The Novel was originally written in Portuguese by its Brazilian-born author by the name of Paulo Coelho. He wrote the best-selling novel, The Alchemist sold 65 million copies and is the most translated book in the world by a living author. It has been translated in 56 languages as of September 2012. It was a fiction book and was published on 1988. The original publisher was a small Brazilian publishing house; The Brazilian Publishing Company “Rocco” was the first large publisher to print the book. The American Publisher HarperOne. Coelho wrote The Alchemist in only two weeks in 1987. He explained how he was able to write at this pace because the story was "already written in (his) soul". The basic story of The Alchemist appears in previous …show more content…
He has the dream every time he sleeps under a sycamore tree that grows out of the ruins of a church. Santiago believes that his recurring dream can happen in real life too. So he decided to meet a fortune teller in a nearby town to discover its meaning. The woman interprets his dream and told him that there is a treasure hidden in the Pyramids of Egypt. Early into his journey, he meets a king by the name of Melchizedek, who tells him to sell his sheep to travel to Egypt and introduces the idea of a Personal Legend To do so, he must leave the comfort zone of home, learn to trust the “Soul of the World,”. Everyone, knows what their Personal Legend is when they are young, “ He also adds that "when you want or love something, the whole or the entire universe unite in helping you to achieve it". Santiago then met an Englishman, along the way and continues his travel with him. They pass through the Sahara desert and during his journey, Santiago met a beautiful Arabian woman named Fatima and fell in love with her. He asks her to marry him, but she says she will only marry him after he finds his treasures. He is confused by this, but later he learns that true love will not stop one's Personal …show more content…
He said that people want to find only the treasure of their Personal Legends but not the Personal Legend itself. Santiago had been confused about himself as he listens to the teachings of the Alchemist. The alchemist states, "People who do not know their Personal Legends will fail to understand its teachings". He stated that treasure is more worthy than gold. He also taught Santiago to listen to his heart. Hearts can be treacherous, but the best way to keep them from fooling you is to listen to them intently. Almost to the pyramids, Santiago and the Alchemist were taken prisoner by a tribe. The Alchemist told the tribesmen that Santiago is a powerful magician and can turn himself into a wind. And because of this they were impressed and promised to condone them if Santiago can do it. The problem was Santiago has no idea how he could do it. Santiago had been meditating for three days and he used his knowledge about the Soul of the World to ask the other elements to help him. At first Santiago asked the desert to help him, then he asked for the help of the wind and sun. Finally, Santiago asked the Soul of the World. The wind whips up, and Santiago disappeared and reappeared on the other side of the tribe
In the book, Santiago’s falls in love at first sight with her. He is absolutely star struck when he sees her. “At that moment, it seemed to him that time stood still... It was love”Alchemist(page). She almost stops Santiago from finding his treasure because he would rather stay with her in the oasis, but she urges him to go to Egypt because she believes that if it’s meant to be he will return to her, thus inspiring him even further.
In contrast, The Alchemist provides hopeful insights when Santiago goes on a journey and discovers new ideas and hidden treasures. He discovers that playing it safe proves more dangerous to his freedom than taking risks. When placed in a life and death situation, Santiago learns that the Soul of the World is shared by everything. In both of these books, the characters have traumatic experiences that eventually create epiphanies that provide hope and
Santiago’s last step to completing his personal legend was walking through the desert, to find his treasure and completing it. Thus, showing the symbols and meanings behind these little puzzle pieces in the journey and being rewarded with love and treasure helping to support my thesis, through seeing and understanding symbols behind the world people can learn about their own personal legend and live life to the
While at the Oasis of Al-Fayoum, the elder chieftain of the oasis tells Santiago the story of Joseph of Egypt. Joseph was enslaved for being a dreamer, but he persevered and managed to become an important counselor to the Pharaoh of Egypt. This Personal Legend could have suited Santiago because of his connection to the Soul of the World. The Soul of the World is a spiritual unity that binds all forms of nature together. Santiago knew he wanted to follow his dreams; it was helpful when he learned that “When you want something, all the universe conspires to help you achieve it” because he knew he was now destined to complete his goal, and not somebody else’s (Coelho 64).
