How Does Paulo Coelho Present Santiago In The Alchemist

1038 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Theme and subject matter of the alchemist

Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist is about a young shepherd named Santiago who has a dream about finding treasure in the Ancient Pyramids of Egypt. He’s told by an old gypsy that he must go and follow his dream. On the way he meets an old king who offers him knowledge and wisdom so that he can be on his way to follow his Personal Legend. The boy also meets a crystal merchant who provided him with a job so that he can continue his journey. When Santiago saved up enough money, he took a caravan across a desert to get to the pyramids where he met the leader of the caravan and a real alchemist. The alchemist taught him new ways of viewing life. Santiago’s call to adventure was his dream of the child telling him that there was treasure waiting for him …show more content…

His temptation was the girl he fell in love with, Fatima. Santiago was a wealthy man with a decent life already, and he could have stayed home in the desert instead of leaving for his personal legend. “I also love Fatima. She is a treasure greater than anything I have won.”(115) He decided to go anyways because love wouldn’t be true love if Fatima didn’t let him go. His challenge was adapting to the people around him and picking up fast. For example, nobody really communicated in a straightforward way. “The boy noted that there was a sense of fear in the air, even though no one said anything”(77) He responds to these challenges by doing the best he could understanding things …show more content…

His rebirth was when he ends up laughing in their face because they have just revealed to him, without knowing, the location of the buried treasure. “They seemed to laugh at him and he laughed back, his heart bursting with joy. Because now he knew where the treasure was.”(163) Santiago keeps quiet and when they let him go, he makes his way back to the place that the robber had described, which happened to be back home where he and his sheep used to pass everyday. This piece is significant because by following his personal legend, the world basically rewarded him for actually caring about his personal legend, and not just the treasure. So the boy is now different from before he went on his adventure because he now understands why everything that happened, happened. And why he was supposed to meet everyone he met along the way. “You old sorcerer,” the boy shouted up to the sky. “You knew the whole story. You even left a bit of gold at the monastery so I could get back to this church….”(166) Everything that was not understood by the boy about life, he now understood. This shows that everyone has a personal legend, but not everyone gets to live if because they simply don’t want or they are more interested in the end resulting in

Show More
Related

  • Comparing The Alchemist And The Lion King

    885 Words  | 2 Pages

    forcing the young hero to prove himself, Santiago gains the self belief necessary to complete his quest.

    Read More

  • The Hero's Journey To Santiago In 'The Alchemist'

    1680 Words  | 4 Pages

    Santiago then sets out on yet another journey, to see the alchemist. The alchemist tells Santiago that he was going to point him in the direction of the treasure. Once again Santiago is at crossroads. He replies 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. The alchemist reminds him that none of those were found at the Pyramids, which was his initial

    Read More

  • The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and Cinderella Man Directed by Ron Howard

    893 Words  | 2 Pages

    In The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, Santiago is a poor Shepard. He travels across Spain and the middle east selling wool from his sheep. For some time, Santiago has been having the same dream about treasure by pyramids in Egypt. While selling wool in a small town, Santiago meets a gypsy. The gypsy who lives in Tarifa and interprets dreams. She reads palms and uses black magic iconography although she keeps images of Christ present. Santiago does not initially believe the gypsy. Until the king from Salem, King Mechizedek explains what a personal legend is to Santiago and that his personal legend is to find this treasure. Melchizedek convinces Santiago to sell his flock and set off to Tangier. Santiago decides to take the kings advices Santiago to sell his flock and travel to Tangier. Santiago decides to do just that. Until, that is. he is robbed in Tarifa. He was inside a bar, but didn't know Arabic. A person who spoke Spanish like him agreed to take him across the desert. Santiago gave him all of his money and followed him through a crowded market place. An ornate sword distracted him and the thief slipped away in the crowd. Santiago then gets a job with the crystal merchant. Santiago is there for about a year. In that time, he helps make the merchant rich. After a year, he travels to the pyramids to find his treasure. Santiago leaves and meets He joins a caravan traveling to Egypt.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Sacrifice In The Alchemist

