Another obstacle in the way of purpose is the fear of failure. This fear grew when he was captured by tribesmen. Often the fear of failure comes from feeling uncertain or incapable to proceed. In Santiago’s case, these feelings were very justified. The tribesmen made the proposition that if he could control the wind then he would be set free. But the alchemist did not seem to think that the difficulty of this task was anything to fret over. He told Santiago, “If a person is living out his Personal Legend, he knows everything he needs to know. There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure” (Coelho 146). The morale in that is that if a person if following their purpose, they are already in the best state …show more content…
During the exercise of cruelty Petrus teaches a very important lesson to Paulo. Since many of the exercises that Paulo had been doing on the journey were unfavorable to him, he viewed them as tortuous endeavors, but Petris had a different perspective on the topic. He said to Paulo, “The journey, which prior to this was torture because all you wanted to do was get there, is now beginning to become a pleasure. It is the pleasure of searching and the pleasure of adventure. You are nourishing something that’s very important, your dreams” (Coelho 56). This is helpful for Paulo to hear early on in the novel because if he viewed the end goal as the only good part of the voyage, completing the task would feel meaningless and also interminable. But as Petrus suggests, the end goal needs to respected as a part of the adventure. If Paulo can observe his tasks as a necessary means to an end, he can be motivated to complete them, and also find joy in doing them. Paulo also realizes that as long as he is “Nourishing his dreams,” there is nothing else in the world that he’d rather be doing or that would make him feel …show more content…
One principle in is that a person’s purpose should be their sole priority and receive all their attention. This gets echoed often in his novels as the protagonists go through great change with little thought of how it might affect them. One of these changes is the different cultures they experience. Coelho makes it well known that where a person goes is not a problem as long as it is towards their purpose. In a literary critique of “The Alchemist,” Stephen M Hart noted the effectiveness of this strategy. He labeled Coelho’s style of writing as having “cultural hybridity” (tandfonline). Coelho includes many cultures to show that it is not a valid obstacle in the way of purpose. For example, Santiago is able to figure out how to communicate with people who have different languages because he recognizes that all people are connected in the language of the world. Another strategy that Hart called “magical realism” (tandfonline) helped Coelho to simplify his messages so that they were more easy for the reader to understand rather than using real life situations. There is an abundance of magic use in both of Coelho’s novels and when it does appear as it so often does, there’s usually no logic behind, but that’s what amplifies the message greater. For example, how Santiago had to turn himself into wind. There was no logic behind him being able to turn into wind as he did so simply by just talking to
The heart of a child is one free of fear. It is brave and courageous; uncontaminated by any sources of doubt. Therefore, during the tender age of childhood, one is able to form ideas that those older are unable to even entertain. It is only when one comes of age, that he faces predicaments which cause him to question whether his dream should be pursued. In such circumstances, the individual either comes to consider his dreams too impractical to achieve and chooses to submit to that uncertainty, or chooses to overcome his fears and pursue his dream. Such is apparent in various events throughout Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist. In several circumstances, individuals are faced with the option of conformity as it is depicted as the result of fearing
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.
“Only time will tell”. This common phrase states that the truth and true essence of everything will be revealed as time endures. Written in 700 B.C.E, Homer’s nostalgic epic poem, The Odyssey, has inspired many writers to follow. Nearly 30 centuries later, this classic indirectly influenced Paulo Coelho's writing of The Alchemist. Despite the myriad differences on the surface, The Odyssey and The Alchemist have many connecting parallels. The protagonist in each of the examples of the hero’s journey learned countless lessons along the way that can be taught to everyone. The most prominent of which are the dangers of fear, the importance of perseverance, and the seriousness of pursuing what you love.
The Alchemist helped him discover how to recognize signs of danger in the natural world and become one with the Soul of the world. Santiago in the end learns to communicate with the forces of nature and the Hand That Wrote All, a force that seems to represent God. “The existence of this world is simply a guarantee that there exists a world that is perfect. God created that world so that, through its visible objects, men could understand his spiritual teachings and the marvels of his wisdom.” (Coelho 133) Coelho uses this ever-present force of God as a constant reminder of how the Soul of the world will work in the favor of those in pursuit of their personal
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...
In the beginning of the book, Santiago travels to visit a Gypsy who is said to be able interpret his recurring dream. As a child he had always heard stories about Gypsies capturing children, taking them to their camps and making them their slaves. These stories translated into one of his largest fears for Santiago as a child and that fear returned when he visited the Gypsy, “As a child, the boy had always been frightened to death that he would be captured by Gypsies, and this childhood fear returned when the old woman took his hand” (17). The Gypsy eventually tells Santiago that there is treasure located at the Egyptian Pyramids. Without being able to overcome his fears of Gypsies, Santiago may have never went on a journey to Egypt in order to achieve his personal legend. Another example in the book that shows Santiago overcoming his fears is while Santiago and the Alchemist are travelling towards the Pyramids. They are suddenly captured by a desert tribe at war, who mistakes them for spies. In order to save his life Santiago has to turn himself into the wind. Coelho states, “But the boy was too frightened to listen to words of wisdom. He had no idea how he was going to transform himself into the wind” (83). Two days later Santiago is standing in front of the tribal chieftains trying to turn himself into the wind. He is able to stay calm while his life is on the line and
In The Alchemist, Coelho begins Santiago’s journey with an overview of Santiago’s life as he lives the “joys of carefree wandering[s]” as a shepherd. (Coelho 7) Zusak, however, starts his book out with these words: “Here is a small fact. You are going to die.” (Zusak 3) This observation at the very beginning of the book gives the book gravity and starts to set the atmosphere for the rest of the story. The development of the atmosphere is furthered when Liesel’s brother dies and his funeral is held. Santiago’s shepherd life is a stark comparison to Liesel’s bleak situation. When Liesel grieves over her dead brother, Santiago is feeling the uncertainties of love. Their journeys are initiated with a choice and each of these choices will each have many consequences and rewards. Santiago’s choice is to go hunting for treasure. Liesel’s choice is to steal her first book.
