In The Alchemist, maktub is a phrase taught to Santiago by the people of the desert, that evolves into his explanation of the unexplained universe, and how helpless humans are to change what has been decided by the gods. Maktub, “frequently carries the meaning 'decreed' or 'established' ” (Esposito, 188), and “in popular religion, it refers to fate or something that is predetermined,” (Esposito, 188). To Muslims, maktub affirms their belief that Allah is responsible for everything in the world, and that ultimately their lives will follow the path he has determined for them. Maktub carries with it a connotation of lack of control over ones life; an acceptance of things as they are and of things to come as what was meant to be. In the Islamic …show more content…
The role of the mentor is to “protect the main character,” (Literary Devices, 4) and “through the wise advice and training of [the] mentor … the main character achieves success” (Literary Devices, 4). The mentor is as important to the story as the main character and is often a critical part of the hero accomplishing his quest. Some examples of the mentor are Yoda from Star Wars, Atticus from to Kill a Mockingbird, and Hagrid from the Harry Potter series. In many situations, the mentor is such an effective teacher because they themselves have at one point been in the hero's position. The are able to teach the hero how to defeat a dragon because they once conquered one themselves; they can help the hero overthrow the king because they once dethroned a ruler. It is through their own experience that the mentor learns vital lessons of not just survival but of greatness. They oftentimes chose to pass these lessons down to the hero in an attempt to make the hero's own journey easier and spare them the hardship the mentor faced on his or her own mission. While they are not always driven by pure benevolence, the mentor does believe they will gain something from helping the hero, be it satisfaction from a good deed, or some form of material payment. The alchemist promises to “guide [Santiago] across …show more content…
Santiago believes that since he began “learning the Language of the World … everything in the world is beginning to make sense to [him] … even the flight of the hawks” (Coelho, 99/100) and being able to understand such things means he is beginning to “penetrate … the Soul of the World” (Coelho, 101). The hawks symbolize a connection between the Soul of the World and the physical globe, they serve as messengers of the plan that has been written but that is subject to change should someone choose to act. They combine a multitude of functions into a simple desert bird, performing the tasks of translator, spokesman, and metaphor. They translate the complex thoughts of the Soul of the World into straightforward flight paths to be interpreted by humans. They speak for the Soul of the World, showcasing for those in tune to its wavelengths that the Soul of the World can be benevolent; giving humans the opportunity to create a better future for themselves so long as they heed the warnings and omens the Soul of the World has put forth. They act as a metaphor for the Soul of the World, showing that like the hawks, the Soul of the World has the power in its hand to take life or spare it, and that no niche or hole in the sand can hide one from the Soul of the World's plans, like no hiding place is safe from the talons of the hungry hawk. The hawks in a
A mentor is a trusted guide who shows you the way in life. Through the mentors of Pi and Antonio, they help save and point them to the right way in life. In the novel Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya, Ultima shows Tony that good can always overcome evil, no matter how evil it may be. Life of Pi by Yann Martel, shows that Pi can face his fears by the help of a big Bengal tiger in a small boat, and that the littlest things in life can change the course of how your destiny awaits.
...ng in the sky. The birds are present in the top left corner of the visual, birds in general are a symbolic creature which symbolises freedom. The birds are also producing a distinctive visual in the thoughts of the responder, which helps them visualise the freedom through the visual.
The birds show symbolism in more than one way throughout the text. As the soldiers are travelling from all over the world to fight for their countries in the war, the birds are similarly migrating for the change of seasons. The birds however, will all be returning, and many of the soldiers will never return home again. This is a very powerful message, which helps the reader to understand the loss and sorrow that is experienced through war.
In The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho an Andalusian boy named Santiago leaves Spain to travel to Egypt in order to achieve his Personal Legend. During his journey he meets four people, a Gypsy, a King named Melchizedek, an Englishman and an Alchemist, all of whom help Santiago along his journey towards his Personal Legend. However, only the King and the Alchemist teach Santiago lessons that he can learn from and use along his journey. The King teaches Santiago two lessons, to follow omens and that it is not always about the destination but that it is also about the journey. The Alchemist teaches Santiago to listen to his heart for guidance, what the Language of the World is and what the Soul of the World is. He eventually arrives in Egypt after
In William Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar, the character Cassius is quoted famously for the line, “Men at some time are masters of their fates: the fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.” (Act I Scene II). Paulo Coelho’s novel The Alchemist adheres to this reference as one follows the story of a young man pursuing his Personal Legend. We find through this story that Coelho is emphasizing the message Cassius uses to manipulate Brutus, that there is a need for each of us to break away from settling and finally determine our own fates.