    1796 Words  | 4 Pages

    Upon arriving they said they would stay at the oasis until it was safe to cross the desert. A camel driver tells Santiago that, “There are rumors of tribal wars” (The Alchemist 80). When entering the oasis they had to hand over their arms and stay in tents with locals and fellow travelers. During his short time at the oasis Santiago experiences love at first sight with a girl named Fatima. As the war drags on Santiago tells Fatima about his personal legend and she encourages him to continue on to Egypt. Although she has been waiting for him her entire life she still insisted that he achieve his personal legend. She said if they are meant to be together they will meet again one day. Then Santiago left the oasis with the Alchemist towards the pyramids. Through this he realizes that each challenge he faces on the way to his destination forms part of God's

    Read More

  • The Hero's Journey In The Alchemist By Paulo Coelho

    1053 Words  | 3 Pages

    After Santiago has had his dream interpreted, he sets out on a journey with the guidance of many people such as a king and a new friend. Firstly, Santiago meets a king who tells him that he can help him find his treasure if he gives him a tenth of his sheep. Santiago then sold all but one tenth of his sheep, which left him with a lot of money and a treasure he sought (Coelho 31). Now that he has no sheep left, he has nothing left to go back to, and has to start his journey. During the crossing of the first threshold stage, Santiago has to decide to take a step in which he gives everything up to pursue his personal legend. Now that Santiago has a lot of money, he is able to make the voyage to his treasure, but first he must get guidance. A boy he meets in a bar serves as a guide who holds his money for him, until when Santiago is not looking, the boy runs off with all of his money (Coelho 41). Santiago now has no money left and no sheep left. During the belly of the whale stage, Santiago faces a very impactful hindrance in which he is left with nothing but hope for finding. Lastly, Santiago faces many external struggles while on his journey across the desert towards the treasure in his dream. After traveling with a caravan during the hot days and very cold nights, Santiago learns that it is unsafe because there are tribal wars

    Read More

  • The Journey Through Adversity In The Alchemist By Paulo Coelho

    1221 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the beginning of the book, Santiago travels to visit a Gypsy who is said to be able interpret his recurring dream. As a child he had always heard stories about Gypsies capturing children, taking them to their camps and making them their slaves. These stories translated into one of his largest fears for Santiago as a child and that fear returned when he visited the Gypsy, “As a child, the boy had always been frightened to death that he would be captured by Gypsies, and this childhood fear returned when the old woman took his hand” (17). The Gypsy eventually tells Santiago that there is treasure located at the Egyptian Pyramids. Without being able to overcome his fears of Gypsies, Santiago may have never went on a journey to Egypt in order to achieve his personal legend. Another example in the book that shows Santiago overcoming his fears is while Santiago and the Alchemist are travelling towards the Pyramids. They are suddenly captured by a desert tribe at war, who mistakes them for spies. In order to save his life Santiago has to turn himself into the wind. Coelho states, “But the boy was too frightened to listen to words of wisdom. He had no idea how he was going to transform himself into the wind” (83). Two days later Santiago is standing in front of the tribal chieftains trying to turn himself into the wind. He is able to stay calm while his life is on the line and

    Read More

  • The Alchemist Archetypes Essay

    1566 Words  | 4 Pages

    Santiago is a young boy who fits into the flawed hero archetype. His story tells of his journey to find his Personal Legend and the many new people and experiences he encounters. Santiago is flawed in the way that he does not have enough confidence in himself to complete the task set out in front of him. He is constantly putting himself off track and avoiding what he has to do. In the beginning of his journey, he faces a setback and his money gets stolen. While finding a solution and a job, he gets distracted loses sight of his dreams. A couple months into the job, he thinks, “...Egypt was now just as distant a dream as was Mecca for the merchant…” (Coelho 58) and he glorifies his new plan to “disembark at Tarifa as a winner” (Coelho 58) with his improved flock of sheep. However, he continues his journey two years later, despite his break in confidence. When Santiago reaches the Oasis during his journey across the desert, he gets sidetracked once more by a woman. This woman’s name is Fatima. The second time they meet Santiago speaks without thinking and says, “‘I came to tell you just one thing...I want you to be my wife. I love you.’” (Coelho 98). This alone demonstrates his rash actions of an inexperienced hero who causes his dreams to be postponed. However, Santiago is also a successful hero despite his flaws. He still continues his journey, no matter what, and eventually reaches his goal. Even through

