Theme Of Fear In The Alchemist

Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear. As this anonymous quote elucidates, fear acts as a barrier that essentially traps us in our comfort zone, limiting our experiences and holds one back from achieving his or her potential. In The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, the protagonist must overcome his own fear through obstacles that he comes across as fear diverts one from their purpose.

To begin with, Santiago displays his fears throughout the book, and these fears are what hinders him from achieving his Personal Legend. Santiago displays an immense terror of failure. During his travels with the Alchemist, Santiago yearns to turn himself into the wind; however, he hesitates in even trying to do so, saying “‘But I have no idea

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. Fatima was more important than his treasure” (95). Santiago is willing to drop everything

The boy overcomes his fear of failure when he thinks about Fatima, the woman he loves. Initially unprepared to turn himself into the wind, he tries asking for help from the desert: “‘Somewhere you are holding the person I love,’ the boy said. ‘So I want to return to her, and I need your help so that I can turn myself into the wind’” (144). Love is what overcomes his fear. His desire to return to Fatima is what drives him to succeed. However, the desert is not able to help him, and so Santiago also expresses his love for Fatima to the wind. He wants to be the wind not only to prove to the tribesmen that they were indeed travelers, but to return to Fatima, and to be “able to reach every corner of the world, cross the seas, blow away the sands that cover [his] treasure, and carry the voice of the woman [he] love[s]” (146). He then also tells the wind that, “When you are loved, you can do anything in creation. When you are loved, there’s no need at all to understand what’s happening because everything happens within you, and even men can turn themselves into the wind. As long as the wind helps, of course” (147). Santiago believes that love is what makes you do the impossible, and it is what ultimately drives him to be able to turn himself into the wind. Additionally, he overcomes his