Am I missing something? Initial Thoughts

When I read the last page of the Alchemist, I felt like I should laugh, but I wasn't exactly sure why. It's like when someone makes a joke in a foreign language, and you know they've said a punchline, because they look at you expectantly, so you laugh, but you don't quite know what they meant, because you only a know a few words of their language. I mean, I guess it's kind of funny that this guy traveled this long distance, got rich and lost it three times- got the crap beaten out of him, and then has the huge epiphany that he should have stayed home. It's a bit of sick joke, when all of these wise people tell him to keep going onward to find his treasure.

I am not sure what I think about this. . . I think I need some more time. Meanwhile, I guess I'll just chuckle and maybe slap my knee and pretend I get it. Perhaps I need to go on a journey of my own to get in on the joke. . .