    Read More

  • The Alchemist Quotes

    790 Words  | 2 Pages

    "If someone isn’t what others want them to be, the others become angry. Everyone seems to have a clear ideals of how other people should lead their lives, but none about their own.” That is one of many deep quotes that makes the reader truly think about life in The Alchemist, written by Paulo Coelho. The book is about a young boy named Santiago, who loves travel and adventure, but he does not have the money to do so. He was raised to be a priest, but decides that he would rather be a shepherd, so that he can travel. Santiago’s father gives him two spanish coins, and tells him that he will learn one day that no place is as beautiful as the one he lives in. It seems like Santiago’s father believes in him, but not the way Santiago wants him to.

    Read More

  • Overcoming Problems in The Alchemist

    617 Words  | 2 Pages

    Have you ever encountered problems while trying to fulfill a goal in your life? In the book The Alchemist, written by Paulo Coelho, a shepherd boy named Santiago overcomes obstacles to reach his personal legend. Throughout the book Santiago encounters many friends to help him fulfill his destiny. Santiago encounters many problems throughout the story. He overcomes them with the help of his friends and his wife-to-be. These problems shape Santiago into a dignified man of many traits.

    Read More

  • The Theme of “The Alchemist,” by Paulo Coelho

    513 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Theme of “The Alchemist,” by Paulo Coelho is, always follow your dreams and listen to your heart. At the start of the novel Santiago does not know what he should do when he is confronted by his dream. But by the end of the novel Santiago completely trusts his heart to guide him though life. Santiago’s story shows him learning and living out the theme of the novel.

    Read More

  • The Love of a Woman in Paulo Coelho’s Novel "The Alchemist"

    1116 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... like all desert women, knows that just because Santiago must leave, it does not mean that he does not love her. Fatima is not resigning herself to stay behind and play the role of dutiful wife or girlfriend; she is merely prepared to wait for her treasure to return to her after he has found his.

    Read More

  • Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist: Synthesis Essay

    1287 Words  | 3 Pages

    In The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho continuously shows how Santiago conquers fear and is greatly rewarded for it. In order to get his treasure and achieve his personal legend he must first travel through the well-known dangers of the desert. It is an extremely expensive trip that many do...

    Read More

  • What Does Santiago Learn From The Alchemist

    570 Words  | 2 Pages

    And then the other women are happy because they believe that their men may one day return, as well. I used to look at those women and envy them their happiness. Now, I too will be one of those women who wait”(Coelho, pg 101, para. 5). This shows that Santiago wants to stay with Fatima and stop his journey, but when Fatima says that he should follow his personal legend and come back for her later. Santiago goes because inside he truly knows it is the right thing.

    Read More

  • Literary Techniques In The Alchemist

    1314 Words  | 3 Pages

    Following dreams can be very difficult, there can be bumps in the road, but there are also times when a step is taken closer to achieving the dream. Santiago pursues his Personal Legend of finding treasure at the Great Pyramids in Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist. Coelho writes about Santiago achieving his dream in hopes to show that following dreams, although it can be difficult, is necessary in life or else a life of regret awaits those who give up. The novel’s structure expresses his ideas and easily conveys to the reader what he wants them to take from his novel.

    Read More

  • Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist

    1189 Words  | 3 Pages

    He has met the king, the merchant, the Englishman, Fatima, and the alchemist, and the last to meet is a refugee that leads him to the gold. Beaten, weak, and nearly unconscious, Santiago hopes the refugees are done, but one returns with the greatest news by telling Santiago, “’You’re not going to die. You’ll live, and you’ll learn that a man shouldn’t be so stupid. Two years ago, right here on this spot, I had a recurrent dream, too. I dream that I should travel to the fields of Spain and look for a ruined church where shepherds and their sheep slept…if I dug at the root of the sycamore, I would find a hidden treasure.

    Read More

More about How Does Paulo Coelho Present Santiago In The Alchemist

Open Document