Identity In The Alchemist
The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho, follows the life of a young boy, Santiago, through his journey of achieving his personal legend. In this multi-genre project, I have focused on three themes that are prevalent in the novel. First model illustrates the process involved in realising what is one’s personal legend. The second model explores the paths that one can take and the obstacles they face. Underlying these previous themes is also fate which has been predetermined before one’s birth. All these themes combined lead individuals to their personal legend.
1. Realising your Personal legend
The Alchemist talks about the process in which lead transforms into gold. This means the lead realises its Personal Legend by removing all its impurities to become …show more content…
Red means energy, power and desire although, it also means stop and danger (Olesen, 2017). In The Alchemist, Santiago becomes very interested in attaining his personal legend of finding his treasure when he first learns of it. Although at a certain point, he thinks of not pursuing his personal legend. “…you are trying to realise your destiny. And you are at the point where you are about to give it all up” (Coelho, 1992, page 24). Santiago made a major choice between his sheep and his personal legend. On one hand, he had such energy and desire in pursuing his personal legend but on the other hand, he was worried about his sheep (Coelho, 1992, page 29). He decided to sell his sheep so that he could achieve his personal …show more content…
The journey you take to achieve your personal legend
Smooth stones symbolise problems that are exterior boundaries that need to be crossed. These are situations that do not affect an individual’s soul but their physical body. In The Alchemist, the desert was a major obstacle in Santiago’s pursuit for his personal legend. This was because the desert was expensive and was the place of tribal wars. This put strain on Santiago as he needed to work at the Crystal Merchant’s shop to have sufficient money for the journey through the desert. Santiago was aware of his surroundings and knew the dangers present in the desert.
Rough stones symbolise personal struggles. The hard texture compared to the smooth stones shows that overcoming personal problems is more difficult as man needs to serve his own heart but also consider other’s desires. In the novel, Santiago chooses between fulfilling his family’s desires or pursuing his own of becoming a shepherd. “He had worked for an entire year to make a dream come true, and that dream…was becoming less important. Maybe because that wasn’t really his dream” (Coelho, 1992, page 66). Individuals tend to follow dreams that are easy but not the dream they truly wish to pursue. In our hearts we know which the dream that we desire is but it will involve more effort and may not come true. Santiago also has to decide whether to continue pursuing his personal legend or stay in the oasis and live with Fatima. “What kept you at the oasis was your own fear
1. Realising your Personal legend
The Alchemist talks about the process in which lead transforms into gold. This means the lead realises its Personal Legend by removing all its impurities to become …show more content…
Red means energy, power and desire although, it also means stop and danger (Olesen, 2017). In The Alchemist, Santiago becomes very interested in attaining his personal legend of finding his treasure when he first learns of it. Although at a certain point, he thinks of not pursuing his personal legend. “…you are trying to realise your destiny. And you are at the point where you are about to give it all up” (Coelho, 1992, page 24). Santiago made a major choice between his sheep and his personal legend. On one hand, he had such energy and desire in pursuing his personal legend but on the other hand, he was worried about his sheep (Coelho, 1992, page 29). He decided to sell his sheep so that he could achieve his personal …show more content…
The journey you take to achieve your personal legend
Smooth stones symbolise problems that are exterior boundaries that need to be crossed. These are situations that do not affect an individual’s soul but their physical body. In The Alchemist, the desert was a major obstacle in Santiago’s pursuit for his personal legend. This was because the desert was expensive and was the place of tribal wars. This put strain on Santiago as he needed to work at the Crystal Merchant’s shop to have sufficient money for the journey through the desert. Santiago was aware of his surroundings and knew the dangers present in the desert.
Rough stones symbolise personal struggles. The hard texture compared to the smooth stones shows that overcoming personal problems is more difficult as man needs to serve his own heart but also consider other’s desires. In the novel, Santiago chooses between fulfilling his family’s desires or pursuing his own of becoming a shepherd. “He had worked for an entire year to make a dream come true, and that dream…was becoming less important. Maybe because that wasn’t really his dream” (Coelho, 1992, page 66). Individuals tend to follow dreams that are easy but not the dream they truly wish to pursue. In our hearts we know which the dream that we desire is but it will involve more effort and may not come true. Santiago also has to decide whether to continue pursuing his personal legend or stay in the oasis and live with Fatima. “What kept you at the oasis was your own fear