“And maybe it wasn’t that they were teaching me, but that I was learning from them.” This quote from the novel The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho, is said by the protagonist Santiago. Throughout the course of the novel, Santiago is met with multiple learning curves, encounters numerous influential individuals, and learns multiple salient life lessons throughout his journeys. Santiago indisputably changed as a person due to these interactions and lessons. The things that were considered his “teachers” throughout the course of his increased maturity and deepend world understanding were not only physical people, but spiritual and internal guides as well. The person responsible for Santiago following his heart and finding his legend is also his first …show more content…
teacher, the old king. Santiago came into the presence Melchizedek, the king of Salem, after arriving in the Tarifa square.
Melchizedek tells Santiago that he is aware of why he is in Tarifa, and where he is headed. Melchizedek is the first one responsible for explaining personal legends, omens, the Soul of the World, and beginner’s luck, to Santiago. Also, Melchizedek gives Santiago Urim and Thummim, the rocks used to help him make decisions based on omens during his journey. The king also had magical powers, which helped him convince Santiago to follow his dream and find "his" legend. Also, in relation to his powers, he explained he often comes in a thought or idea, not a physical form like he did to Santiago. “It prepares your spirit and your will, because there is one great truth on this planet: whoever you are or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it’s because that desire originated in the soul of the universe.” This quote is said by the old king to Santiago and this quote ultimately explained personal legends to him and inspired him to go after his goal. Melchizedek was an abundantly influential teacher to Santiago and implemented things inside his brain such as the understanding of personal legends, which was ultimately the singular piece of knowledge …show more content…
that caused him to find his treasure in the end. The king is responsible for Santiago pursuing his personal legend and destiny. Melchizedek was one of Santiago’s most influential, important teachers throughout the course of the novel. Another person that was Santiago’s teacher early on as well, was the crystal merchant. Santiago met the crystal merchant in Tangier and started working for him as a way to earn money to get to Egypt to pursue his personal legend. Although the crystal merchant may not have intentionally taught Santiago anything impactful or insightful, he is ultimately the one that unintentionally pushed him to continue his journey to Egypt. The crystal merchant, like Santiago, wants to travel for fulfillment as well; but, he is hindered by the idea that if he completes his only dream, his life will have no meaning. In the long months that Santiago worked for the merchant, he observed that the crystal merchant will always feel unfulfilled if he does not go to Mecca. Santiago does not want to feel unsuccessful or unhappy and makes the decision to travel while he is still able, thanks to the tragic but true example that is the crystal merchant. These two men, whether purposefully or not, pushed Santiago and created his ultimate destiny through their support or inspiration. Not only was Santiago taught by physical, human teachers, he was also taught by animals and spirits as well.
One of Santiago’s first and most impactful teachers were his flock of sheep. Even though they could not speak to Santiago, they still shaped him into the person he was and ended up being. The lessons that the sheep taught Santiago were through his observation of the flock. “Once again he saw that, in the strange land, he was applying the same lessons he had learned with his sheep.” The prior quote shows that the lessons that the flock unintentionally taught Santiago stuck with him throughout his journey to find his personal legend. Some of the lessons that Santiago learned from his sheep were to treasure his independence and how simplicity and minimality was not always the best ways to live life. Santiago learned to treasure his independence through his sheep because while he was crossing the desert, he observed that the sheep would die without him and that he was their only lifeline. By this observation he came to value the fact that he is independent and does not live his life depending on another being to aid him in life. He learned that simplicity is not always key by observing the way his flocked lived. He noticed that the sheep only required the basic necessities, food, water, shelter, and sleep. He made the connection that the sheep are still alive off those basic needs, but that they are living on the most minimal amount possible. Santiago realized that he
wants to live life to the fullest of his ability and not on the minimality, like his sheep. Another teacher of Santiago’s was the omens. The omens, or spiritual signals that guided Santiago throughout his journey, were one of his most impactful spiritual teachers. The omens Santiago encountered throughout his journey, whether good or bad, changed and guided him immensely. Omens were conveyed numerous ways throughout the novel like through the wisdom of the soul of the desert, appearances of the king, and the two stones, Urim and Thummim. “In order to find the treasure, you will have to follow the omens. God has prepared a path for everyone to follow. You just have to read the omens that he left for you.” The prior quote was said to Santiago by the old king early on in the book. That quote stayed with Santiago and influenced his outlook and interpretation of omens. The omens taught Santiago because they stayed inspirational to him throughout his entire journey. Whenever Santiago was feeling unsure or confused about a decision, he would turn to and sought out omens to help him make the right decision. Ultimately, the omens guided Santiago through his journey and taught him to take a step back and see the whole image, much like the story of the boy with the oil on his spoon. Not only was Santiago taught and influenced by the people he encountered on his journey, but also the animalistic and spiritual guides in addition. Santiago was taught, inspired, and guided by a vast array of teachers throughout the course of “The Alchemist.” He learned a variety of life lessons about himself, the world, and the others around him, which in the end, led him to find his treasure and a true love. Through the human, spiritual, and animalistic teachers Santiago encountered, his mindset, skillset, and overall goal in life changed through the teachings he absorbed. In conclusion, Santiago was changed and enlightened by his teachers and their impactful teachings.
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.
