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.
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.
The main character in ‘The Alchemist,” Santiago is a boy who was set off to follow his “personal legend” as said in the novel. A personal legend is a person 's goal to attain a dream also known as a destiny. Throughout the novel Santiago, the boy was in search of his destiny through a long journey to make his dreams of seeing the world come true. The sole purpose to navigate through his journey from dreams to reality was to achieve his destiny, in order for it to occur he had to change his routine and began to follow a course that changed throughout his journey to something greater than expected. In many novels characters change their course in order to attain a dream.
The Alchemist In the book “The Alchemist” there is a young boy named Santiago who worked as a lonely shepherd, but then one night he had a dream about some pyramids and a treasure far in the desert so he sets off the next day and is trying to discover and accomplish his Personal legend which he comes to find that it is a big treasure full of coins and jewels. To me one of his positive trait is that Santiago is an extremely faithful person “whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it's because that desire originated in the soul of the universe. It's your mission on earth.” Santiago is told this and is given the idea to leave.
Santiago is a young boy who yearns for adventure and purpose in his life.from a young age he knows he wants to see the world and becomes a shepherd to experience new places. Santiago still struggles to find meaning and purpose throughout his many years of travel though. It's not until he goes on the journey to follow his personal legend that he truly develops as a character. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, challenges readers to acknowledge their self-worth and realize they are strongest when they love themselves.
Many people may not know much in the way of their identity. The challenges can help people learn about themselves through the actions they take and what they can achieve in the face of adversity. Learning about your identity is represented quite well by Santiago in Paulo Coelho’s fantasy novel The Alchemist. The the start of the story Santiago is lost with no goal in life and has little knowledge of what it outside of the plains and towns of Spain. Then Santiago is faced with massive amounts of adversity in the form of a threat of death he learn about his identity and learns that he can face and overcome the challenge.
In the story the alchemist it is discovered that there are many different things in life to look forward to. There is also something in the story that is a moral or your life´s destiny called your personal legend. Your personal legend is one of those things in life that some people look up to in the future. Santiago travels the world to pursue his personal legend. Santiago strived to find his personal legend with the help of people he met on the way to find treasure that he is destined to find , just to realize the treasure was where he had fallen asleep in the beginning of the book.
Section #8: Theme(s) In the Alchemist, the theme of the journey being just as valuable as the destination is demonstrated throughout the story as Santiago learns about himself and others, which is recognized as the real treasure. When Santiago goes on his journey to find a valuable treasure hidden in the Pyramids, he learns many things from his experiences. When Santiago was asked to follow the omens he was reminded that “the secret is here in the present. If you pay attention to the present, you can improve upon it.
Life is a pathway sporadically scattered with obstacles. Obstacles can be handled in two ways: by running away from them in fear or being able to confront them face-to-face. Paulo Coehlo signifies the importance of the latter; that is, to not avoid the obstacle. In the novel The Alchemist, Paulo Coehlo uses symbolism to illustrate that overcoming obstacles and struggles can make an individual achieve growth.
In the novel “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho there is a young shepherd named Santiago who is in search for his personal legend. Santiago’s personal legend is to find the treasure at the pyramids. Throughout his journey, there are a lot of emotions especially the emotion fear. Santiago encountered a lot of challenges like crossing the desert, being in a war and turning himself into the wind. He learned the different levels of fear; fearing fear, being in fear, and overcoming fear.
Paulo Coelho inspires reader all over the world through his enchanting words and influential life lessons. Readers follow the life and struggles of Paulos “ The Alchemist” character Santiago and take his life lesson into account. Making a connection throughout the story causing the reader to leave fulfilled with new knowledge of the world. Readers are inspired by every page. In Paulo Coelho's “ The Alchemist” there is a emphasis on the value and importance of personal legends, the ability to overcome challenges, and love.
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 book The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is about a boy named Santiago and his journey to achieve his personal legend. Santiago meets many people during his journey including a palm reader, old man, thief, crystal merchant, girl, and an alchemist. As he travels to achieve on his journey he has to overcome many obstacles and travel a great distance. As he meets people and overcomes obstacles he learns things that he need to learn to achieve his personal legend. Paulo Coelho uses the charters Santiago, the crystal merchant, the Englishmen and Fatima to explore the theme of a dream can come true if one never gives up on pursuing it.
In The Alchemist, Santiago experiences a reversal from good to bad. Ever since Santiago had this idea that everything in his path is a good omen to help guide him towards his treasure, he became a very trustworthy and open person, he only has good intentions, everything is happening for a reason. While in Tangier, he felt lost because nobody really spoke spanish at least he thought; however, a local man asked him a question in spanish then he was confused yet happy because someone spoke his language. Automatically, he told the man his travels and if he can help him take him to the pyramids and he’d pay him. He didn 't want to miss out on this opportunity that this man will bring him one step closer to the treasure he trusted his new friend.
It contributing the mood in the book. Santiago was finally at the pyramids, and was digging the hole that he had chosen, but he found nothings. Later, some figures stole his gold and start to beat him because they thought Santiago had more than that. Santiago was finally in the Pyramids, but he found nothings. He already sacrificed staying with Fatima and he gave all his money away, he had nothing but felt near death.