Entry 1: The Pursuit of a Personal Legend Santiago, a young shepherd spent his life herding his sheep across field of Spain. When Santiago wakes up from his recurring dream of a treasure in Egypt, he seeks for mentors like Melchizedek, who helps him realize that the dream is his Personal Legend. A Personal Legend is something that one has always wanted to accomplish and one’s purpose in life. Melchizedek tells Santiago “when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it” (22).
Santiago then gives up and refuses to go to Egypt for his treasure. The dream interpreter does not give Santiago
Paulo Coehlo’s, The Alchemist, explores the Hero’s Journey through the story of a shepherd, Santiago. Throughout the novel, Santiago becomes more aware of his potential as he pursues his Personal Legend. He faces temptations and obstacles as he develops as a character. The hero crosses the threshold when they leave their old reality in search for a new one. Santiago crosses the threshold by selling his sheep and taking a boat to Africa.
In “The Alchemist”, Santiago, the main character has a dream of finding treasure at the Egyptian pyramids and finds it non coincidental that this dream has occurred twice. In that time period it would mean that his dream was an omen or a sign to make journey to go and find the mysterious treasure. According to scholar Maria Louw, “Dream omens embody peoples’ fears about, hopes for, how their lives may develop” (Louw 1). Santiago was encouraged by a gypsy who interpreted dreams and understood
Santiago's journey. In the beginning of his journey to the pyramids, he realizes he is going to need to find a guide, because he is a simple shepherd who knows little to nothing about the pyramids. Even at this point he could just say “ I am a shepherd and I know nothing about the pyramids, why try”, but decides to follow his dream
While Santiago originally sets out for his treasure of material riches, the treasure he values most has been transformed to that of knowledge and love along his journey. The theme of treasure appears early on in the story and inspires Santiago’s journey. One night while herding his flock, he dreams that there is buried treasure waiting for him at the pyramids of Egypt. After seeking advice from a gypsy who interprets his dream, she again confirms that at the pyramids of Egypt, “there you will find your treasure” (14).
The Alchemist is a famous book written by Paulo Coelho. It’s about a shepherd named Santiago who travels from his homeland Spain to the Pyramids in Egypt. He does this to find a treasure he was told about. Along his hard journey, he meets some people along the way like a gypsy woman and a king in disguise who all direct him towards his quest. He doesn’t let the obstacles stop him toward his goal and eventually he finds his treasure.
Ultimately Santiago has developed his identity through the soul of the world and alchemy and has achieved his personal legend
His desire to return to Fatima is what drives him to succeed. However, the desert is not able to help him, and so Santiago also expresses his love for Fatima to the wind. He wants to be the wind not only to prove to the tribesmen that they were indeed travelers, but to return to Fatima, and to be “able to reach every corner of the world, cross the seas, blow away the sands that cover [his] treasure, and carry the voice of the woman [he] love[s]” (146). He then also tells the wind that, “When you are loved, you can do anything in creation. When you are loved, there’s no need at all to understand what’s happening because everything happens within you, and even men can turn themselves into the wind.
The Alchemist assisted Santiago to find his faith and become more connected with God, he talks to Santiago metaphorically has a deeper meaning behind his sayings or instance when the Alchemist states,. “All you have to do is contemplate
During the whole story Santiago is trying to find his personal legend, he is trying to find his purpose in life. Therefore in the Alchemist, the most important thing is personal legend. Everything is based off Santiago’s personal legend, if he wouldn’t of became a shepherd the book wouldn’t be all about him following his personal legend and trying to figure out what his was. Santiago has to figure out a bunch of new things that lend his to his personal