More handpicked essays just for you.
What challenges did santiago face in the alchemist
What challenges did santiago face in the alchemist
What challenges did santiago face in the alchemist
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: What challenges did santiago face in the alchemist
Entry 1: The Pursuit of a Personal Legend Santiago, a young shepherd spent his life herding his sheep across field of Spain. When Santiago wakes up from his recurring dream of a treasure in Egypt, he seeks for mentors like Melchizedek, who helps him realize that the dream is his Personal Legend. A Personal Legend is something that one has always wanted to accomplish and one’s purpose in life. Melchizedek tells Santiago “when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it” (22).
Santiago, Melchizedek, the Englishman, and the Alchemist himself play a very big role in the novel, “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho. Santiago begins to have a reoccurring dream about going after his personal legend and going to the pyramids to find treasure. He goes to a gypsy to help interpret his dream more in depth. As she convinces him to follow his personal legend he meets an old man by the name of Melchizedek who is the king of Salem and pushes him to go after his dream and also gives him two stones that help him read omens. After he begins his journey to find his personal legend he gets robbed and works for a crystal merchant for a year.
Santiago's temptation is when he has the choice whether or not to stay with Fatima and abandon his Personal Legend. After leaving Fatima he has a difficult time coping with the separation, even if Fatima is a woman of the desert, who knows he will return. The Alchemist offers him a sole piece of advice, “love never keeps a man from pursuing his Personal Legend.” (120) Santiago’s heart is aching for the loving arms of Fatima. He realizes that he needs to focus on what he needs, pursuing his Personal Legend and not what he desires to be with Fatima.
Dara Alanis Danielle Stindle English 10 block 1 March 6, 2023 Thesis: The alchemist was the person with the biggest influence in Santigo’s life during his personal legend. The Alchemist helped and added challenges to Santiago's journey so that he could improve himself. Santiago learned about alchemy during his whole path and applied it also. The Alchemist is also really important in the story because of his help.
For example, after Santiago travels back to Andalusia and digs inside the abandoned church, he finds a chest full of treasure. He thinks about how he was able to reach his treasure and achieve his Personal Legend; “It's true; life really is generous to those who pursue their Personal Legend, the boy thought" (170). Santiago decided to follow his dream and never gave up, even when he was robbed in Tangier. As a result, he met many people, including Fatima, the love of his life, and learned many important lessons from them. Finally, he found his treasure.
In the book the Alchemist (by Paulo Coelho) Santiago learns many things along the way to achieving his personal legend. He gained skills and experience in things across the board, from how to clean crystals, to the 5 obligations of Muslims, to the basics of alchemy. Santiago learns from the wise, and educated, but also learns the meaning of a true friendship. Overall it is true that reaching one 's personal legend is life 's greatest treasure, but often the journey is just as valuable.
While at the Oasis of Al-Fayoum, the elder chieftain of the oasis tells Santiago the story of Joseph of Egypt. Joseph was enslaved for being a dreamer, but he persevered and managed to become an important counselor to the Pharaoh of Egypt. This Personal Legend could have suited Santiago because of his connection to the Soul of the World. The Soul of the World is a spiritual unity that binds all forms of nature together. Santiago knew he wanted to follow his dreams; it was helpful when he learned that “When you want something, all the universe conspires to help you achieve it” because he knew he was now destined to complete his goal, and not somebody else’s (Coelho 64).
In stories like The Alchemist, The Odyssey, and The Count of Monte Cristo, while some disguises were similar, each hero used their disguise a little differently depending on their goals. Santiago, the main character of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, does not use a disguise. The closest Santiago got to having a disguise was during this exchange:"Who is your friend?" the chief asked. "An alchemist," said the alchemist.
Using Disguises In stories like The Odyssey, The Count of Monte Cristo, and The Alchemist, each character uses their disguise a little differently depending on their goals. Santiago, the main character of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, does not use a disguise. Unless one counts the fact that the real alchemist told the chief that Santiago was an alchemist.
Paulo Coelho, the author of The Alchemist tells the story of Santiago a Shepard whose life changes once he finds out about a treasure from his frequent dreams and meets a strange man who helps him to start his personal legend. On Santiago’s journey he starts to see the hidden meanings behind daily life creating the thesis that through seeing and understanding symbols behind the world people can learn about their own personal legend and live life to the fullest. Santiago’s life starts out all about his sheep, he chose to be a shepherd, so he could travel and meet new people. Santiago’s job is to take care of the sheep, but the sheep have more meaning in the story. The sheep represent how he is comfortable in his life and how he is questioning his frequent dream, to sacrifice his comfortable life to find this treasure or to continue without taking the risk.
"What a man thinks of himself, that is which determines, or rather indicates, his fate." (Thoreau). This quote means that every person can have a fulfilling life if they believe in themselves. It suggests that everyone who pursues their dreams and does not allow obstacles to stop them is commanding of their own fate. As exhibited in The Alchemist and The Power of Myth, the quote is a true statement that is applicable to all people.
During this section, the narrator introduces the reader to the Englishman. The Englishman spent a decade searching for the language of the universe. Before that he studied Esperanto and different religions, he then came across alchemy. That of which he believes is the key to everything. He finds an alchemist hoping that they’d reveal their secrets, however, they don’t tell him anything.
You just have to read the omens that he left for you” (29). The King, is actually an omen himself. He was put in Santiago’s path so he could start to realize what omens are. If the King had never told Santiago about omens, he would have remained where he is comfortable as a sheep herder. The King of Salem also reminds Santiago that everyone should pursue their personal legends.
In the novel “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho there is a young shepherd named Santiago who is in search for his personal legend. Santiago’s personal legend is to find the treasure at the pyramids. Throughout his journey, there are a lot of emotions especially the emotion fear. Santiago encountered a lot of challenges like crossing the desert, being in a war and turning himself into the wind. He learned the different levels of fear; fearing fear, being in fear, and overcoming fear.
In the story the alchemist it is discovered that there are many different things in life to look forward to. There is also something in the story that is a moral or your life´s destiny called your personal legend. Your personal legend is one of those things in life that some people look up to in the future. Santiago travels the world to pursue his personal legend. Santiago strived to find his personal legend with the help of people he met on the way to find treasure that he is destined to find , just to realize the treasure was where he had fallen asleep in the beginning of the book.