When santiago was tested to turn into wind, he began to reach into the sandstorm and communicate with all the naturistic attributes.This represented his death. Santiago getting robbed for his gold & finding a solution to where his treasure was represented his rebirth in my opinion. “Tents being blown from their ties to the earth and animals were free from their tethers. The boy stood up shakily and looked once more at the pyramids. They seemed to laugh at him and he laughed back, his heart blasting with joy. This stage in santiago’s life represented resilience in its finest form, causing santiago to glide across this stage so profoundly. Santiago’s victory was a long time that was in deserving of coming. He deserved his treasure for believing in
He first struggles internally when he wants to understand the dream he is having repeatedly. During the call to adventure in the hero’s journey, Santiago heads to an old gypsy in order to understand the dream he has. However, after listening to the interpretation, Santiago decided to “never again believe in dreams” because the gypsy only told him things he had already known (Coelho 17). This internal struggle, which sets the stage for the rest of Santiago’s struggles, had restrained Santiago for some time because he wasn’t able to pursue his personal legend if he didn’t believe in it, However, he later overcomes this struggle and continues on his path to achieving his personal legend. Santiago struggles internally later when he meets with the chief of a camp in the desert who tells him that he wants to see him turn into the wind. The alchemist, a man Santiago met to help him achieve his personal legend, told the chief that Santiago will be able to turn himself into the wind to show his powers, and if he can’t, “[they’ll] humbly offer [them] [their] lives” (Coelho 145). Santiago has never turned himself into the wind, so he has to dig deeply within in order to find the
"If someone isn’t what others want them to be, the others become angry. Everyone seems to have a clear ideals of how other people should lead their lives, but none about their own.” That is one of many deep quotes that makes the reader truly think about life in The Alchemist, written by Paulo Coelho. The book is about a young boy named Santiago, who loves travel and adventure, but he does not have the money to do so. He was raised to be a priest, but decides that he would rather be a shepherd, so that he can travel. Santiago’s father gives him two spanish coins, and tells him that he will learn one day that no place is as beautiful as the one he lives in. It seems like Santiago’s father believes in him, but not the way Santiago wants him to.
Santiago had been rewarded with the treasure earned when completing his journey, “In my dream there was a sycamore growing out the ruin of the sacristy… there were precious stones, gold masks adorned with red and white feathers.” (Coelho 170). Santiago was able to accomplish his personal legend, which he had to go through many stages in the journey that got him closer to completing his goal. In this final stage of his journey was a good thing to accomplish, because he’s gone through all of the stages that had been placed there to challenge and see if he actually wants to accomplish it, so he did not give up and gained trust in himself to keep going. This is an important part of the journey because this had taught him to not give up and trust in his heart to accomplish his personal legend, such as when others believe that it is hard to accomplish what they want to complete and do in their life.
Societal expectations of financial stability influenced the crystal merchant to never go to Mecca, even when it is his life’s dream. Other societal expectations also cause Santiago tells the crystal merchant that he will buy sheep but really he goes to search for his Personal Legend, because of his fear of failure. The fear of failure is a societal ideology that has been taught during Santiago’s child-hood by his father. His father was also taught the ideology and therefore society influenced him he to never achieve his life dream. This ideology from his father taught Santiago to doubt himself throughout his Personal Legend. The baker wanted to travel, yet the desires to be success in life from the societal ideal that being successful means a fulfilled life over rode his Personal Legend. Santiago’s life was also influenced by this society ideal, which lead him to have doubts and concerns about his Personal Legend. Society can and will always be able to influence people’s lives, but that doesn’t mean you have to let it control
In a book by Samuel Richardson many themes went against social norms, the book it itself didn't conform to social norms and reshaped society to show power in hard work and not social class. On Page Eleven in the Alchemist, Santiago’s father tells him, “Amongst us, the only ones who travel are the shepherds.” Santiago replies, “Well then I'll be a shepherd!”In these quotes Santiago’s father is trying to persuade him to stay at his home town, because his father proclaims that his town has the prettiest women, and that Santiago will regret his decision of leaving. Santiago breaks the social norms of staying in his hometown to follow his dreams and seek out his personal legend. Many people have had their parents not respect the decisions they make to follow their dreams.
I think Paulo passed on his message about following your heart quite well. Through Santiago he showed that you must endure some hardship before you are rewarded for your efforts. I think I will always remember Santiago’s journey and the lessons he learned along the way.
The fear of failure is a frequent battle found within me. Often, because of this fear I struggle with self-belief, so much so that I hesitate to pursue something I desire the first time opportunity arises. Usually, I need to steadily muster up enough courage before seeking it.Consequently in some instances it is already too late. Fear of failure impedes my progression and in turn I lose sight of my aspirations. In the novel The Alchemist, the Alchemist tells Santiago during his final task, when he is asked to turn himself into the wind that nothing is impossible: "There is only one thing that makes dreams impossible to achieve: The fear of failure" (141). I find I am able to relate to Santiago in this situation due to my athletic history. Whenever, I try-out for a team I always feel anxious and nervous. "What if I am not good enough?" or "What if I do not make it?" are two questions I ask myself every time. I question my abilities and skills and everything that I have accomplished thus far is no longer comforting. I then convince myself that failure is inevitable and therefore do not bring fo...