Role Of Fate In The Alchemist

Are we humans able to control our fate or destiny? This is probably a question where no two people would ever have the same answer. Argument can be made in plenty supporting either answer.

As we follow the young boy, Santiago, in the Alchemist, through his journey, there were circumstances where he controlled his fate and others where he had no control over his future. Melchizedek, the King of Salem tells Santiago that the belief that our fates are not in our control is the world’s greatest lie. But is it truly? Do we truly control our destiny or is it out of our hands?

No one in this world can choose into which family or what circumstance they want to be born into, and to a certain extent, isn’t that a defining factor in one’s destiny?

Although the dreams occupied his thoughts, he never seriously contemplated on actually going to Egypt. It was his encounter with Melchizedek that gave him the nudge in that direction. It’s true that the decision to sell his sheep and leave everything familiar behind was entirely Santiago’s decision and yes, he alone was responsible for his actions. Still, one could ponder over whether Santiago would have actually made the trip if not for Melchizedek’s intervention. Melchizedek himself tells that Santiago is at the point where he is about to give up on his Personal Legend. So then, wasn’t Santiago’s meeting with Melchizedek at this point controlled by God and not by Santiago himself?

Santiago himself relies upon God on several occasions during his journey. While at the oasis, it was entirely Santiago’s decision to inform the chieftains of the impending danger, but why was it Santiago who saw the hawks and interpreted the signs? Thoughts of war upsets Santiago, and again Santiago consoles himself with the thought that the future was always written by God and that even if he died the next day, he would still have seen more than other shepherds and he was proud of this fact. Here again, God chose Santiago to save the oasis, but Santiago decided to inform the

He could have gone back home after working for the crystal merchant or could have continued to work for him. At the oasis, he could have taken up on the offer be the counselor for the oasis, married Fatima and stayed there and probably was in half a mind to do so. That’s probably way he told the alchemist that he has already found his treasure, namely the money he received from the crystal shop and the chieftain, a camel, and also the woman he loves, Fatima. Here too, the alchemist had to remind Santiago that none of those were found at the Pyramids, which was his initial destination. Santiago decided for himself to resume his journey to the pyramids with the alchemist’s guidance, but would Santiago have set out again if not for that prod from the alchemist or would he have stayed back at the oasis? Once again, we see intervention.

It was the alchemist who told the military chief that Santiago was an alchemist and that Santiago could destroy their camp by becoming the wind. At this moment too, wasn’t Santiago being led by God and wasn’t the circumstances completely out of Santiago’s