Go and try. In light of this, The Englishman reacts rather positively, by deciding to go and do it. If you were the Englishman, what would your reaction have been?

I would be angry and tired. I would give up the whole idea and interpret the whole thing as futile. I think that's in fact what the alchemist was telling him.

[Alexandria Sarai Mitchell]

I would feel and react the same as the Englishman. If I dedicated my life to that cause, I would no doubt listen to anything that The Alchemist told me because he's the one who knows the solution. And I could also note that all those could be tests to see if I'm truly worthy of acquiring the skills to turn lead into Gold.