The Alchemist Socratic Seminar

Micheal Brown

Easley

English 1 Pre-IB: Period 5

Sept. 9, 2014

The Alchemist: Socratic Seminar.

1. Whenever multiple cultures collide, there will always be conflict because the differences between those two ways of life are always too grand. When introduced to new cultures, most of the time, people are ignorant because they hadn’t yet before, experienced the culture. When it comes to becoming of age, it all boils down to immaturity. With age comes maturation, and then when you are of age, you have gained good understanding. “But the never took his eye off of his friend. After all, he had all his money. He thought about asking him to give it back, but decided that would be unfriendly. He knew nothing about the customs of the strange land he

was in” (37, The Alchemist). This quote shows that because the boy is young and naïve, he foolishly trusts a stranger with all of his money. Additionally, Santiago lacks the understanding of the customs because he doesn’t know whether or not it is rude to ask for his money back. This immaturity and lack of knowledge leads to him being robbed. Another instance when the boy was lacking in knowledge was the conversation between the thief and the restaurant own, “He took his money out of his pouch and showed it to the young man. The owner of the bar came over and looked, as well. The two men exchanged some words in Arabic, and the bar owner seemed irritated” (36, The Alchemist). The boy lacked knowledge of the language (culture), but if he wasn’t ignorant, he would’ve been forewarned that his newly acquired “friend” was suspicious and was out to rob him (Santiago).

2. An identity is the way you are acknowledged or recognized. Consequently, the decisions an individual makes shapes their identity. Decisions explain the way a person reasons and thinks, while it also showcases a person’s beliefs and testifies to their personality. Santiago had gotten a gypsy/dream-reader to interpret his dream and he eventually decided to pursue it, “Here I am between my flock and treasure, the boy thought. He had to choose between something he had become accustomed to and something he wanted to have” (26, The Alchemist). The decision Santiago makes is to pilgrimage to Egypt in search of an unknown treasure. This decision shows that he’s courageous, hopeful and dedicated to better his life. Santiago can be characterized as a “go getter” because he decides to pursue his dream. In this book, attempting and achieving the Personal Legend, which is viewed as your reason to live, shows that you have lived your life to the fullest and with that, you have to conclude that finding your reason you were made makes you bold and audacious. Additionally, the real-life decisions we make in life are reflections of our real personalities. Furthermore, our actions, like Santiago finding his Personal Legend also attribute to our identities, “Actions speak louder than words!”

3. We control destiny, because we make the life altering decisions. Our decisions and choices in life control the outcome and the future doesn’t make it itself, we must strive and work hard to achieve our own destiny. “Making a decision was only the beginning of things. When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into s strong current that will carry him places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision, “(68, The Alchemist). The dream of someone is only the beginning of their future/ destiny. They can only work to use their hopes to launch their success and they allow themselves to achieve higher heights than you’ve ever imagined. Additionally, our desire assists us in being successful in achieving our destiny, “`When you want something, all the universe conspires to help you achieve it,` the old king had said” (62, The Alchemist). The quote expresses the idea that in the long run, you control everything because the more effort you put into your dream, the more you get out of it. Whenever an urge occurs to achieve a goal, then the world collaborates to make you successful. Your will and desire determines your destiny.

4. Coelho maintains the indication that life is only meant for finding your purpose and achieving your dreams. When you achieve your dreams, you have found your purpose in life. He uses the example of a personal legend to show that the goal in life is to achieve your dreams, “`It’s what you have always wanted to accomplish. Everyone, when they are young, knows what their Personal Legend. At that point in their lives, everything is clear and everything is possible,`“(21, The Alchemist). The purpose in life is to find out what you were made to achieve. You live to be successful and to follow your dreams. When you dream and you must adhere to it and work to be successful and achieve those dreams to live out your life to the fullest.

5. During Santiago’s journey, Santiago discovered that love is important and is the only thing in the world that everyone can understand. It is described as the language of the world, `You told me that you loved me. Then you taught me something of the universal language and the Soul of the World. Because of that, I have become a part of you`” (96, The Alchemist). Although Fatima and Santiago stem from two totally different walks of life, they can understand each other because of love. Also, because they love each other, they are connected and they share a bond that anyone can understand. The bond between the two have allowed Santiago to strengthen his passion to achieve his Personal Legend, or his life-long goal.

