Individuality In The Alchemist

“ To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Individuality is a topic not discussed or analyzed often, but is becoming extremely important to understand. In this day in age, individuals are bombarded with advertisements, political platforms and peer influence, which may lead to changed ideals and becoming part of a collective group. These persuasion tactics introduce bias opinions into the minds of the recipient and as a result lose some of their own individuality. If an individual is passionate about their individuality, they may be confronted by various obstacles. The novel, “The Alchemist”, the film “Swing”, and factual stories of the Residential

Schools in Canada, are all examples of individuals passionate and expressing their individuality and as a result getting opposed by opposition. The results of this opposition vary greatly, but nonetheless jeopardized the individuality as a whole.

In the novel “The Alchemist”, written by Paulo Coelho, a young nomadic shepherd named Santiago is travelling the countryside, strengthening the bond with his flock of sheep, and learning life lessons from his storybook. One fateful morning he meets a man who informs him about a great treasure in Africa, and Santiago makes it his life goal to accomplish and travel to that specific spot. Santiago is being an individual as he is not pursuing the general life of a shepherd, but he's following his individual person goal. Almost immediately as he enters Africa, he has his money stolen and starts working for a crystal merchant in a rural market area. During conversations with the merchant, he learns that their two ideologies are opposites. Santiago starts thinking of things in different ways and the shopkeeper even tries to persuade the young shepard away from his ultimate goals and aspirations. Fortunately, Santiago

shakes off the persuasion and continues to follow his own personal ideas, not what the shopkeeper tried to influence him into thinking. As well, as his journey continues, and as he continues to meet new individuals, he starts questioning his own prior thoughts. Santiagoa nearly commits to actually changing his own thoughts. When he nearly arrived at his sought after destination, he heavily considers turning back and giving up on his personal goal. If it wouldn’t have been for the wise advice from the elderly Alchemist, Santiago would have succumbed to the ideas presented to him by the individuals he met during his travels. Santiago continues on his quest, and is internally satisfied with his decision to follow his individual path. This is a fantastic example of how Santiago's individuality was threatened and opposed by new and foreign ideas, leading to reconsideration and almost complete influence, but Santiago realized this pressure and stayed true to himself and his individual path.

In the movie “Swing Kids”, directed by Thomas Carter, a young man named Peter Muller has his individuality restricted and changed during the rise of Nazi Germany. Nazi Germany was a very anti ideologistic country in which they created a way for all Germans citizens to think and act. As a young male, Thomas was sent to the “Hitler Youth Program”, in order to be heavily influenced by the governments bias war propaganda. This brainwashing was a way for the Nazi government to assure unification and no self expressment. Thomas obeyed but the thing he loved most dearly was going to the big swing dances. At these special parties, teenagers went and showed off their wild dance moves and have a fun night with their friends. The only problem with these events is that the German government banned swing music because it is created by non German composers and artists. The music restriction is another obstacle put in place in order to limit individuality. Also, Nazi government followed the political standpoint of fascism. This meant that the government would decide on set numbers of specific products to be produced based on the needs of the population. This governmental control would reduce the amount of self expression. The Nazi government also reduced the amount of verbal expression. If you overheard someone talking negatively or against the German government, you could alert the police and that individual would be taken away for punishment or imprisonment. Fully aware of the strict policy on no swing music, Thomas continued to attend in order to show his individuality in a time of silence, order, and oppression. As a result of his actions, Thomas is taken to a war camp for expressing his individual feelings and ideas. The obstacles created by the Nazi Government inhibited self expression and individualism, and Thomas took an enormous risk by attending the illegal dances and as a result will suffer the wrath of the gruesome war camps.

Lastly, The Residential Schools of Canada are a perfect example of how individuals were opposed by obstacles that limited their individualities.

The First Nations of Canada lived off the land, had colourful and in depth ceremonies and cultures, and lived in harmony with the other tribes, that is until the Europeans came to Canada. Initially, the relationship was positive for both groups, attaining new ressources and information but that relationship slowly corroded. With the Europeans, diseases were brought over which decimated Indigenous people. The English and French rivalry continued in the New Land and both European countries allied with different First Nation Tribes, causing a divide between First Nation groups. After the English won over Canada they constructed buildings called Residential Schools. The objective of this buildings was to convert First Nations into Europeens. In order to do that, young Aboriginal children needed to be taken away from their families and tribes. The Europeens would teach them english, europeen habits, and most of all, take away their culture. The First Nation culture was their entire identity and it was how they were different than the Europeans and even other tribes. The young children's long, culturally symbolic hair was immediately trimmed to a shorter, Europeen look. The Europeans also used methods similar to torture in order “ take the First Nation out of them”, such as physical, verbal, and sexual harassment. The impact of

Residential schools has affected generations of First Nations, even to this day. These schools took away the thing that defined who they were and it was forced away from them. Everything from the way the acted, the way they spoke, the clothes they wore, and even their culture and identity were changed. The individuality of the young First Nations was taken away from them.

In conclusion I believe that individually is the most defining feature of a human being. Having the ability to express and communicate thoughts and feelings, own personal values and motives, and the ability to choose one's own path leads to prospiring and satisfying lives. If these personal freedom is restricted, individuals become more of a collective, limiting the factors which make each and everyone of us different. If a group of individuals individuality is constricted by an exterior force, then the whole group will suffer due to restricted freedom. “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind don’t matter, and those who matter don't mind” Dr. Seuss