The Alchemist was a novel written by Brazilian author Paulo Coelho published in 1988. It was originally written in Portuguese, and siren has become an international seller translated into 70 different languages. The novel, “The Alchemist” reveals about a shepherd boy, Santiago , who goes on a heroic journey in search of his personal legend. During his long adventure, he encounters and comes into contact with several other notable characters that would influence and help him on his epic trip. He was assisted and aided by a series of characters, these characters include Fatima, the Gypsy Woman and the crystal merchant. Fatima was a major factor to Santiago during his journey to search for his personal legend. Fatima was a beautiful Arab girl that lives at the oasis. Santiago first encounters Fatima when she was filling her water jug at one of the oasis’s wells and he immediately falls in love with her. Fatima is a support characters, she supports Santiago in everything he does, even thought it will take Santiago away from her. “ If I am really a part of your dream, you'll come back one day” (Coelho 291) Fatima is a big supporting factor towards Santiago. She trusts and believes him and wants him to achieve his personal legend. Fatima represents the treasure and true love that …show more content…
The Gypsy helped Santiago understand and interpret his dream. The Gypsy made Santiago realize what his personal legend was and where the treasure could be found, at the foot of the Egyptian Pyramids. The Gypsy also demands a charge service, Santiago must spare a tenth of his treasure to the Gypsy woman in return for her service and work. “ You came so that you cold learn about your dreams” said the old woman. (Coelho 48) The Gypsy woman was a very big contributors as he basically started and set up Santiago journey in search of his personal legend by elaborating what he has to do into to achieve his personal
The child grabs his hand and takes him to the pyramids of Egypt and tells him about a treasure there. This dream was his call to adventure. He returns home to find treasure, but realizes his true treasure was Fatima. In The Alchemist, the female protagonist is Fatima, the girl he met by the well at the oasis. Even though in the book Santiago doesn’t spend an immense amount of time with Fatima, and the book doesn't tell much about her, she plays a key role in the book and in Santiago’s heart.
They had a difficult time convincing their wives that they had to go off into distant fields.” (Coelho 101). The temptation of staying with Fatima in the Al-Fayoum oasis creates an internal conflict within Santiago as he must decide between pursuing his Personal Legend and fulfilling his life’s potential or staying with Fatima in the Al-Fayoum oasis. Through his displays of devotion and loyalty, it is evident that he is hesitant to leave Fatima and all that she represents because he thinks that once he leaves, he might never be able to be with her again. Santiago's interactions with Fatima are vital to his journey as they allow him to reconsider and ultimately devote himself back to his hero’s journey, this time with another goal in mind: to return back to Fatima.
Santiago’s last step to completing his personal legend was walking through the desert, to find his treasure and completing it. Thus, showing the symbols and meanings behind these little puzzle pieces in the journey and being rewarded with love and treasure helping to support my thesis, through seeing and understanding symbols behind the world people can learn about their own personal legend and live life to the
While at the Oasis of Al-Fayoum, the elder chieftain of the oasis tells Santiago the story of Joseph of Egypt. Joseph was enslaved for being a dreamer, but he persevered and managed to become an important counselor to the Pharaoh of Egypt. This Personal Legend could have suited Santiago because of his connection to the Soul of the World. The Soul of the World is a spiritual unity that binds all forms of nature together. Santiago knew he wanted to follow his dreams; it was helpful when he learned that “When you want something, all the universe conspires to help you achieve it” because he knew he was now destined to complete his goal, and not somebody else’s (Coelho 64).
The book begins with Santiago’s craving for love with a merchant’s daughter to whom he has only spoken with a few words. This “love” is what takes Santiago off track from his pursuit of his Personal Legend as Santiago refers to this love as his main goal in living. However, when Santiago meets Fatima, his true love, it presents a more difficult challenge as it convinces him to abandon his Personal Legend. However, his love with Fatima is acceptable since Fatima encourages him to pursue his Personal Legend. Fatima says, “If I am really a part of your dream, you'll come back one day” (97).
Santiago then gives up and refuses to go to Egypt for his treasure. The dream interpreter does not give Santiago
It contributing the mood in the book. Santiago was finally at the pyramids, and was digging the hole that he had chosen, but he found nothings. Later, some figures stole his gold and start to beat him because they thought Santiago had more than that. Santiago was finally in the Pyramids, but he found nothings. He already sacrificed staying with Fatima and he gave all his money away, he had nothing but felt near death.
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.
In “The Alchemist”, Santiago, the main character has a dream of finding treasure at the Egyptian pyramids and finds it non coincidental that this dream has occurred twice. In that time period it would mean that his dream was an omen or a sign to make journey to go and find the mysterious treasure. According to scholar Maria Louw, “Dream omens embody peoples’ fears about, hopes for, how their lives may develop” (Louw 1). Santiago was encouraged by a gypsy who interpreted dreams and understood
All of these people and objects helped guide Santiago through his journey to get to the pyramids. When Santiago first meets the King of Salem, he is inspiring Santiago to pursue his personal legend. The King says, “In order to find the treasure, you will have to follow the omens. God has prepared a path for everyone to follow.
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
Fatima was more important than his treasure” (95). Santiago is willing to drop everything
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.”
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
After discovering the treasure Santiago decided to go in search for Fatima. He has tousands of spanish gold. And he wanted go and live forever with Fatima. But first he must passed over the big desert. With the power of to saw Fatima he troted along the short trip.