In the fantasy fiction adventure novel, The Alchemist, written by Paul Coelho, an epic story is told about an individual named Santiago that follows his dreams and defies all odds to find a treasure that might not even exist. He is accompanied by an ally which is also an alchemist. Throughout the story, a main part was the symbolization of Santiago’s heart. His heart symbolizes the good in the world and the most pure way to get what you want.…
In Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, a boy named Santiago goes on a journey to follow his Personal Legend. Someone’s Personal Legend exists as something they have wanted to accomplish from birth. However, a “mysterious force” convinces people that they cannot realize their Personal Legend. People like Santiago have the ability to overcome this force and therefore can rediscover their Personal Legend. However, fear can hinder people from reaching their Personal Legend, which Coelho demonstrates through the craft elements of dialogue and mood.…
One of the main themes the Alchemist talks about is that every individual has a personal legend, which is a purpose or destiny that calls to them. Santiago's journey symbolizes this with his universal quest for meaning in his…
In William Shakespeare’s play ‘Romeo and Juliet’ there is alot of conflict particularly in act 3 scene 1. The audience find conflict interesting to watch because it creates drama and tension. Shakespeare uses many dramatic devices to present this; some of these techniques include foreshadowing, puns and irony to add to this effect. Another reason why Shakespeare uses conflict in the play is so that the audience are able to get attached to it and watch the conflict grow. The fact that the scene is set in a public place encourages the characters to show off, the characters do this because they want to show their strength and show people that they are not afraid. The conflict in the play was created by a family ‘feud’, the families included Montague and Capulet. Ever since the feud the families have been fighting ever since, however the conflict later on heightens because ‘star-crossed lovers’ Romeo Capulet and Juliet Montague marry, but this later on turns into a tragedy.…
| This quotation is said by Melchizedek, commonly referred to as the old man. This is the passage that introduces the ideas of one’s personal legend, and the soul of the universe. Much of The Alchemist is based off that philosophy; dreams are not just something one should push aside, each person needs to focus on accomplishing his or her own fantasy. In addition this is the overall conflict of the book, because the rest of the story is about Santiago trying to accomplish his personal legend: getting to the pyramids to find hidden treasure. He will run into trouble and there will be times when he gives up, but everything that happens along the way will get him one step closer to finding his dream. (Word Count: 125)…
The Alchemist. A book about a boy's quest for hidden treasure, seeing new places, meeting new people. It has become a worldwide hit, selling millions of copies since it's publication in 1988. It's received many awards and has drawn scores of scholars and casual readers alike. This book has received raving reviews and stinging critics. Why the divided response to this book? People vastly argue over the meaning the author was trying to convey.…
Many people think driving in the winter is more dangerous than the summer, but whenever you think about driving in the winter and summer they’re both dangerous in many different ways. You always have to be prepared driving no matter what weather it is. Driving in the winter and the summer have many similarities and differences. Also driving in the winter and the summer, many people worry about what kind of car fits for the seasons. You wouldn’t want a sports car for the winter because of the effect of driving through that icy weather, your car might get messed up.…
“Some steps need to be taken alone. It is the only way to really figure out where you need to be,” Mandy Hale, a Yew York best selling author and media influencer, once said. Mandy Hale quote and The Alchemist connect. For example, Santiago learns a lesson about finding his treasure and figure out where he needs to be to find his treasure. In the novel, The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho, Santiago learns, “Remember where your heart is there you will find your treasure.” First, Santiago is a boy who dreams of traveling against his father’s wishes of him becoming a priest. Next, Santiago arrives in Africa and is robbed of his money. Last, Santiago finally reaches the pyramid.…
Chicago is a city that has enforced very strict gun laws in order to lessen crime rates. However, despite all their limits and restrictions, Chicago has a high number of gun-related crimes.As a matter of fact, according to Chicago Police, 20% of the 1375 guns retrieved from criminal activities from 2008 to 2012 were purchased from a single shop called Chuck’s Gun Shop, just a few miles away from the city in the village of Riverdale, Illinois. This shows that despite all the strict gun laws in Chicago, criminals are still able to find a way to retrieve firearms through neighboring cities and states to commit their crimes. It illustrates how stricter gun laws must be enforced throughout the entire nation to ensure that criminals will not be able…
