What is your opinion of the idea that the only way a person can achieve his/her dreams is by overcoming fears?
The problem with fear is simple; it robs power by distorting reality and ultimately destroys destinies. People are either too afraid of what could happen or think that it’s too ridiculous to even try so they stay within their grasp because they believe that’s all they can achieve. When we overcome our fears, we are forever empowered and are free to follow our own paths. This statement is best represented by the 3 main characters within the book, the crystal merchant, the king of Salem (Melchizedek) and the protagonist Santiago. The main theme of the book the, The Alchemist written by Paulo Coelho would be, why overcoming your fears enable you to pursue your dreams.
The crystal merchant in the book, The Alchemist is afraid of pursuing his dream to make a pilgrimage to Mecca because he thinks he will have nothing to live for once he’s achieved his dream. The crystal merchant understands that he acts foolishly in not pursuing his Personal Legend, even after Santiago shows him the benefits of taking risks: “You know that I'm not going to go to Mecca. Just as you know that you're not going to buy your sheep”. The novel shows his fate as one to avoid, despite the fact that he comes across as a good person. The crystal merchant serves as a great example of the dangers of an unfulfilled life, evident in his disappointment over his own life decisions and his failed aspirations.
Melchizedek, who claims to be the King of Salem, appears to Santiago as an old man living in the Spanish town of Tarifa, and although he appears only briefly in the book, he plays an important role as he introduces several of the key concepts that we see repeated throughout The Alchemist. For example, he tells Santiago about personal legends, and how by following your dreams and not being hesitant towards them, you can accomplish anything: “At a certain point in our lives, we