Beginning the essay, Warren establishes a dark, mysterious tone with setting the scene with a “tumultuous avalanche,” leading up to the unexpected arrival of the deathly creature. Representing the Grim Reaper, the hawk employs his wing as a scythe and embodies death as he eradicates another day. Calling attention as the hawk “is climbing the last light,” the author emphasizes the “unforgiving”
"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.
The alchemist and Santiago met in the desert. They travel together to find the treasure. Through the journey, Santiago encountered many difficulties and fear was one of them. This is what the alchemist told Santiago, “Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself”(Coelho 134). Fear leads to disbelief towards your dreams. People always see the negativity in an action. The alchemist represents a person who motivates others to live life to the fullest. The keyword suffering gives off a pessimistic tone to this quote. This reminds me of a counselor. The counselor is there to help a person conquer their fear and develop into a better person after that process. Throughout the novel, the alchemist teaches Santiago to face his fear and the Englishman not to be afraid. His character symbolized the realization process that fear needs to be controlled in order to move on in your
There are countless heroes throughout literature. Their stories are all timeless and meaningful. The Alchemist, written by Paulo Coelho, is home to one of these heroes with an incredible quest. Interestingly, it is quite common to see quests and journeys throughout all literature. In the Alchemist, the protagonist, Santiago, goes through many stages of being a hero such as, call to adventure, refusal of the call, supernatural aid, crossing the threshold, and road of trials. Santiago clearly demonstrates all these stages throughout the entire novel.
In the novel The Alchemist it tells a story of a boy who is in search of his Personal Legend. A Personal Legend is the means in which a person can live a satisfying life, in other words ones destiny in life. As the novel states the only way to achieve perfection is if all natural things continuously undergo a cycle of achieving their Personal Legend, evolving into a higher being with a new Personal Legend, and then pursuing that new goal. This concept, that the individualistic pursuit of a Personal Legend exists as life’s dominant—perhaps only—spiritual demand, lies at the center of the unique theology of The Alchemist. As we see when Santiago must give up his flock, material success and even love pose obstacles to Santiago achieving his Personal
There is also one main metaphor within this poem. In the third stanza, the narrator states: “My feet are locked upon the rough bark. / It took the whole of Creation / To produce my foot, my each feather: / Now I hold Creation in my foot” (Hughes 9-12). To the reader, the hawk saying that it “holds Creation in his foot” sounds a lot like it has plenty of power over life, as if it were a god. The hawk sees itself as a supreme being with much control over everything else around it. In this poem, it can be interpreted by the audience that the hawk itself is a symbol of someone with absolutely too much power over a group of people. In the fourth stanza, the narrator says “I kill where I please because it is all mine. / There is no sophistry in my body: / My manners are tearing off heads -” (Hughes 14-16). The poem ends with the hawk saying “My eye has permitted no change. I am going to keep things like this” (Hughes 27-28). This shows that the hawk does not plan on ever changing its ways. In the next poem, “Golden Retrievals,” the dog is characterized through Mark Doty’s use of rhyme, onomatopoeia, and tone. Rhythm is present in only the first half of the poem in an
Before Greek mythology, the term mentor had its origin in Homer's Odyssey when Odysseus gave Mentor, an insightful and scholarly man, the duty of sustaining and instructing his child, Telemachus. Mentor stayed behind to instruct Telemachus while Odysseus went off to fight the Trojan war. This education included every part of Telemachus’ life. Anderson and Shannon (1988) conclude from The Odyssey that modeling is a standard and style of behavior constituted a central quality of mentoring and that mentoring was intentional, nurturing, insightful, and supportive.
On his journey to learn more about the soul of the world, Santiago met the old King of Salem, Melchizedek. He introduces several of the key concepts that we see repeated throughout the novel, The Alchemist. For example, he tells Santiago about Personal Legends, the Soul of the World, and Beginner’s Luck. The King also gives him Urim and Thummin, which represent “yes” and “no” to help guide him on his journey. Melchizedek is the first character to display magical powers that convince Santiago to pursue his dream of finding a treasure. The King once said, “Never stop dreaming, and follow the omens,” (Coelho 64). Two years later, these words helped him continue on his journey to fulfilling his destiny.
Similarly, the reddish color has an underlying meaning; it may represent lust, war and blood. Which relates to what the birds’ experience on their spiritual journey. Many birds’ died on the journey; not a physical death but a spiritual one. They died because they did not finish their pursue for god. The reddish color evokes blood representing their spiritual death. Furthermore, a number of birds gave in to their own desires and
... the reader understand the meaning that is behind it, like so “the poem concludes by asking rhetorically whether its listeners now understand the truths produced by both birds and poetry” (SparkNotes Editors). Besides nature being compared from birds a deeper meaning is behind this symbol and this is “art produces soothing, truthful sounds” (SparkNotes Editors) just like the soothing sounds from a bird that anyone can enjoy.