‘“I have inside me the winds, the deserts, the oceans, the stars, and everything created in the universe. We were all made by the same hand, and we have the same soul. I want to be like you, able to reach every corner of the world, cross the seas, blow away the sands that cover my treasure, and carry the voice of the woman I love.”’ (Coelho, 140). In ‘The Alchemist’, by Paulo Coelho, Santiago, a young Andalusian shepherd boy goes on a journey to realize his true destiny. He travels from Spain, Andalusia to the distant lands of Egypt. On his journey, Santiago receives help from many people, overcomes difficulties, finds love and gains knowledge about the true meaning of life and destiny. The quote above is taken from a scene where Santiago persuades to the wind to help him turn into the wind for a few moments. Santiago takes part in finding his true destiny by being insightful, overcoming obstacles with determination and compassion.
Santiago uses his insight to decipher omens laid out in his path to treasure. He learns about omens and how to follow them from Melchizedek in the start of his journey. He goes through many obstacles on his quest. One of his obstacles was at the oasis. ‘…he sensed movement above him. Looking up, he saw a pair of hawks flying high in the sky. … Suddenly, one of the hawks made a flashing dive through the sky, attacking the other. As it did so, a sudden, fleeting image came to the boy: an army, with its swords at the ready, riding into the oasis.’ (Coelho, 95). At first, Santiago thinks this is just a mirage, and wants to ignore it. But, inside him, the old king’s voice tells him ‘“Always heed the omens”’ (Coelho, 96). Santiago rethinks and decides that it is an omen, and he should go tell the tribal chieftains, risking his life to the threat that he will be killed if this doesn’t happen. But an army really did attack the oasis the next day and due to Santiago, the oasis was saved. His insight played a great part in this as if it wasn’t for it, the boy would never have realized that the hawks were an omen, not a mirage. Another obstacle happened while the boy and the alchemist were on their way to the Pyramids. ‘The sun was setting when the boy’s heart sounded a danger signal. … Five minutes later, the boy saw two horsemen waiting ahead of them. Before he could say anything to the alchemist, the two horsemen had become ten, and then a hundred. And then they were everywhere in the dunes.’ (Coelho, 132). This was when Santiago and the alchemist were captured by the most powerful chief of the desert. Right before they were captured, Santiago’s heart sounds an alarm, telling him of danger. But the alchemist didn’t seem to suspect any danger so Santiago assumed it was ok. Within minutes, the boy and the alchemist were surrounded by horsemen. Even though Santiago couldn’t escape from the horsemen before they caught him, he was able to sense the danger lurking near. His intuition had tried to help Santiago but this was when he refused. Santiago’s insight was something he always had, but something he needed help to realize it. ‘The boy took out Urim and Thummim from his bag. He had used the two stones only once, one morning when he was at a market place. His life and his path had always provided him with enough omens. He placed Urim and Thummim in the chest.’ (Coelho, 160). Santiago had received these two stones, Urim and Thummim, from Melchizedek, to be used to help the boy read the omens when he wasn’t sure. But Santiago only needed to use these stones only once, when he lost all his money at Tangier and lost all his confidence. But his stones helped him to go in the right way, and from that onwards, his eyes were more accustomed and confident in looking for omens that he didn’t really need the stones anymore. So Santiago had known how to read omens deep in his heart but needed confidence and a little knowledge about omens to recognize them. After that, omens came to him easily and Santiago could fulfill his destiny. Gaining more wisdom and insight with every step, Santiago continues on his journey with perseverance and determination.
Santiago strives towards his destiny with strong determination. Even though he was hurt, Santiago stood up over his pain and still walked to his treasure. ‘The boy stood up shakily, and looked once more at the Pyramids. They seemed to laugh at him, and he laughed back, his heart bursting with joy. Because now he knew where his treasure was.’ (Coelho, 155). Santiago had been beaten up to near death by some men he met while he was digging for his treasure in front of the Pyramids. But when the men knew why the boy was digging, the leader tells him about his dream, where he found treasure in the Andalusian countryside. Santiago realizes that place is his final destiny and he forgets his pain for a while, and laughs aloud with joy. His determination for treasure shows here as he is beat up to a near death situation and is still thinking about his treasure he will find back in his home country. Although he is hurt and is in pain, he never loses hope or thoughts about his treasure and is determined to find it. Santiago also doesn’t falter over great obstacles that threaten his life. Instead, he calmly faces it and solves the problem slowly and steadily. ‘He spent the entire afternoon of the second day looking out over the desert, and listening to his heart. The boy knew the desert sensed his fear. They both spoke the same language.’ (Coelho, 137). On his way to the pyramids accompanied by the alchemist, Santiago is captured by the most powerful chief of the desert, mistaken for spies. The alchemist tells the chief that Santiago is an alchemist and is able to turn himself into the wind. But Santiago has never turned himself into the wind before and he didn’t know how. But determined to stay alive, Santiago spends a lot of time just looking at the desert, listening to his heart and putting great effort into thinking of a way to survive. After ‘speaking’ to the desert and consulting the alchemist, Santiago successfully turns himself into the wind. Santiago isn’t only determined about finding his treasure, but he is also determined to improve himself. ‘“…So each thing has to transform itself into something better, and to acquire a new destiny, until, someday, the Soul of the World becomes one thing only.”’ (Coelho, 143). While trying to become the wind, Santiago talked to the sun about everything has a destiny and one day, it will be realized. But to realize one’s destiny, everything must become something improved. This shows Santiago’s determination to become a better person if he wants to achieve his destiny. His determination played at fair deal in his journey, but it would never have been achieved if it wasn’t for his passion for life.
