Tien Tran
Gudenas
English 9
2 June 2023
8. What role do minor characters play in the text?
Paulo Coelho's fiction novel "The Alchemist" recounts a fictional tale of Santiago.
In “The Alchemist” minor characters play huge roles in the text shifting the story of the protagonist. Santiago, a young 18-year-old man who continually has dreams of riches hidden among Egypt's pyramids. Intrigued by the dream, he becomes a shepherd to travel to the pyramids and find his personal legend. Paulo utilizes minor characters to make the novel a meaningful and interesting text. A minor character who plays a significant role in shaping the story is Melchizedek. Melchizedek encounters Santiago at a plaza when they are both sitting down reading a book, notwithstanding disliking the
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Melchizedek describes the idea of a personal legend along with making an offer to give him a hint to achieving it. A personal legend is what a person has always wanted to accomplish. Santiago perceives him as a con artist as his offer was for one tenth of his sheep. Nevertheless even with the rough first impression Santiago had, Melchizedek plays a role because he convinces Santiago to not become a shepherd, furthermore realizing his true dream of his life in the form of his personal legend. Melchizedek clarifies this by admitting that “But I had to insist on the payment of six sheep because I helped you to make your decision”(33 Coelho). This is a case where a minor character who never shows up again who appears in one chapter alters the story. Paulo once consequently uses more minor characters to play a role in the text using Arab military soldiers. In Egypt after meeting the Alchemist they are both imprisoned under suspicions that they are spies for an enemy camp. Santiago, at death’s door if he doesn’t beat the gamble The Alchemist made with the soldiers, uses his heart to communicate with the wind. “In the silence, the boy
Santiago chose to trust the people around him and have them help him take him to his Legend. Trust allowed him to lose all his money and stay with the fear that he will not be able to reach his treasure. The moment of captivation guided his friend to run and take his money with him. Santiago went to the lowest point of his journey where he had nothing and that was what brought his mind to trepidation. His mind drove him straight to failure and he couldn’t go anywhere without no money.
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.
1. In the prologue, the alchemist reads a version if the story of the death of Narcissus that has a somewhat different ending from the traditional telling, one that emphasizes the grief of the lake into which Narcissus will no longer be looking at his reflection. In beginning the book with this story, what themes and relationships is Coelho telling us to watch for throughout Santiago’s story? Do you think there may be an element of “narcissism” in the pursuit of one’s personal legend?
Santiago's epiphany leads to him pushing forward and finishing his journey of achieving his ultimate treasure of hope and
While traveling through the Sahara Desert, Santiago is captured by a warring tribe and is threatened with death. In order to escape Santiago uses his wits and ingenuity by using a hawk to communicate with the Alchemist, who had been traveling with him. The Alchemist agrees to help Santiago and devises a plan to distract the guards for Santiago’s escape. Through this Santiago learns mental toughness, which is an important aspect in helping him finish his journey. This proves that it is a necessity to have adversity in one's life to promote growth and transformation in one's character.
By continuing he finds his true inner strength. In the story, the author shows the importance of perseverance, and how to face the many obstacles that people are presented in their lives to complete their goal. In Coelho's novel, Santiago faces many difficult challenges, but because of his courage and perseverance, he is able to face them head on. While in the town of Tarifa, Santiago meets
This quote explains to Santiago that even though the quest is not easy, it isn’t impossible. Melchizedek warns Santiago that some people fail to achieve their Personal Legend because of a “mysterious force” that distracts them. These mysterious
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.
As the novel progresses, Santiago learns to be more
From A Young Boy To A Mature Man Paulo Coelho’s novel “The Alchemist,” is about a boy named Santiago and his journey to find lost treasure. Along his journey, the young boy comes across mentors, falls in love with a girl named Fatima, and most importantly throughout his journey, he evolves into a mature and wiser individual as the story goes on, but how does he reach his full potential? This essay will argue and break down the steps taken throughout the novel for Santiago to be able to evolve from a young boy into a mature adult while presenting the theme of growth. This is proven by Santiago showing his determination to follow his dreams despite what others think while showing great decision-making skills, and making the world a better place
Ultimately Santiago has developed his identity through the soul of the world and alchemy and has achieved his personal legend
In the book the Alchemist (by Paulo Coelho) Santiago learns many things along the way to achieving his personal legend. He gained skills and experience in things across the board, from how to clean crystals, to the 5 obligations of Muslims, to the basics of alchemy. Santiago learns from the wise, and educated, but also learns the meaning of a true friendship. Overall it is true that reaching one 's personal legend is life 's greatest treasure, but often the journey is just as valuable.
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.
Even Though there was three different people who helped santiago find his personal legend, he had to go find it to fill complete. The king helped him first by explaining what a personal legend is. 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
Santiago is shaped by his interaction with the Gypsy women, the King, the Englishman, and the Alchemist. All these individuals teach Santiago valuable life