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How Does Santiago Mature In The Alchemist

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Gayoon Lee Mr. Bautista ENL1W1 Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Hardships that led Santiago to his Greatest Treasure: Character Development. The best way to develop and grow as a person is by going through hardships and learning from them. In ‘The Alchemist’, during Santiago’s journey, he faces many challenges to achieve the reward. Though at first, it seemed Santiago’s greatest treasure was the one he was seeking, Santiago’s actual greatest reward was character development. The sacrifice of love is one of many hardships that helped Santiago grow as a person. Furthermore, the fear of failure helped Santiago discover more about his potential. Lastly, the language barrier during Santiago’s travels added to his personal growth. As can be seen, the …show more content…

This gave Santiago an immense amount of courage and selflessness. This can be seen when Santiago tells The Alchemist “Men dream more about coming home than about leaving” (Coelho 111). Santiago tells this to The Alchemist at the beginning of their journey together. Santiago was still grieving about leaving Fatima at the Oasis but he knew it was the right thing to do and that if he had not left, both Santiago and Fatima would live in endless regret. Furthermore, the sacrifice of love also greets Santiago’s trust and faith in people. In the book, Fatima tells Santiago “Maktub”. If I am really a part of your dream, you will come back one day” (Coelho 90). This quote shows Fatima’s trust in Santiago to come back, which will also allow Santiago to trust that they will be able to endure the distance and the time spent away from each other because of how strong their love is. Finally, Santiago learned to be true to himself and become more spiritually aware of his surroundings. Santiago learns to let go of attachments and desires that may stop him from his dream of pursuing his personal legend. In the quote “Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is more than the suffering itself”. And no heart has ever suffered

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In the start of the book Coelho introduces the reader to Santiago as a well-read, knowledgeable boy who loves the land he roams with his sheep. This is exemplified in the quote, “He told himself he would have to start reading thicker books: they lasted longer, and made more comfortable pillows.” (Coelho, 5) and also in the quote, “As long as the boy knew how to find the best pastures in Andalusia, they would be his friends.” (Coelho, 9) He also demonstrates a longing for a certain girl in a town he passes through annually which he states in this line, “…only one thing: the girl, the daughter of a merchant who lived in the village they would reach in about 4 days.”

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By continuing he finds his true inner strength. In the story, the author shows the importance of perseverance, and how to face the many obstacles that people are presented in their lives to complete their goal. In Coelho's novel, Santiago faces many difficult challenges, but because of his courage and perseverance, he is able to face them head on. While in the town of Tarifa, Santiago meets

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Santiago also discovers that the Soul of God is also his very own soul. He realized that he could make his very own miracles, just like the Soul of God. The Soul of the World showed Santiago that he has a true destiny like everyone

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“I can always go back to being a shepherd the boy thought... But i’ll never get another chance to go to the pyramids of Egypt”(64). He would always remember the merchant and the education he received from him. If it was not for the relationship between Santiago and the merchant, Santiago would have never had learned that there is more than just the simple way to life.

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Santiago learns to trust his instincts and follow the omens that guide him along his path, bringing him closer to his destination. On page 104 of the book, Santiago says “An army is coming. I have a vision”. Similarly, I have learned to listen to my heart, recognizing the signs that point me in the direction of my

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Although the sheep had been traveling with the young boy before the beginning of the journey, Santiago begins to truly take notice of the importance in the lessons he learned from his flock. “There had been a time when he thought that his sheep could teach him everything he needed to know about the world. But they could never have taught him Arabic.” He noticed and realized the dependence he had on his sheep and then found how much he could learn with outside involvement and contact. “There are probably other things in the world that the sheep can 't teach me, thought the boy as he regarded the old merchant.

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Throughout the story, Santiago encountered many struggles which he always recovered from. The main reason he was able to continue without giving up was that the good omens he found on his way gave him enough hope to continue the journey. It also helped that he knew he had a personal legend to achieve. Some examples of his perseverance include when he was robbed by who he thought was his friend trying to help him find his way. Although he

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The most significant obstacle to Santiago's growth is love because his love for Fatima truly almost kept him from pursuing his person legend. Santiago's journey almost ended because of his great love for his soul mate. Santiago stated this which led us to believe how great his love is: "I also have Fatima. She is treasure greater than anything else I have won" (Coelho, 119). Fatima is the ultimate treasure in Santiago's eyes and he does not want to depart from something he values so greatly.

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This is illuminated when the Alchemist says, “‘There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure’” (141). This particular moment shows that even though Santiago has both the ability and the knowledge to achieve his dream, it is impossible to attain it if he fears even attempting to reach it. Consequently, this fear acts as his enemy and a barrier that stands in the way of the meaningful and happy life he is destined to accomplish. Furthermore, another one of his fears is the fear of losing what he believes he has already earned. ” He reminded himself that he had been a shepherd and that he could be a shepherd again.

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Santiago escapes his comfort zone when he goes against his father’s idea of him becoming a priest and decides that he will do what he loves and travel, ultimately becoming a Sheppard. Doing what you love and pursuing your dream is essential in having a fulfilling, and meaningful life, this idea is very prevalent in The Alchemist because it is presented to us on two ends. We can see Santiago who is able to live out his dream, his personal legend. But then we can see the sad opposite, those who do not pursue their dream out of fear and stay in their comfort zone like the crystal merchant and the affect it has on them.

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Without the alchemist, Santiago would have never learned to listen to his heart and would have never spoke the language of the desert and the wind. Thus, Santiago has learned many valuable lessons and techniques of himself and the world; all while following his

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Santiago has learned a great deal though his journey and he is not just rewarded by the treasure he is rewarded by the endless knowledge he has taken from the actual journey itself. He has spent a lengthy time in the desert, Santiago now has more knowledge than he knows what to do with because he transformed his life going through these obstacles and not giving

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In this point of the novel, Santiago has completely giving up on his dreams of pursuing his personal legend, however; through the influence of the crystal merchant, which serves as an example of someone who has become blind to pursuing his personal legend, Santiago further develops the motivation and strength he needs to never give up and to always pursue what he desired. For example, One of the most important things Santiago learned from the Crystal Merchant is the importance of following one's heart and their personal legend. The Crystal Merchant was a symbolic message for the consequence of not following one's dreams. It results in one becoming a sheep, or someone who follows monotonous routines. For instance, the Crystal merchant states that, ‘‘Because I know the things I should be able to accomplish, and I don't want to do so,’’ which further provokes the idea of cowardness amongst himself.

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This gives Santiago the confidence that he needs in his true love believing that he will return safely. Also in The Alchemist, the wise alchemist himself grants Santiago confidence when, after all he has done for Santiago, leaves him to finish his journey

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A personal legend is not just the result found at the end of Santiago's life. It’s more than simply reaching final destination. Santiago personal legend is achieved when he completes what he is doing. “It’s true that everything has it’s personal legend ,but one day that personal legend will be realized ,so each thing has to transform itself into something better ,and to acquire a new personal legend, until someday, the soul of the world becomes one only thing.”

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