Paulo Coelho, author of The Alchemist, defines a personal legend as “... what you have always wanted to accomplish.” He elaborates, stating, “Everyone, when they are young, knows what their Personal Legend is. At that point in their lives, everything is clear and everything is possible.” He continues to explain that the desire to accomplish this personal legend decreases, as people begin to oppose the person’s inclination to succeed. Santiago, the main protagonist, is led through many emotional and physical trials to fulfill his personal legend. Through these physical, mental, and emotional challenges, Santiago proves his adaptability towards unexpected circumstances.…
Towards the middle of the book, The Alchemist, Santiago states the difference between the sheep and the desert: “I understand sheep; they’re no longer a problem, and they can be good friends. On the other hand, I don’t know if the desert can be a friend, and it’s in the desert that I have to search for my treasure” (p.66). The sheep symbolize the life lived by those who do not achieve their destiny and blind to the potential reality. Santiago expresses through diction thinly veiled disrespect for the sheep due to them only desiring food and water. The sheep symbolize people in the book like the crystal merchant and the baker who do not achieve their destiny, ignoring the potential reality of those destinies. For these characters only pursue…
Foreshadowing or first obstacle helps to identify, or gives a hint (idea) of what the problem of the story is. Paolo Coelho has several foreshadowing events in the Alchemist; for example, the scene in which Santiago relates his dream to the gypsy, regarding the Egyptian pyramids. The dream itself is an indication of a foreshadowing event. It indicates the events that eventually will occur through the book, ‘’gives a taste of the problem ‘’.…
The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho, consists of numerous pieces of advice dealing with universal wisdom. In this novel, Santiago, a shepherd boy, learns and matures on the journey to find his Personal Legend, his life's ultimate accomplishment. He faces many difficult decisions along the way but once he begins to listen to his heart he found love, treasure, and the ability to turn into wind. Like Santiago, a reader can grow to feel more knowledgeable from the words of Coelho because his advice can be accepted and appreciated by all people. The Alchemist expresses beliefs that easily relate to people around the world since at one point or another we all suffer from confusion about our hearts. Coelho beautifully constructed a novel that contains…
Words are not limited to one single meaning. Most words have multiple meanings, which are categorized as either denotative or connotative. The denotation of a word is its explicit definition as listed in a dictionary. The expressiveness of language, however, comes from the other type of word meaning—connotation, or the association or set of associations that a word usually brings to mind. In Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” there are many examples of connotation and symbolism for example the denotation of the word Mallard: The name of a wild duck, associated with the male ducks. Could be a symbol for the subconscious will that man and women control each-other with that Chopin describes. Storm of grief: This refers to the way Chopin describes Mrs. Mallard’s reaction to the news of her husband’s death. This relates her feelings to the weather. Death of Mr. Mallard vs. Description of new spring life: Spring is usually associated with life and birth, however, Chopin sets Mr. Mallard’s death against spring. This could mean that Brently’s death was a rebirth for Mrs. Mallard and she could be free. “As a child who had cried itself to sleep continues to sob in its dreams” vs. “Like a goddess of Victory”: This description of Mrs. Mallard’s change in feelings after accepting Brently’s death indicates that according to the story now that she is an individual she is in control of her life. Abrupt ending and description of Mrs. Mallard’s death: This could be used to leave the reader questioning the story or could be an indication that the author feels that without freedom from the control of Brently Mrs. Mallard is better off dead. There is connotation in the fact she had died from heart disease. She did die from a heart attack on a denotation standpoint, but could it have been that her heart was crushed after being filled with the joy of freedom and her life head of her. This destruction of freedom she had come to realize and welcome was…
Throughout The Alchemist, readers see a clear view of how they are to discover the meaning of life. The first is by discovering their personal legend. People are supposed to go out and seek their life’s destiny. The second is by defeating fear. There is nothing to fear but fear itself. We shouldn’t worry about the past or future. In fact, we should be focusing on the present. When we take the focus off of our fears we begin to focus on the present and realize what we’ve been missing. Paulo Coelho portrays two main themes throughout The Alchemist: pursue your personal legend and dangers come when you fear.…