Prof. Baker
English
Fall 2014
The Alchemist Essay
Have you every wondered what it takes for you to achieve perfection? In the novel The Alchemist Santiago has certain impurities that he has to get rid of to reach his personal legend. 3 impurities Santiago has in the novel are Fear, Purity, and faith.
“The land was ruined, and I had to find some other way to earn a living. So now I’m a camel driver. But that disaster taught me to understand the word of Allah; people need not fear the unknown if they are capable of achieving what they need and want” CITATION Pau \l 1033 (Coelho). Throughout the novel Santiago feared many things which his fear became an obstacle for him to successfully achieving his Personal Legend. He experienced several forms of fear: every since his childhood he feared the gypsy women would …show more content…
And one can always come back. If what you had found was only a moment of light, like the explosion of a star, you will find nothing on your return” CITATION Pau1 \l 1033 (Coelho, The Alchemist). Through out the novel Santiago works on becoming pure to reach his personal legend. The spiritual unity that is represented by the Soul of the World binds together all of natures from humans to the most simplest thing desert sand. This idea is can be compared to two things the alchemist purifying the metal into gold and Santiago purifying himself into someone who is able in accomplishing his personal legend. In the novel the soul of the world created an ultimate desire for everyone whether it’s Santiago or a piece of metal. For anything or anyone to accomplish their personal legend they must become part of the Soul of the World which will help you purify yourself and the continuous purifying will lead to perfecting. The parallel examples of humans, metal and all other thing sharing a common goal demonstrates that every element in nature are uniquely different form of a single