Another obstacle in the way of purpose is the fear of failure. This fear grew when he was captured by tribesmen. Often the fear of failure comes from feeling uncertain or incapable to proceed. In Santiago’s case, these feelings were very justified. The tribesmen made the proposition that if he could control the wind then he would be set free. But the alchemist did not seem to think that the difficulty of this task was anything to fret over. He told Santiago, “If a person is living out his Personal Legend, he knows everything he needs to know. There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure” (Coelho 146). The morale in that is that if a person if following their purpose, they are already in the best state …show more content…
During the exercise of cruelty Petrus teaches a very important lesson to Paulo. Since many of the exercises that Paulo had been doing on the journey were unfavorable to him, he viewed them as tortuous endeavors, but Petris had a different perspective on the topic. He said to Paulo, “The journey, which prior to this was torture because all you wanted to do was get there, is now beginning to become a pleasure. It is the pleasure of searching and the pleasure of adventure. You are nourishing something that’s very important, your dreams” (Coelho 56). This is helpful for Paulo to hear early on in the novel because if he viewed the end goal as the only good part of the voyage, completing the task would feel meaningless and also interminable. But as Petrus suggests, the end goal needs to respected as a part of the adventure. If Paulo can observe his tasks as a necessary means to an end, he can be motivated to complete them, and also find joy in doing them. Paulo also realizes that as long as he is “Nourishing his dreams,” there is nothing else in the world that he’d rather be doing or that would make him feel …show more content…
One principle in is that a person’s purpose should be their sole priority and receive all their attention. This gets echoed often in his novels as the protagonists go through great change with little thought of how it might affect them. One of these changes is the different cultures they experience. Coelho makes it well known that where a person goes is not a problem as long as it is towards their purpose. In a literary critique of “The Alchemist,” Stephen M Hart noted the effectiveness of this strategy. He labeled Coelho’s style of writing as having “cultural hybridity” (tandfonline). Coelho includes many cultures to show that it is not a valid obstacle in the way of purpose. For example, Santiago is able to figure out how to communicate with people who have different languages because he recognizes that all people are connected in the language of the world. Another strategy that Hart called “magical realism” (tandfonline) helped Coelho to simplify his messages so that they were more easy for the reader to understand rather than using real life situations. There is an abundance of magic use in both of Coelho’s novels and when it does appear as it so often does, there’s usually no logic behind, but that’s what amplifies the message greater. For example, how Santiago had to turn himself into wind. There was no logic behind him being able to turn into wind as he did so simply by just talking to
(Coelho 141, 143). The Alchemist embodies the eccentric mentor – the heroism, staying one step ahead
In The Alchemist Paulo Coelho presents a character, Santiago, torn between following tradition and his Personal Legend. Santiago tries to live true to his Personal Legend, which is a path pursued by those who strive to fulfill their purpose in life. Yet throughout the novel tradition, a motif, presents itself as a roadblock holding Santiago back from reaching his dreams. Coelho juxtaposes tradition against Personal Legend to illustrate its purely individual nature and the necessity of the acceptance of change to reach one’s dreams and goals.
“Only time will tell”. This common phrase states that the truth and true essence of everything will be revealed as time endures. Written in 700 B.C.E, Homer’s nostalgic epic poem, The Odyssey, has inspired many writers to follow. Nearly 30 centuries later, this classic indirectly influenced Paulo Coelho's writing of The Alchemist. Despite the myriad differences on the surface, The Odyssey and The Alchemist have many connecting parallels. The protagonist in each of the examples of the hero’s journey learned countless lessons along the way that can be taught to everyone. The most prominent of which are the dangers of fear, the importance of perseverance, and the seriousness of pursuing what you love.