6. We have the responsibility for ourselves, in life, regardless of others, we must put ourselves first. No one has your own back, better than you (Exception-God). The way the world works is that you should be more concerned about yourself than others because you are effected yourself more than others effect you. “` If at least one of them hasn’t n been used by the end of the day tomorrow, on will be used on you, `“(108, The Alchemist). The Chieftain men had made this threat, so Santiago has discovered that people put themselves before others because that’s the way the world works. The world goes on regardless of your current situation and when you have issues, you have to help yourself, because you can’t always rely on others.

7. During his journey, Santiago encountered many people: the merchant’s daughter, the dream reader, the thief, the restaurant owner, the glass shop owner, the caravan, the Englishman and the alchemist. Some of these people originally were harmful to Santiago, but their acts against Santiago only egged him on more. These obstacles became aids to Santiago. Some people inspired Santiago to continue of his voyage while others helped, urged and educated him about his new surroundings and the effect decisions had on his life. “`And anyone who interferes with the Personal Legend of another thing never will discover his own, `” (138, The Alchemist). These people Santiago encountered, in some way helped him find a way to be successful and made Santiago keep working and trying as hard as possible to achieve his goal of finishing his Personal Legend. People we encounter in life are people God means for us to interact with to improve our lives or to teach us a lesson he wants us to learn.

8.

“Alchemy” is the perfect metaphor for this book because like an alchemist, Santiago attempts to find his Personal Legend or for an alchemist, trying to change simple metal to gold. Santiago also had many setbacks, like an alchemist failing to make gold. Like alchemists, he continues his trip until he realizes his Personal Legend, or like an alchemist finally making gold. “But the alchemists were strange people, who only thought only about themselves, and almost always refused to help him,” (66, The Alchemist). Santiago, like an alchemist, was estranged from the culture, and were forced to become accustomed to their situation. Santiago kept trying, much like alchemist, until eventually they either grasp their Personal Legend or find a way to make gold. When Santiago met the alchemist, he learned to be open-minded and to problem solve, he also taught Santiago how to connect with the

world.

9. Omens are signs that show that events are going to occur or to signal that things will change. Omens are signs that we use to justify when an occasion transpires. Omens include noises, sudden changes or even people showing up in your life. “The wind reminded the boy that there was the language of omens, always ready to show him what his eyes had failed to observe,” (124, The Alchemist). The omens give meaning to things not normally felt or expressed. The omens explain what will change on Santiago’s path of realizing himself. The omens in real life, give us opportunities to be prepared for any event that occurs in any given day and are signs that warn us when something isn’t right.

10.

The alchemist left Santiago at the end of his journey because Santiago had to complete his Personal Legend on his own. The alchemist knew that Santiago had all the knowledge required for him to realize his Personal Legend. The alchemist also realizes that for Santiago to get full effect of his Personal Legend, that Santiago must share his unique end experience with nobody but himself. “`I want to tell you a story about dreams,’” (156, The Alchemist). The end is the most rewarding part of any experience, so it is important that you can experience for yourself. The alchemist reflected and thought back to a time in which he encountered a moment to succeed. The end of a journey is a time to reflect on lessons learn and loneliness is the best time to be

thoughtful.

11. The alchemist had chosen Santiago because the alchemist had discovered that Santiago had already discovered his Personal Legend. The alchemist also knew that the Englishman wasn’t ready, and that the Englishmen had been searching for the wrong reasons. “`I had to test your courage’, the stranger (alchemist) said `Courage is the quality most essential to understanding the Language of the World,’” (111, The Alchemist). The alchemist acknowledges that Santiago is prepared to begin his journey to realize his Personal Legend. The Englishman wasn’t ready and had the wrong intentions with using alchemy to get rich. This shows how preference is shown because of preparation and knowledge.

12. Fulfillment is the most important theme in The Alchemist. The whole world works around being successful and never giving up. “It’s true; life really is generous to those who pursue their Personal Legend, thought the boy,” (166, The Alchemist). Because Santiago had fulfilled his life goal, he felt complete. Whenever a task is complete, weight is lifted from your shoulders and you are relieved. You feel rewarded to have succeeded. To fulfill, to make all your dreams come true and insures that life has been lived out to the fullest. The only way to fulfill is to dream and to attempt and succeed you dream,