Compassion for life and love alive in his heart, Santiago bravely sets foot and unearths his treasure. One of his treasures was Fatima, his true love, or his twin soul. ‘“I came to tell you just one thing,” the boy said. “I want you to be my wife. I love you.”’ (Coelho, 91). Santiago had met Fatima in front of a well in the oasis, asking people he met about the alchemist for the Englishman. When their eyes met, they instantly knew they were destined to be together. The next day, Santiago waited in front of the well for Fatima and confessed of his love. Santiago’s compassionate soul is shown very clearly here, as he decides without hesitation that this woman is the woman for him, which is not very easy to do. But even before he began on his quest, he had led a passionate life, doing what he wanted to do. ‘His parents had wanted him to become a priest, … But ever since he had been a child, he had wanted to know the world, and this was much more important to him than knowing God and learning about man’s sins. One afternoon, on a visit to his family, he had summoned up the courage to tell his father that he didn’t want to become a priest. That he wanted to travel.’ (Coelho, 8). Santiago had stood up for his own opinion against his parents’ opinions, to do the thing he had passion for. This is something that needs great passion in what he wanted to do. So his parents understood his passion in travelling, and gave Santiago their blessing. If it wasn’t for Santiago’s compassion, he wouldn’t have been able to realize his destiny. Santiago did lose a little of his passion in the beginning of his quest, when all the money he owned was stolen in Tangier. But he soon regained his compassion for his destiny after he earned enough money by working for the crystal merchant. ‘He suddenly felt tremendously happy. He could always go back to being a shepherd. He could always become a crystal salesman again. Maybe the world had other hidden treasures, but he had a dream, and he had met with a king. That doesn’t happen to just anyone!’ (Coelho, 62). Before, Santiago had been feeling very pessimistic about everything that happened. He had nearly given up on looking for his treasure and he planned to go back to Andalusia as soon as he had the money. Santiago was afraid to challenge the endless deserts, the risk of being robbed and killed before, but slowly, he regained hope and passion about looking for his Personal Legend and departs for his quest once more. He had gained more faith and passion in this journey and finally succeeds in achieving his destiny, guided by omens, persistent and compassionate in his dream.
Realizing the true language and soul of the world, Santiago talks to the wind, telling it how everyone was made by the same hand and shares the same soul. He also talks about love and destiny passionately. He succeeds turning into the wind after making a huge simum blow and nearly destroying the military camp he was held in. Santiago wouldn’t have been capable in making all these miracles happen if he hadn’t learned to read the omens with insight, continue his journey however hard it is with determination and didn’t listen to his compassionate heart. When his pursuit in treasure is over, he gains what he had always yearned for: love, treasure and a better life. This was all made possible when Santiago believed in his traits. Thus, Santiago’s journey is telling the reader when one believes in oneself, it will be possible.
Compassion for life and love alive in his heart, Santiago bravely sets foot and unearths his treasure. One of his treasures was Fatima, his true love, or his twin soul. ‘“I came to tell you just one thing,” the boy said. “I want you to be my wife. I love you.”’ (Coelho, 91). Santiago had met Fatima in front of a well in the oasis, asking people he met about the alchemist for the Englishman. When their eyes met, they instantly knew they were destined to be together. The next day, Santiago waited in front of the well for Fatima and confessed of his love. Santiago’s compassionate soul is shown very clearly here, as he decides without hesitation that this woman is the woman for him, which is not very easy to do. But even before he began on his quest, he had led a passionate life, doing what he wanted to do. ‘His parents had wanted him to become a priest, … But ever since he had been a child, he had wanted to know the world, and this was much more important to him than knowing God and learning about man’s sins. One afternoon, on a visit to his family, he had summoned up the courage to tell his father that he didn’t want to become a priest. That he wanted to travel.’ (Coelho, 8). Santiago had stood up for his own opinion against his parents’ opinions, to do the thing he had passion for. This is something that needs great passion in what he wanted to do. So his parents understood his passion in travelling, and gave Santiago their blessing. If it wasn’t for Santiago’s compassion, he wouldn’t have been able to realize his destiny. Santiago did lose a little of his passion in the beginning of his quest, when all the money he owned was stolen in Tangier. But he soon regained his compassion for his destiny after he earned enough money by working for the crystal merchant. ‘He suddenly felt tremendously happy. He could always go back to being a shepherd. He could always become a crystal salesman again. Maybe the world had other hidden treasures, but he had a dream, and he had met with a king. That doesn’t happen to just anyone!’ (Coelho, 62). Before, Santiago had been feeling very pessimistic about everything that happened. He had nearly given up on looking for his treasure and he planned to go back to Andalusia as soon as he had the money. Santiago was afraid to challenge the endless deserts, the risk of being robbed and killed before, but slowly, he regained hope and passion about looking for his Personal Legend and departs for his quest once more. He had gained more faith and passion in this journey and finally succeeds in achieving his destiny, guided by omens, persistent and compassionate in his dream.
Realizing the true language and soul of the world, Santiago talks to the wind, telling it how everyone was made by the same hand and shares the same soul. He also talks about love and destiny passionately. He succeeds turning into the wind after making a huge simum blow and nearly destroying the military camp he was held in. Santiago wouldn’t have been capable in making all these miracles happen if he hadn’t learned to read the omens with insight, continue his journey however hard it is with determination and didn’t listen to his compassionate heart. When his pursuit in treasure is over, he gains what he had always yearned for: love, treasure and a better life. This was all made possible when Santiago believed in his traits. Thus, Santiago’s journey is telling the reader when one believes in oneself, it will be possible.
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