Sandhya Garimella
04.09.14
Block A
Santiago’s Undertakes the Hero’s Journey
Theme - Achieving dreams with courage and self-belief
In The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho highlights that in order to achieve greater heights, one must face challenges with fortitude and and have faith in oneself.
“Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently.” (Maya Angelou) At this present time, everyone has larger than life aspirations, in consistency, it is the most stress-filled, worrisome and competitive period. In this ambush of fear and self-doubt, it is important to be courageous. This is the underlying theme of Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, where he highlights the importance of …show more content…
On arrival, he is fortunate enough to make a friend, who decides to help him. However, there was a sudden twist of fate and their friendship did not last long, as he was cheated by this deceiving man, who steals his money and leaves him helpless in a desolate land. Although this may be the case he regained hope in himself: “Looking around, he sought his sheep, and then realized that he was in a new world. But instead of being saddened, he was happy…. he could go in search of his treasure, instead. He had not a cent in his pocket, but he had faith”(59) The protagonist is trapped in an unfamiliar setting, he knows the name of the none, and has to no money. Nevertheless, his mood is optimistic and full of faith. He decides not to look at himself with pity, “As he mused about these things, he realized that he had to choose between thinking of himself as the poor victim of a thief and as an adventurer in quest of his treasure.‘I'm an adventurer, looking for treasure,’ he said to himself.”(59). He does not crave for empathy or sympathy, but considers himself to be on a tough path. This is illustrated by the simile he uses, “....not as a victim … but as an adventurer…” Coelho tries to convey that even in adverse times, one must not lose faith. We must pick ourselves up and restart with renewed hope. This truly symbolizes the courage he has to face the obstacles life throws at him. He further …show more content…
The life of the alchemist and his own relies upon his ability to turn himself into the wind: “ ‘If I'm not able to turn myself into the wind, we're going to die,’ the boy said”(203). Coelho using dialogue to explicitly show the his fear directly, and not from inference. The boy’s tone which uses harsh phrases like, ‘we’re going to die’. Conflict is clearly between the alchemist and the protagonist, as well as with himself. He is also desperate to survive for Fatima, the love of his life. However, in a fight to survive he musters up courage and takes on this challenge for her sake, “The boy took them to the cliff where he had been on the previous day. He told them all to be seated.”(204). He challenges the natural forces, and proves to them the power of his love. The all knowing hand finally turns him into the wind, leaving the desert chief in shock: “the Arabs recounted the legend of a boy who had turned himself into the wind, almost destroying a military camp, in defiance of the most powerful chief in the desert.” (218). Coelho uses imagery to show the miracle this young shepherd boy could perform, seen through the phrase ‘turned himself into the wind, almost destroying a military camp’. The desert in the book symbolises his trials, challenges, that help him grow and mature as a person. Upon surviving this breathtaking ordeal, Santiago has a greater understanding about the
04.09.14
Block A
Santiago’s Undertakes the Hero’s Journey
Theme - Achieving dreams with courage and self-belief
In The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho highlights that in order to achieve greater heights, one must face challenges with fortitude and and have faith in oneself.
“Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently.” (Maya Angelou) At this present time, everyone has larger than life aspirations, in consistency, it is the most stress-filled, worrisome and competitive period. In this ambush of fear and self-doubt, it is important to be courageous. This is the underlying theme of Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, where he highlights the importance of …show more content…
On arrival, he is fortunate enough to make a friend, who decides to help him. However, there was a sudden twist of fate and their friendship did not last long, as he was cheated by this deceiving man, who steals his money and leaves him helpless in a desolate land. Although this may be the case he regained hope in himself: “Looking around, he sought his sheep, and then realized that he was in a new world. But instead of being saddened, he was happy…. he could go in search of his treasure, instead. He had not a cent in his pocket, but he had faith”(59) The protagonist is trapped in an unfamiliar setting, he knows the name of the none, and has to no money. Nevertheless, his mood is optimistic and full of faith. He decides not to look at himself with pity, “As he mused about these things, he realized that he had to choose between thinking of himself as the poor victim of a thief and as an adventurer in quest of his treasure.‘I'm an adventurer, looking for treasure,’ he said to himself.”(59). He does not crave for empathy or sympathy, but considers himself to be on a tough path. This is illustrated by the simile he uses, “....not as a victim … but as an adventurer…” Coelho tries to convey that even in adverse times, one must not lose faith. We must pick ourselves up and restart with renewed hope. This truly symbolizes the courage he has to face the obstacles life throws at him. He further …show more content…
The life of the alchemist and his own relies upon his ability to turn himself into the wind: “ ‘If I'm not able to turn myself into the wind, we're going to die,’ the boy said”(203). Coelho using dialogue to explicitly show the his fear directly, and not from inference. The boy’s tone which uses harsh phrases like, ‘we’re going to die’. Conflict is clearly between the alchemist and the protagonist, as well as with himself. He is also desperate to survive for Fatima, the love of his life. However, in a fight to survive he musters up courage and takes on this challenge for her sake, “The boy took them to the cliff where he had been on the previous day. He told them all to be seated.”(204). He challenges the natural forces, and proves to them the power of his love. The all knowing hand finally turns him into the wind, leaving the desert chief in shock: “the Arabs recounted the legend of a boy who had turned himself into the wind, almost destroying a military camp, in defiance of the most powerful chief in the desert.” (218). Coelho uses imagery to show the miracle this young shepherd boy could perform, seen through the phrase ‘turned himself into the wind, almost destroying a military camp’. The desert in the book symbolises his trials, challenges, that help him grow and mature as a person. Upon surviving this breathtaking ordeal, Santiago has a greater understanding about the