The Themes Of Symbols In Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist

I think this is a critical thing when finding self-discovery. An example from the text relating to this is “‘Why do we listen to our hearts’ the boy asked when they made camp that day. ‘Because, wherever your heart is, that is where you’ll find your treasure.’ “The alchemist is trying to tell Santiago that listening to his heart can lead him to what he is destined to find, his treasure. Sometimes we have doubts and feel like trying to pursue our personal legends isn’t worth it.

The two themes also appear to have a profound connection which helps readers understand the importance of these themes in the ranch life of men. Hope is strived through dreams. These dream help give meaning to life and something to live up to. For example, Candy joining George and Lennie's dream of owning land shows how a mutual dream can breed hope and fellowship. After the passing of his dog, Candy encounters a profound feeling of misfortune and feels empty.

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.

In this point of the novel, Santiago has completely giving up on his dreams of pursuing his personal legend, however; through the influence of the crystal merchant, which serves as an example of someone who has become blind to pursuing his personal legend, Santiago further develops the motivation and strength he needs to never give up and to always pursue what he desired. For example, One of the most important things Santiago learned from the Crystal Merchant is the importance of following one's heart and their personal legend. The Crystal Merchant was a symbolic message for the consequence of not following one's dreams. It results in one becoming a sheep, or someone who follows monotonous routines. For instance, the Crystal merchant states that, ‘‘Because I know the things I should be able to accomplish, and I don't want to do so,’’ which further provokes the idea of cowardness amongst himself.

One of the characters that Paulo Coelho uses to develop the them is Santiago. In the book after Santiago works for the crystal merchant for a year to earn money to go back to Spain and by more sheep as he tries to convince himself that he is making the right decision the text says “’ But I’m going back to the fields that I know, to take care of my flock again.” He said to himself with certainty, but he was no longer happy with his decision. He had worked for an entire year to make a dream come true, and that dream, minute by minute, was becoming less important.

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.

His tear falls on a spot in the ground, and his heart tells him that is where his treasure is. “Throughout the night, the boy dug at the place he had chosen, but found nothing...but he didn't stop.” This quote demonstrates his persistence and that he will not quit. He kept pushing through believing his treasure was there, looking for a needle in a hastack. He is then robbed again btu fights back saying he is just looking for a treasure.

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

Loyalty, compassion, and honesty, things that should be passed down from generation to generation. In the short story, Barn Burning by William Faulkner, the main character Sarty is battling his morality within himself. He knows the difference between right and wrong but yet he has a sense of loyalty he must contain towards his family. By examining the decisions set by his father, Sarty’s inner struggle and the strength it takes to stand up for oneself, it is clear that Sarty must make his own choices that will set him on his own path for the rest of his life. Colonel Sartoris Snopes, Sarty for short, is the small ten year old son of Abner Snopes.

Paulo Coehlo’s, The Alchemist, explores the Hero’s Journey through the story of a shepherd, Santiago. Throughout the novel, Santiago becomes more aware of his potential as he pursues his Personal Legend. He faces temptations and obstacles as he develops as a character. The hero crosses the threshold when they leave their old reality in search for a new one. Santiago crosses the threshold by selling his sheep and taking a boat to Africa.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is an intriguing novel that gives the reader wisdom and life lessons that would be beneficial to them throughout their life journey. Coelho displayed that particular wisdom and lessons through a young shepherd boy named Santiago. Santiago ventured out on a quest to find his dream, the treasure. Along the way Coelho placed certain people in Santiago’s path to give him wisdom and life lessons to help him find the foreseeable treasure that occurred in his dream. Throughout Santiago voyage he gathered at least five valuable lessons to help him succeed in perusing his dream of finding the treasure that was near the pyramids, located in Egypt.

John Grady is ignorant of his surroundings, ignored the warning by Alejandra’s mother for him to be careful around her daughter, and

Throughout Tobias Wolff’s memoir This Boys Life, the character Jack is continuously lying to himself about his identity. His characteristic of escaping reality through his imagination is a reoccurring theme in A Boy’s Life. The lies commence in the letters which he sends to his pen pal, Alice. In these letters he describes himself as “the owner of a palomino horse named Smiley who shared [his] encounters with mountain lions, rattlesnakes, and packs of coyotes on [his] father’s ranch, the Lazy B. When [he] wasn’t busy on the ranch, [he] raised German shepherds and played for several athletic teams” (Wolff 13).

He must have been looking back inside the small mart because he actually was interested in what was going on in there. If he had not wanted to remember the experience of working in the mart he would have just walked away without turning back. Sammy also mentioned that he saw Lengel in “his place in the slot” showing that he still has a connection to his job and that that is the place he is suppose to be, even though he impulsively chose to get away from it. This also highlights that he wants the spot to stay his spot. Sammy also calls the customers sheep symbolizing that he thinks of them as mindless creatures who just follow everyone else but he still misses working with them either

Mr. P explains to Junior “Son… You’re going to find more and more hope the farther and farther you walk away from this sad, sad, sad reservation” (Alexie 43). Junior is told that he can have a different future from his parent’s or anyone else’s on the reservation. The fact