Despite poor reviews from critics, Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist is one of the most translated books in the world. It has sold over twenty-one million copies. Its success can be attributed to the story it tells; a timeless folktale made new and different in the pattern of alchemy. A poor boy dreams of treasure in a far away land, and goes in search of it. Along the way, he learns the secrets of alchemy from a wise old man in the desert. Through a simply written, sentimental fable, Paulo Coelho has given the adage of the Hero's Journey a fresh definition—one that is drawn out of the past. In The Alchemist, the character development of Santiago, the protagonist, mirrors not only the Hero's Journey of Campbell and Volger, but the Master Work of Alchemy itself. The Hero's Journey is a literary template that can be applied to some works of fiction. It was originally postulated by Joseph Campbell, who “defined a classic sequence of actions” that are found in many stories. In his book, The Hero With A …show more content…
For example, Santiago receives the Call To Adventure when the Gypsy Woman interprets his dream literally. “You must go to the Pyramids in Egypt. … There you will find a treasure that will make you a rich man” (Coelho 6). But after leaving the woman's home, Santiago “was disappointed; he decided that he would never again believe in dreams” (Coelho 6). His Refusal Of The Call is turned on its head upon meeting Melchizedek, however, who represents Supernatural Aid when he gives the boy the talismans of Urim and Thummim and shares moral support. Santiago Crosses The Threshold when he leaves behind his sheep and travels to Africa on page 14. He Enters The Belly Of The Whale when all of his money is stolen in the African port of Tangier, causing him to realize how vulnerable he is for the first time. These five events clearly mark important moments in The Alchemist in a more unique
One well-known example of “The Hero’s Journey” from popular culture is the Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, by J.K. Rowling. In the novel, Harry Potter, the main character, is the chosen one and “The Hero’s Journey” applies to his life from the moment he is attacked by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named as a baby. Joseph Campbell calls the initial phase of a hero’s development the “Call to Adventure.” The call is the in... ...
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.
In this world that we live on there are a plethora of cultures and people but one thing that brings all these cultures together is a certain story base, the hero’s journey. The hero’s journey has been around for the longest time and many commonly known stories that we know today are based off of the hero’s journey.
The Hero’s Journey is a pattern or type of novel that applies to many adventure stories.
...In conclusion, we can say that after applying Joseph Campbell's theory of The Monomyth on The Alchemist; it is noticeable that despite The Alchemist being a postmodernism wok of literature, the author Coelho used all major patterns of the hero's journey of ancient myth in his novel and this developed Santiago's journey from an ordinary one into an archetypal one.
Have you ever encountered problems while trying to fulfill a goal in your life? In the book The Alchemist, written by Paulo Coelho, a shepherd boy named Santiago overcomes obstacles to reach his personal legend. Throughout the book Santiago encounters many friends to help him fulfill his destiny. Santiago encounters many problems throughout the story. He overcomes them with the help of his friends and his wife-to-be. These problems shape Santiago into a dignified man of many traits.
In The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho an Andalusian boy named Santiago leaves Spain to travel to Egypt in order to achieve his Personal Legend. During his journey he meets four people, a Gypsy, a King named Melchizedek, an Englishman and an Alchemist, all of whom help Santiago along his journey towards his Personal Legend. However, only the King and the Alchemist teach Santiago lessons that he can learn from and use along his journey. The King teaches Santiago two lessons, to follow omens and that it is not always about the destination but that it is also about the journey. The Alchemist teaches Santiago to listen to his heart for guidance, what the Language of the World is and what the Soul of the World is. He eventually arrives in Egypt after
The Hero’s Journey is an ancient archetype that we find throughout our modern life and also, in the world of literature.Whether metaphorical or real, the journey that a character goes on shows not only the incredible transformation of the hero but it also gives them their life meaning. It is the ultimate human experience and it reflects on every aspect of life. Take Logan, also known as Wolverine, from the X-Men movie as an example. His adventure starts with “The Call,” which is the first step of the Hero’s Journey. This step happens due to the realization of imbalance and injustice that the character has in their life. Logan steps into the first stage of the pattern but is hesitant to start his adventure because he does not know what and
As Santiago's final piece of his journey, it is obvious that the desert was the most significant part, due to him finding his true power since the desert "challenges all men" (Coelho117). Santiago learned of his inner power and the final clue to his treasure in the desert. Not only did he find his inner self, but over the many years that he traveled he matured into a wise young adult. His progression of maturity allowed him to accept his final clue which essentially is a slap to the face, making him travel all the way back to where he began. Trudging through the desert made Santiago like a sponge, soaking up knowledge both from the desert and the Alchemist because Santiago "learned the alchemist's secrets in his travel" (Coelho 154). These newly acquired skills gained from the desert contributed to the overall outcome of the story. His skills taught him how to converse with the wind, which saved his life and saved the journey. Santiago's fate was revealed to him in the desert, and the only way he knew that he had the will power to continue was through the word "maktub," which, translated, it means that fate will reveal itself and let us unite. Many people ,such as Fatima, told Santiago this phrase and reminded him that if they were to be together, fate would allow them to. Fatima was not only a love interest in the story, but convinced Santiago that his legend was worth all the trials. Without the testing desert, Santiago would not have been able to learn all the things he needed to, which would allow him to accept his
The Alchemist conveyed the up-most truthful meaning of santiago’s personal legend by teaching him the soul of the earth. This stage helped santiago and the Alchemist are talking doing what your personal legend is and also doing exactly what your personal legend desires are when they speak in terms of listening to one’s heart. “Whenever your heart is, that is where you’ll find your treasure. Santiago takes initiative on his dreams and pursue them regardless of love affairs and the hurt that comes along with it. The stage encouraged and also motivated santiago to find his treasure and make a better life for fatima and
Curious, courageous, young, adventurous: these are all words to describe Santiago, the protagonist in the novel The Alchemist. In this novel, Paulo Coelho develops Santiago’s character as a young boy who goes on an adventure to find his life’s purpose. Through the hero’s journey, Paulo Coelho insists that both internal and external struggles often cannot stop people from achieving their goals, ultimately encouraging people to fulfill self discovery and understand who they truly are.
Santiago then sets out on yet another journey, to see the alchemist. The alchemist tells Santiago that he was going to point him in the direction of the treasure. Once again Santiago is at crossroads. He replies that he has already found his treasure, namely the money he received from the crystal shop and the chieftain, a camel, and also the woman he loves, Fatima. The alchemist reminds him that none of those were found at the Pyramids, which was his initial
"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.
“ Where your treasure is, there also will be your heart”(159). This is what the alchemist said to the main character. The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho, tells a story of a boy named Santiago, who goes on a long journey to discover his personal legend. As Santiago goes on his journey to pursue his personal legend, he is faced with many challenges, as well as left to make difficult decisions that change him forever. As Santiago travels the world, he becomes a hero. In The Alchemist, Santiago shows characteristics, as well as archetypal characteristics that make him a hero. Santiago displays kindness, bravery and wisdom; also he is considered a hero because he displays many characteristics of an archetypal hero. He displays archetypal characteristics such as: receiving supernatural help, proving himself many times and receiving an apotheosis.
The Theme of “The Alchemist,” by Paulo Coelho is, always follow your dreams and listen to your heart. At the start of the novel Santiago does not know what he should do when he is confronted by his dream. But by the end of the novel Santiago completely trusts his heart to guide him though life. Santiago’s story shows him learning and living out the theme of the novel.