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.
I know others better.” “Que va,” the boy says, “There are many good fishermen and some great ones, but there is only you.” “Thank you. You make me happy. I hope no fish will come along so great that he will prove us wrong.” (23) With that said, Santiago’s determination is the only reason that he is able to catch any fish. Also, he decides to not only ignore opportunities to boast his fishing skill, proving that he is above the common man trying to alleviate insecurities through bragging, but rather constantly displays a sense of humbleness and integrity. In conclusion, the sea is symbolic of the entire world in “Old Man and The Sea”, and Santiago barely even touched the water and learned so much, while teaching others even more.
He tells Santiago about good and bad omens and says that it is the shepherd boy 's duty to pursue his Personal Legend. Melchizedek then gives Santiago two stones, Urim and Thummim, with which to interpret omens. Santiago wavers briefly before selling his flock and purchasing a ticket to Tangier, in northern Africa, to which he travels by boat. Shortly after he arrives there, a thief steals all of Santiago 's money, so the shepherd boy decides to look for a way to make enough money to return home. He finds work in the shop of a crystal merchant, where Santiago makes improvements that reap considerable financial
Before leaving one of the men tell Santiago of his own dream. It concerns a treasure buried in an abandoned church in Spain where a sycamore tree grows. The church is the same one in which Santiago had his original dream, and he finally understands where his treasure is. He returns to Spain to find a chest of jewels and gold buried under the tree, and plans to return with it to Al-Fayoum,
In the book The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, Santiago discovers his personal legend in a recurring dream, where a little boy shows treasures in Egypt and pursues him to go to the pyramids and look for them. Even though Santiago knows that this will be a tough journey since the beginning of his trip, he insisted in following his dream by overcoming test after test in the journey. Using specific demonstration of the helpers throughout the trip, Coelho successfully exemplifies that following one’s Personal Legend can lead to discovering new aspects about oneself and life. To start Santiago’s journey, he meets a wise old king of Salem named Melchizedek as one of the enlighteners and helpers who strengthens Santiago’s belief on following his dream. Melchizedek is introduced as a strange-looking old man that simply wants to talk to the boy about the book he is reading.
The Alchemist is a very well written and intriguing book by Paulo Coelho. It is a story about a young shepherd known as Santiago who abandons his live in Spain and embarks on a journey to Egypt, during his journey for treasure hunt he faces many obstacles. Making several different stops he realizes truth about himself, the world, and the kingdom of god which are interrelated in the story. Paulo uses the characters of The King Salem, The Crystal merchant, the Alchemist and Fatima to explore the theme that true happiness can only be achieved if one works hard towards his goal or purpose in life and to realize one’s personal legend, one must work hard, make great sacrifices, and take risks. True happiness is only when one realizes his Personal legend.
He has a habit of reading books in the leisure. He was grateful for the jacket’s weigh and warmth.In the beginning of his journey to his destination he first went to the old Gypsy women who interpret dreams. He explained about his dream which he saw twice; he explained that we was in the field with his sheep, when a child appeared and began to play with the animals, and he don’t like when people do that because the sheep are afraid of stranger. The child continued playing with the boy, and then suddenly, the child took him by both hands and transported him to the Egyptian pyramids. And the child said him that if he will come here he will find a hidden treasure; and just the child was about to show the exact location he woke up, both times.
In the beginning of the story santiago is merely just a shepard that can read but, throughout the book he learns how to understand the language of the world. “‘I didn't know shepherds knew how to read,’... ‘How did you learn to read?’ the girl asked at one point. ‘Like everybody learns,’ he said. ‘In school.’” “‘I am learning the Language of the World, and everything in the world is beginning to make sense to me… even the flight of the hawks,’ he said to himself” In the first piece of evidence the reader can only see that he is relatively smart because he knows how to read and is a shepard. But as the story continues santiago also grows and comes of age to a point at which he starts to learn and understand the language of the world.
Santiago had great pride, conversely he never presented it in a repulsive way. Santiago showed his ego in an altruistic, humble manner. Though he did not display his pride often, it was still present within him. When speaking about his reasoning for fighting the fish at the expense of his health and well-being, the old man said “you killed him for pride.” Through his actions, one would not believe Santiago had much self-esteem, but he continues to possess and build on his confidence. His determination, strength, intelligence, and humbleness allowed him to hold tremendous pride.
Santiago’s perception of treasure has transcended the physical and now he has respect for the treasure of home, knowledge 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).