Leal to Gold The process of alchemy is “the medieval forerunner of chemistry, based on the supposed transformation of matter. It was concerned particularly with attempts to convert base metals into gold or to find a universal elixir. And a seemingly magical process of transformation, creation, or combination.” In the book The Alchemist, Santiago's journey is like alchemy because alchemy is the process of turning lead to gold and this is what Santiago did with his life when he had his personal legend and he transformed his life. Santiago went through many obstacles, like losing his money and battling his way to the end of his journey. Not all of his obstacles were bad. Some good obstacles also helped him go along with his personal legend like meeting Fatima and working for the crystal merchant. “You must not let up, even after coming so far”(111). This quote explains that that Santiago has come so far and shouldn't give up, he needs finish his journey in order form him to fulfil his personal legend. If Santiago had stopped then at that moment and gave up then he would have never fulfilled his personal legend. He would have never transformed his life the way he did on the journey home. …show more content…
Santiago has learned a great deal though his journey and he is not just rewarded by the treasure he is rewarded by the endless knowledge he has taken from the actual journey itself. He has spent a lengthy time in the desert, Santiago now has more knowledge than he knows what to do with because he transformed his life going through these obstacles and not giving
He is a stronger and smarter man because of what happened to him. Santiago hit a lot of adversity at the beginning of his journey and it prepared him for the worst of his journey. “Now he understood why the owner of the bar had been so upset: he was trying to tell him not to trust that man.” (Coelho 43). He lost it all and he was prepared for anything for the rest of his journey.
The Importance of Perseverance At many times in people’s lives, they consider giving up. This is also true for Santiago, the protagonist in Paulo Coelho's fantasy novel The Alchemist. Santiago is on a journey to find a hidden treasure he saw in a dream. Along this journey he continues to contemplate whether he should just give up, or continue his adventure.
Santiago's temptation is when he has the choice whether or not to stay with Fatima and abandon his Personal Legend. After leaving Fatima he has a difficult time coping with the separation, even if Fatima is a woman of the desert, who knows he will return. The Alchemist offers him a sole piece of advice, “love never keeps a man from pursuing his Personal Legend.” (120) Santiago’s heart is aching for the loving arms of Fatima. He realizes that he needs to focus on what he needs, pursuing his Personal Legend and not what he desires to be with Fatima.
Santiago felt very pressured but he didn’t fear to die this time because he knew that the universe was going to help him. Santiago overcame the fear of dying and turned himself into the
Santiago realizes that he finally has a place and that he is supposed to be following his Personal
Santiago then tells the alchemist: “My heart is a traitor. It doesn’t want me to go on.” The alchemist replied with a smart answer and said “That makes sense. Naturally, it’s afraid that, in pursuing your dream, you might lose everything you’ve won.” A fear of uncertainty is what Santiago is feeling and he worries he’ll lose everything he’s accomplished so far.
The decision was difficult as both options don’t provide him a steady choice. As being a shepherd does not promise him to be with the merchant daughter and for finding a treasure he need to give up his well settled life. But at the end he chose to find treasure as it allows him to purse his personal legend or dram of travelling throughout the world. He always considers his choice before taking a decision this can be seen through this conversation of Santiago with himself, “Here, I am between my flock and my treasure, the boy thought. He had to choose between something he had become accustomed to and something he wanted to have.
Ultimately Santiago has developed his identity through the soul of the world and alchemy and has achieved his personal legend
During his journey, Santiago receives knowledge that he treasures and uses on his behalf when he hopes to achieve his personal legend. During his time with the Crystal merchant Santiago learned the five sacred obligations of all Muslims, and he learned that the Pyramids were not nearly as close as he thought when he arrived in Africa. During his time with the Alchemist he learned how to find life in the desert, and how to
This is illuminated when the Alchemist says, “‘There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure’” (141). This particular moment shows that even though Santiago has both the ability and the knowledge to achieve his dream, it is impossible to attain it if he fears even attempting to reach it. Consequently, this fear acts as his enemy and a barrier that stands in the way of the meaningful and happy life he is destined to accomplish. Furthermore, another one of his fears is the fear of losing what he believes he has already earned. ” He reminded himself that he had been a shepherd and that he could be a shepherd again.
Santiago has an epiphany when he realizes that if you never change and take risks you will never move forward. He wants to find his “personal legend,” or true desire, and to obtain this he needs to change his own nature. He must be willing to give up whatever is necessary to achieve this goal, including freedom. On Santiago’s journey he becomes employed by a crystal merchant that never achieved his personal legend. The merchant resisted change and never accomplished his dreams.
A personal legend is not just the result found at the end of Santiago's life. It’s more than simply reaching final destination. Santiago personal legend is achieved when he completes what he is doing. “It’s true that everything has it’s personal legend ,but one day that personal legend will be realized ,so each thing has to transform itself into something better ,and to acquire a new personal legend, until someday, the soul of the world becomes one only thing.”
Alchemy is an early form of chemical technology which explores the nature of substances. It had developed such an amazing language of emblematic symbolism which was then used to explore the world. It had a very strong philosophical basis, though many alchemists did incorporate religious metaphors and spiritual matters into their alchemical ideas. Alchemy originated in Egypt, where the word Khem was being used as a reference to the fertility of the area around the Nile river. The Egyptian belief of life after death and the mummification procedures developed most likely gave rise to the rudimentary chemical knowledge and goal of achieving immortality.
Although the treasure was in the very spot Santiago had the dream and not near the pyramids, through Santiago 's journey through the desert, being rob, being threaten, and meeting the women of his dreams, Santiago learns that everything in life is not easily attainable. And if you want something so much, don’t give up, because of the difficulties you face. Because in the end those same difficulties can positively shape who you are. I believe that Santiago development closely relates to Vygotsky’s theory, which states that social and cultural interaction guide cognitive development.
As Ban Ki Moon once stated; “Migration is an expression of the human aspiration for a better future.” All migration accomplished by mankind has followed a consistent pattern of looking for a better living. In Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, we can see this similarity. Migration is greatly influenced by geography. Human Geography is the study of the interaction between human beings and their surrounding environment.