The heart of a child is one free of fear. It is brave and courageous; uncontaminated by any sources of doubt. Therefore, during the tender age of childhood, one is able to form ideas that those older are unable to even entertain. It is only when one comes of age, that he faces predicaments which cause him to question whether his dream should be pursued. In such circumstances, the individual either comes to consider his dreams too impractical to achieve and chooses to submit to that uncertainty, or chooses to overcome his fears and pursue his dream. Such is apparent in various events throughout Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist. In several circumstances, individuals are faced with the option of conformity as it is depicted as the result of fearing
Coelho incorporates many internal struggles into Santiago’s life in order to prove that they don’t restrain people from achieving their personal legend. Through the use of the hero’s journey, Santiago faces many internal struggles such as when he attempts to understand
When wanting to accomplish something in life, there will be a decision that will affect the outcome of leading to the right path. It will either help in achieving the goal that was made or take it further away from being able to accomplish it. In the novel “The Alchemist” written by Paulo Coelho, is about a young boy named Santiago. He is a shepherd wanting to travel with his sheep all around in doing so he goes through the experience called "The Hero’s Journey”. The Hero’s Journey are stages taken to accomplish your Personal Legend which is a goal you want to get accomplish in life. He also goes through stages in the journey that help him overcome any challenges he faces. They also bring him closer to the end of completing
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
"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.
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.
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.
In The Alchemist, Coelho begins Santiago’s journey with an overview of Santiago’s life as he lives the “joys of carefree wandering[s]” as a shepherd. (Coelho 7) Zusak, however, starts his book out with these words: “Here is a small fact. You are going to die.” (Zusak 3) This observation at the very beginning of the book gives the book gravity and starts to set the atmosphere for the rest of the story. The development of the atmosphere is furthered when Liesel’s brother dies and his funeral is held. Santiago’s shepherd life is a stark comparison to Liesel’s bleak situation. When Liesel grieves over her dead brother, Santiago is feeling the uncertainties of love. Their journeys are initiated with a choice and each of these choices will each have many consequences and rewards. Santiago’s choice is to go hunting for treasure. Liesel’s choice is to steal her first book.
Societal expectations of financial stability influenced the crystal merchant to never go to Mecca, even when it is his life’s dream. Other societal expectations also cause Santiago tells the crystal merchant that he will buy sheep but really he goes to search for his Personal Legend, because of his fear of failure. The fear of failure is a societal ideology that has been taught during Santiago’s child-hood by his father. His father was also taught the ideology and therefore society influenced him he to never achieve his life dream. This ideology from his father taught Santiago to doubt himself throughout his Personal Legend. The baker wanted to travel, yet the desires to be success in life from the societal ideal that being successful means a fulfilled life over rode his Personal Legend. Santiago’s life was also influenced by this society ideal, which lead him to have doubts and concerns about his Personal Legend. Society can and will always be able to influence people’s lives, but that doesn’t mean you have to let it control
When santiago was tested to turn into wind, he began to reach into the sandstorm and communicate with all the naturistic attributes.This represented his death. Santiago getting robbed for his gold & finding a solution to where his treasure was represented his rebirth in my opinion. “Tents being blown from their ties to the earth and animals were free from their tethers. The boy stood up shakily and looked once more at the pyramids. They seemed to laugh at him and he laughed back, his heart blasting with joy. This stage in santiago’s life represented resilience in its finest form, causing santiago to glide across this stage so profoundly. Santiago’s victory was a long time that was in deserving of coming. He deserved his treasure for believing in
The Price of Success Paulo Coelho's argument does have merit. Yes, everyone has a personal calling, but not all of us are able to achieve it due to our lack of courage. In most cases such as mine, fear is the root of all my problems; it shackles me. However, this is not the case for Santiago, in the novel The Alchemist, and with that I found exaltation. In the novel, Santiago manages to overcome all the obstacles that he happens upon whether it be internally or externally. The dilemma's that he encounters, I strongly identify with because I contend with them daily: the fear of responsibility, suffering and most of all the fear of failure.
In a book by Samuel Richardson many themes went against social norms, the book it itself didn't conform to social norms and reshaped society to show power in hard work and not social class. On Page Eleven in the Alchemist, Santiago’s father tells him, “Amongst us, the only ones who travel are the shepherds.” Santiago replies, “Well then I'll be a shepherd!”In these quotes Santiago’s father is trying to persuade him to stay at his home town, because his father proclaims that his town has the prettiest women, and that Santiago will regret his decision of leaving. Santiago breaks the social norms of staying in his hometown to follow his dreams and seek out his personal legend. Many people have had their parents not respect the decisions they make to follow their dreams.