Who Is Santiago's Journey In The Alchemist

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?

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.

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

Santiago wanted to the fatima to know that he had fallen in love with her and he didn 't want her to forget about him,but she wanted him to know that for years she dreamt of having to have the hope of a loved one coming back home,and that he had to do what every male in the desert did and go find his treasure,and all she did was stay home and hope for him to come home. He came upon so many challenges along the way with the alchemist,and he had the enough knowledge in order to overcome them,but needed a little push. His heart was always with him talking to him about fear but also excitement about traveling to the pyramids,and when they came upon tribesmen santiago never gave to turn himself into the wind which was their only way out. When he got to where he treasure was a refugee man from tribal wars told him that he would live,and that exact same spot he had the same dream two years ago,but that he should have learned that a man wouldn 't be so stupid to cross an entire

Santiago’s willpower and understanding grows once he leaves with the Alchemist. The Abyss and Rebirth are the points in the Hero Cycle when it is the darkest hour and the hero pushes through it, becoming a new person in whole. In The Alchemist, Santiago’s darkest moment is when he has to turn himself into gold, and he regenerates into this person who is one with God. He “saw that the Soul of God was his own.

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

Decision-making through the theory of Existentialism Existentialism is a philosophy which means finding self or finding meaning of life. It is theory which talks about freedom. Paulo Coelho in the novel The Alchemist talks about Santiago’s dilemmas and how he takes decision.

Ultimately Santiago has developed his identity through the soul of the world and alchemy and has achieved his personal legend

During his journey, Santiago receives knowledge that he treasures and uses on his behalf when he hopes to achieve his personal legend. During his time with the Crystal merchant Santiago learned the five sacred obligations of all Muslims, and he learned that the Pyramids were not nearly as close as he thought when he arrived in Africa. During his time with the Alchemist he learned how to find life in the desert, and how to

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.

However, through disregarding everything but his dream, Santiago understands his real potential. In this way, he inserts to the Soul of the World. With this under consideration, many questions can be brought up. What is the attitude of The Alchemist towards material wealth and individualism, and how does this relate to significant religions? Unlike various religions, The Alchemist does not differentiate between the material and the spiritual world.

During the whole story Santiago is trying to find his personal legend, he is trying to find his purpose in life. Therefore in the Alchemist, the most important thing is personal legend. Everything is based off Santiago’s personal legend, if he wouldn’t of became a shepherd the book wouldn’t be all about him following his personal legend and trying to figure out what his was. Santiago has to figure out a bunch of new things that lend his to his personal

Before finding his treasure, he must be courageous and clever to survive the desert and the danger that he encounters. This courage enables him to reach the treasure and fulfill his Personal Legend. The determination Santiago exhibits is what allows him to earn his fortune and decide his

In Part one Santiago could be described as weak character. He is easily manipulated and persuaded by others such as the gypsy and the tour guide he met at the bar when he first arrived in Africa. His hunger for money blinds him from seeing his

While he travels through the desert he becomes closer to the desert, listening to what it has to say, and finally listening to what his heart has to say. In relation to Santiago’s development, this scene tells readers he was trying to find his own identity. He didn’t want his parents to make the choice of how he should live his life. He wanted to do what he thought was better for him, which was shepherding instead of being a priest.