The Alchemist: Personal Legend of Santiago

Introduction

Throughout his life, Santiago faces many obstacles which he uses as blessings to move towards the accomplishment of his dream. In The Alchemist, personal legend of Santiago is twisted and captivating. Firstly, the most considerable hurdle is the will of his parents. Santiago's father wants him to become a priest as they are considered an honor for a farm family. But, Santiago's ambition is to discover the world and it is, 'more important to him than knowing God and learning about man's sins,' (Coelho, 11). Santiago struggles to tell his father that he wants to travel because he does not want his father to be unhappy about his decision. One day, when Santiago accumulates enough courage, he tells his father, 'that he didn't want to become a priest. That he wanted to travel,' (Coelho, 11). After convincing his father to allow him to travel, Santiago gets three gold coins to start off his journey.

Santiago's Initial Personal Legend in The Alchemist

Then, Santiago travels through the fields of Andalusia and, eventually, travels to the pyramids, where his treasure lies. Santiago goes against the will of his father and is able to move towards the fulfillment of his goal. Listening to his heart becomes significant when he travels to Egypt to reach his ultimate goal. Even though Santiago's parents want him to become a priest, Santiago chooses to follow his dream which enables him to live an ultimate life as finds his hidden treasure. Furthermore, as Santiago begins his journey, he comes across another obstacle of being robbed on his first day in Africa which motivates him to persevere. While drifting through the streets of Tarifa, Santiago meets Melchizedek, the king of Salem, who advises Santiago to depart for Africa to realize his personal legend. When Santiago arrives in Tangier, he meets a young man, whom he asks to lead him in his journey. Santiago, admiring a scabbard sword in the market, looks around and sees, 'people coming and going, shouting and buying, and the aroma of strange foods...but nowhere could he find his new companion...' (Coelho, 41).

While walking through the streets of Tangier, the young man disappears with Santiago's money that he earned by selling his sheep to his friend. Undoubtedly, without any money, Santiago cannot proceed further or go back to Spain. Nonetheless, losing all of his money encourages Santiago to seek for a job. His encouragement becomes important when Santiago works at a crystal merchant's shop. He persuades the merchant to build a display case and sell tea in Crystal glasses, which attracts many customers. Santiago contributes in the growth of the crystal merchant's business and gathers enough money for himself to either travel to Egypt or go back to being a shepherd again. Thus, by encouraging himself after the robbery, Santiago moves towards his goal as he earns money and gains knowledge. Finally, as Santiago advances towards his personal legend, he experiences love, which resists him to accomplish his goal. After working with the crystal merchant, Santiago takes the caravan to the pyramids, where he is required to stay at an oasis due to tribal wars. While in Al-Fayoum, helping the Englishman find the alchemist, Santiago meets a woman of the desert, whom he falls in love with at first sight. When he encounters the woman, named Fatima, Santiago experiences the language of the world.

Love as a Blessing in The Alchemist

After meeting Fatima, Santiago desires to stay with her and defer his dream of going to the pyramids. As the alchemist guides Santiago towards the pyramids, Santiago prefers to stay at the oasis. He tells the alchemist, “ ‘I want to stay at the oasis...I’ve found Fatima, and, as I’m concerned, she’s worth more than treasure.’ ”(Coelho, 122). Then, the alchemist tells him that “love never keeps a man from pursuing his Personal Legend. If he abandons that pursuit, it’s because it wasn’t true love . . . the love that speaks the Language of the World’ ”(Coelho, 124). The alchemist tells Santiago the unfavourable consequences of staying at the oasis. Instead of using love as a hurdle in his goal, Santiago lives love as a blessing and understands that love is a spiritual connection, not a physical bond that requires one to abandon his/her personal legend.

Conclusion

Comprehending love becomes apparent when Santiago is required to turn into the wind and he is capable of performing such a task by communicating with the elements through love. By understanding true love, Santiago progresses towards his goal and lives an ultimate life. Therefore, by conquering the hurdles in his life, Santiago proceeds towards the attainment of his personal legend.  

Works Cited

1. Coelho, Paulo. The Alchemist. HarperOne, 1993.