The Development of Santiago in The Alchemist Most protagonists in a novel go on a transformative journey. They are consistent and motivated, but they also have to evolve over the course of the story. This transformation begins with the modern protagonist in a position of deficit that makes them reluctant and scared, but each task on their journey changes them. In the novel The Alchemist, Santiago fulfills these elements of character development. Santiago suffers at the beginning from the feeling of being unfulfilled by life as a shepherd in Andalusia. Santiago goes on a journey facing crisis and complications of self-doubt, fear, and uncertainty, but remains determined and committed to fulfilling a Personal Legend. Santiago is finally transformed …show more content…
For example, early in the journey, Santiago is robbed and left with no other option but to take a job at a crystal shop to save enough money to continue the journey. “‘Do you want to work for me?’ the merchant asked. ‘I can work for the rest of today,’ the boy answered. ‘I’ll work all night, until dawn, and I’ll clean every piece of crystal in your shop. In return, I need money to get to Egypt tomorrow.’” (Coelho, 49-50) This shows Santiago's resourcefulness and determination to achieve the goal of reaching …show more content…
“Sometimes it frightened the boy with the idea that he might not find his treasure, or that he might die there in the desert. At other times, it told the boy that it was satisfied: it had found love and riches.” (Coelho,133) “‘I’m not afraid of failing. It’s just that I don’t know how to turn myself into the wind.’ ‘Well, you’ll have to learn; your life depends on it.’ ‘But what if I can’t?’ ‘Then you’ll die in the midst of trying to realize your Personal Legend. That’s a lot better than dying like millions of other people, who never even knew what their Personal Legends were. ‘But don’t worry,’ the alchemist continued. ‘Usually the threat of death makes people a lot more aware of their lives.’” (Coelho, 146) These quotes show how Santiago is consistently characterized as a person who is determined to achieve one’s Personal Legend, even in the face of uncertainty and fear of
For example, after Santiago travels back to Andalusia and digs inside the abandoned church, he finds a chest full of treasure. He thinks about how he was able to reach his treasure and achieve his Personal Legend; “It's true; life really is generous to those who pursue their Personal Legend, the boy thought" (170). Santiago decided to follow his dream and never gave up, even when he was robbed in Tangier. As a result, he met many people, including Fatima, the love of his life, and learned many important lessons from them. Finally, he found his treasure.
In The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho uses the story of Santiago to illustrate that adversity stands as a necessity in one’s growth and transformation. Coelho talks about how if an individual is persistent about reaching their “treasure”, they will not only
The Personal Legend is a powerful metaphor for one's unique destiny or purpose in life. Throughout the novel, Coelho explores the idea that each individual has a Personal Legend that they must pursue in order to achieve true fulfillment and happiness. The concept of Personal Legend has a profound impact on the novel, both thematically and in terms of character development. At the heart of the metaphor of the Personal Legend is the idea that every person has a unique destiny that they must discover and pursue. Santiago, the novel's protagonist, is initially unaware of his Personal Legend.
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.
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
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).
"When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it." (43). Santiago is discovering that in order to pursue his personal legend that he will need to expand his knowledge about the world. Finally, Santiago’s knowledge evolves and as a result he Santiago grows into a wise man. To conclude, the boy understands the value of the advice from the old king.
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.
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.
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.”
Santiago’s path in this world was interfered with obstacles that taught him the meaning of life and his existence. The symbol of life is determined by a single word; value. All the things that exists or departed from this world carry a sole purpose that
He has always told me that you will learn many things that will affect my future, but it will also be time for me to fall and after I become stronger and fight to realize my dreams. "Only one thing makes the dream unrealizable, fear of failure" (p 141) When I read the story of Santiago in the Alchemist, I remember exactly what my grandfather said about how we fall and get up in this life. We are human that we do not think about the dangers of falling, but we want to reach our dreams and in my case follow the same legend as my grandfather. Do what the heart says, She knows everything, because she is born of the soul of the world, and there she will return one