I chose to read The Alchemist because the subject of wanderlust really interests me and when researching this topic, this book was recommended by multiple sources. I like the idea of adventure, mystery and not knowing who you will meet or where you will be the next day. There is a huge world waiting to be explored and because I am currently not exploring it myself, I want to read about other people who have, fiction or nonfiction. Santiago is a young shepherd who leaves his supportive family for the life of adventure. He has a severe case of wanderlust and uses his sheep to make money to support himself along the way. For a few years, he grows very close and familiar with his beloved animals, wandering the pastures of his country, Andalusia. He then has a reoccurring dream that causes him to believe that he should find treasure hidden beneath the Egyptian pyramids. He goes on his way to sell his sheep so that he may have enough money to travel to Egypt. After selling his livestock, his money is stolen from him and Santiago is in despair and dreading the idea of starting over, or worse, returning home empty …show more content…
I did anticipate the protagonist giving up everything to travel the world because that was his passion- in the book, his Personal Legend. What surprised me was how metaphorical, and almost spiritual, the story was. Santiago fell in love and then turned himself into the wind because he wanted to return to the oasis. He had to go through a long journey and discover what the language spoken by all was in order to feel fulfilled, so the most of the plot line was more than I was originally looking for. This book was pretty easy to read because it seemed to be at a lower reading level and most of the chapters were filled with blunt, basic sentences. There were certain points when everything would become colorfully descriptive, but this only occurred when something important or deeply metaphorical was
After miles of trekking across the desert for many weeks, Santiago eventually meets the Alchemist. They continue their journey through the desert until one day when three soldiers capture them. The alchemist makes a deal with the soldiers; if Santiago can turn himself into the wind in three days, they will be set free, forcing Santiago to face two more challenges. First, he must quickly learn the Language of the World. To do so, he thoroughly examines himself and the world around him.
The book The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is a fantasy volume that explores complex and interesting facets of human life and the human experience through the journey of a young boy named Santiago. Santiago is told by a Gypsy that he must travel to find treasure at the Pyramids of Egypt. While on his trip he discoveres many things and in the end learns what it is that he truly seeks. There are many themes in The Alchemist including that theme that all things are connected in some way. In the first half of the novel Santiago meets the king of Salem Melchizedek.
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.
Paulo Coelho, the author of The Alchemist tells the story of Santiago a Shepard whose life changes once he finds out about a treasure from his frequent dreams and meets a strange man who helps him to start his personal legend. On Santiago’s journey he starts to see the hidden meanings behind daily life creating the thesis that through seeing and understanding symbols behind the world people can learn about their own personal legend and live life to the fullest. Santiago’s life starts out all about his sheep, he chose to be a shepherd, so he could travel and meet new people. Santiago’s job is to take care of the sheep, but the sheep have more meaning in the story. The sheep represent how he is comfortable in his life and how he is questioning his frequent dream, to sacrifice his comfortable life to find this treasure or to continue without taking the risk.
One can overcome adversity with the right motivation. In the novel The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, a shepherd boy by the name of Santiago embarks on an expedition to reach his personal legend. He travels to Egypt after having a recurring dream about treasure in the pyramids. On his journey from Andalusia to Egypt he attains much wisdom from people he meets along the way. Throughout his journey Santiago is met with many struggles and obstacles, but overall he develops into a well rounded person.
The novel The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is about a young boy named Santiago who is trying to pursue his personal legend. Along the way he meets many people, sees many omens and faces many challenges. He has to discover the language of the world to be able to find his treasure, but little does he know the treasure is no ordinary thing. Sure, there was a chest of gold coins but he also gained knowledge of the soul of the world. Paulo Coleho uses characters including the crystal merchant, the gypsy woman, Fatima, and the Englishman to explore the theme that someone has to realize and pursue their personal legend to be truly happy.
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.
Lessons, Memories, and Values Gained “‘If you can concentrate always on the present, you’ll be a happy man. You’ll see that there is life in the desert, that there are stars in the heavens, and that tribesmen fight because they are part of the human race.’” expresses the courageous camel driver (Coelho 87). Braving through the strong and dangerous desert, Santiago listens to those around him, including the leaders of the trip who seem to have no fear of their environment. Leaving behind his role as a shepherd, Santiago embarks on a difficult trip to a treasure seen in his dreams, during which, he receives words of wisdom from many. In The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho utilizes the lessons, memories, and values created during Santiago’s journey
Santiago gets more than just the treasurer he was looking for when going to egypt on his journey in The Alchemist by Panlo coelho. In this story a boy named santiago goes on a journey to egypt with a lot of life lessons on his way to find his treasurer he was looking for. Santiago’s journey, especially the alchemist , the crystal merchant , and fatima demonstrate that the pursuit of the Personal Legend, not the actual outcome, is more rewarding.
Christopher Thaphorn Mrs. Anderson and Mrs. Trobaugh English 2 26 January 2023 Hero’s Journey in The Alchemist What does a person have to go through to become a hero? In Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey he describes the path a person has to take to become a hero. The hero’s journey is used in many different stories. It describes a circular path a person has to take to become a hero like meeting a mentor,being trapped, and the road back. In The Alchemist a shepherd named Santiago goes through this journey to find his treasure.
Throughout his journey, he unearths the truths of life, discovers his meaning of living, and what connects life all together. In the grand scheme of things, psychological changes are much more valuable than physical changes, and Santiago went from a shepherd boy with no view of the future to a man knowledgeable of the hidden truths all around us. Nevertheless, our three heroes are different men now than from when they began their
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 is a famous book written by Paulo Coelho. It’s about a shepherd named Santiago who travels from his homeland Spain to the Pyramids in Egypt. He does this to find a treasure he was told about. Along his hard journey, he meets some people along the way like a gypsy woman and a king in disguise who all direct him towards his quest. He doesn’t let the obstacles stop him toward his goal and eventually he finds his treasure.
The Alchemist: I change my mind too much. I could relate a lot with the main character, of the book The Alchemist, named Santiago, who was a shepherd that did not want to become what his parents wanted him to be, which was a priest, because they were just a simple farm family. And I thought what he did was interesting, which is a journey to the Egypt, to find the treasure he saw in his dream. I think he wanted to experience new things, which is what I can relate to, and is what I'm interested to. I do not have a future dream or things that I want to do to live.
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.