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
In conclusion, Santiago’s journey had different stages that got him closer to achieving his personal legend. Overall the Hero’s Journey of santiago was about him going through challenges and for him to trust in his heart. This can also be compared someone when wanting to accomplish something but then you would think you won’t be able to accomplish it. Clearly, he has been able to complete his journey through stages which had also got him closer to the end every time he has accomplished one of the stages, so the stages are also there so when passing a stage you will be able to keep going without any
First of all, the author shows that through persevering through adversity anyone can achieve their dreams. During the book Santiago continuously faces problems that he will have to overcome to achieve his Personal Legend. In this scenario, Santiago is in the city of Tangier when he is suddenly robbed of all of his money, by a thief who promised to take him to Egypt. However instead of thinking of himself as a victim of a thief he decides that “I’m an adventurer, looking for treasure” (34). Santiago was able to persevere through a situation that many people would not have been able to overcome and not able to continue their journey. Being able to persevere through
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
"They come in search of new things, but when they leave they are basically the same people they were when they arrived. They climb the mountain to see the castle, and they wind up thinking that the past was better than what we have now. They have blond hair, or dark skin, but basically they're the same as the people who live right here." Santiago’s father is saying that no matter how much Santiago travels, or how much of the world he sees he will come back the same person. Santiago’s father is an important person in his life. Without his father believing in him Santiago might not believe in himself either. Santiago seems to know what he wants in life, but with his father practically telling him it is wrong he might not succeed. Santiago needs others believing in him or he will not have the motivation to succeed in finding the treasure. Not only does Santiago need others believing in him, but he needs to believe in himself as
(Coelho 26) For example, Santiago’s first true test was to decide to leave behind his flock of sheep on the rolling hillside and follow his heart for adventure and head to Egypt in search of unknown treasure. Deep within himself, Santiago is questioning life and the meaning of it. But, it is only through a series of trials, adversities, and successes, that he comes to find his “Personal Legend”. (Coelho 26) Throughout the entire process Santiago does not lose sight of his objective, he maintained his focus on reaching the end of his goal. The qualities that Santiago personified of fate, commitment, love, and listening to the omens are what Paulo Coelho is teaching his readers to examine regarding their own “Personal
Santiago had it hard while he was growing up, his parents wanted him to be a preacher but he knew he was destined to be more as he could not implement his lively and traveling nature in a sacristy of a church. His way to the treasure which was bound to be his happy ever after was harder to get to as he had to give up many things. He had to promise The Gypsy Woman a tenth of his treasure he did not even have yet, give up a tenth of his flock of sheep to The King Of Salem for the knowledge he had already but was provided in a more explanatory way, getting robbed, leaving behind loved ones, working harder for something he had lost but, arguably the hardest part was to be patient, hardworking and strong which he had to implement time after time and that is what made the achievement of the treasure worth it for Santiago.
Santiago is a heroic figure because he was always kind to others. He was always helping someone with something. For example: when Santiago was working at the Crystal shop, he helped the Crystal Merchant, improve his business. When Santiago was leaving the Crystal Shop, the merchant stated “You brought a new feeling into my Crystal Shop”(61). The Crystal Merchant is talking about how much Santiago has changed his business. Santiago has helped the merchant’s business by making a display case to put outside the store, cleaning all the crystal and adding new things, such as the tea. Santiago also helped an Englishman by helping him find the Alchemist. The Englishman wanted to speak to an alchemist. The Englishman stated “I need you to help me find out where the alchemist lives”(90). Because the Englishman requested for help, Santiago helped him. It took over half a day to find the alchemist, but fi...
Santiago is, undoubtedly, crafted as a Christ figure, from his innocence to his crucifixion. His innocence is derived from the narrator’s doubt and the doubt invoked in the reader, that Santiago deflowered Angela prior to her marriage; he is murdered for this reason. In the novella, Santiago attempts to flee from Pedro and Pablo Vicario once he realizes that they are out to kill him; unfortunately, he does not make it into the safety of his home. As the stabbing progresses, Santiago stops defending himself and lets the brothers continue “knifing him against the door with alternate and easy stabs” (Márquez 118). With the surrender of Santiago, the entire town became horrified “by its own crime” (Márquez 118).
The first two obstacles that Santiago faces are that his father tells him he can not do something that he wants to do and that he wants to pursue his personal legend, but he does not want to hurt those that he loves. For example, Santiago’s father said, “The people who come here have a lot of money to spend, so they can afford to travel. Amongst us the only ones who can travel are shepherds.” Everyone is told by their parents and friends that everything we want to do is impossible. Since Santiago did not have money to spend to travel his only choice was then to become a shepherd to fulfill his desire. T...
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.
The Alchemist conveyed the up-most truthful meaning of santiago’s personal legend by teaching him the soul of the earth. This stage helped santiago and the Alchemist are talking doing what your personal legend is and also doing exactly what your personal legend desires are when they speak in terms of listening to one’s heart. “Whenever your heart is, that is where you’ll find your treasure. Santiago takes initiative on his dreams and pursue them regardless of love affairs and the hurt that comes along with it. The stage encouraged and also motivated santiago to find his treasure and make a better life for fatima and
A smart student can learn from many sources. List and discuss some of Santiago’s important “teachers,” whether they be animal, human, natural, or divine. Use at last two quotes. The alchemist was one of santiago's major teachers in the novel. the alchemist taught him the soul of the world, how to read the world, and alchemy. santiago also “learned things from the sheep, and I’ve learned things from crystal, he thought. I can learn something from the desert too. It seems old and wise”. (76) the sheep had also taught him that there was a universal language that everyone understood“...the sheep had taught him something even more important: that there was a universal language in the world that everyone understood...It was the language of enthusiasm,
Although Santiago has had many troubles, he perseveres.