The Alchemist Essay

According to Paulo Coelho’s, The Alchemist, a Personal Legend can be found and accomplished because, “... when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it” (Coelho 24). The idea of a Personal Legend, a dream, or treasure is constantly mentioned in the Alchemist. Personal Legend begins, when Santiago has a dream to when he finally meets the Englishman. The only difference was that Santiago was actually pursuing his dream; while as the Englishman was still searching for his. In the Alchemist, there are underlying themes that support chasing a Personal Legend such as, fate, perseverance or commitment, and overall happiness.
To start with, throughout the story, the writer conveys the Alchemist’s idea of “Maktub”
Coelho writes about when people are young, they are aware what their destiny is. “At that point in their lives, everything is clear and everything is possible. They are not afraid to dream, and to yearn for everything they would like to see happen to them in their lives. But, as time passes, a mysterious force begins to convince them that it will be impossible for them to realize their Personal Legend” (Coelho 24). In this passage, he describes, as people get older, a mysterious force or obstacles get in the way of people pursuing their Personal Legend. While pursuing a Personal Legend, one of the main obstacles Coelho writes about is the fear of failure. “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). Coelho is saying that the fear of failure will stop people from achieving their Personal Legend. Making sacrifices to pursue one’s Personal Legend is another obstacle Coelho writes about. For example, Santiago a shepherd had to give up his sheep in order to pursue his Personal Legend. “‘Give me one-tenth of your sheep,’ said the old man, ‘and I’ll tell you how to find the hidden treasure’” (Coelho