Introduction
Your Personal Legend is what you want to achieve in life. In The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho explores this theme through the mystical tale of a shepherd boy named Santiago. He thinks his desired goal is to find treasure, but after going on a long, difficult quest, he realizes his true goal, or Personal Legend, is what he learns along the way. Since it was first published in 1988, The Alchemist has delighted and inspired millions of people around the world. Read our summary (Continue reading) to discover why.
Dreaming Makes Life Interesting
“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.” — Paulo Coelho
The main character in The Alchemist is a shepherd called Santiago. The story starts with Santiago pondering the nature of his work. Santiago is close to his animals. He calls each of them by name, his schedule revolves around them, and he has conversations with them. Recently, Santiago’s conversations have been about a girl he met a year ago. He met her in the village which is the next destination on his journey.
Santiago hasn’t stopped thinking about this girl all year. She is a merchant’s daughter he met while delivering wool to a shop where she was browsing. The shop owner bought the wool from Santiago and encouraged him to return a year later. Hence, Santiago is on the way back to the village where he first met the girl.
Santiago views his shepherding life as providing him with considerable freedom. He allows his sheep to lead the way and eventually finds a new path. However, Santiago realizes this is not a real discovery. He once dreamed of traveling the world. He accepts that dreaming about what you don’t have is what makes life interesting. This is why he has been dreaming for a year about seeing this girl again.
Personal Legends
We All Have a Personal Legend We Want to Achieve. There are two key themes in The Alchemist: “Personal Legends” and pursuing your dream.
Once Santiago reaches Tarifa, his last stop before the village where his dream girl lives, he visits an old gypsy woman. This woman claims she can interpret dreams. Santiago has had a recurring dream where a child shows him the location of some treasure. However, he wakes up just before he finds out exactly where it is. The gypsy woman tells Santiago this treasure is legitimate. She explains to him that dreams are a language used by the Soul of the World to communicate with people. The woman accepts the payment of one-tenth of the treasure when Santiago finds it.
Upon leaving the gypsy woman’s house, Santiago sits in the plaza to read a book. An old man comes up to him and tells him he has read that book. The man reveals himself to be Melchizedek, the king of Salem. He bestows wisdom upon Santiago. This wisdom is that the world believes fate prevents people from achieving their Personal Legend. Personal Legends are dreams that people have wanted to achieve their entire life. Just as the gypsy woman said, Melchizedek explains that Personal Legends come from the Soul of the World. However, fear and routine obscure our Personal Legend.
Melchizedek explains to Santiago that he only appears to people who are ready to achieve their dreams. He will tell Santiago about the treasure in his dream if the boy gives him one-tenth of his sheep.
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Everything Happens for a Reason
After obtaining enough money to buy another flock and travel home, Santiago has a conversation with the crystal shop owner. He asks for the owner’s blessing to go home. Although the owner gives his blessing, he also tells Santiago that he knows he will not return to Spain. He says Santiago will continue to pursue his Personal Legend. Santiago accepts he is far from home and closer to the Egyptian pyramids and the treasure. He takes a chance and starts living in a caravan in the desert to search for the treasure.
While living here, he meets an Englishman in search of his own Personal Legend. Melchizedek also gave this man Urim and Thummim. Santiago realizes the series of events he has experienced have all guided him closer to his Personal Legend. Even being robbed was part of his journey toward finding the treasure.
While traveling across the desert, the Englishman talks to Santiago about the Soul of the World. He describes this as the principle that governs all things. If we have an intuition or genuinely want something, we are immersed in the Soul of the World. Santiago reads some of the Englishman’s alchemy books. He discovered that almost all famous alchemists dedicated their lives to realizing their Personal Legends. However, Santiago wants to read the world’s omens through everyday life, rather than in old books.
Love Reveals the Soul’s Voice
The caravan finally reaches the oasis where an alchemist has been waiting for its arrival. This alchemist knew from reading the desert’s omens that someone in a caravan sought them out.
At this time, a war is taking place between the tribes of the desert. This war makes the desert too dangerous to cross. Therefore, the caravan must stay at the oasis indefinitely.
Santiago meets a beautiful girl, Fatima, at a well and falls in love with her. He learns that being in love helps you hear the language of the Soul of the World. Santiago starts meeting Fatima at the well every day. He tells her about his story and everything he has learned during his journey.
Nearing the Treasure
Our True Treasure Is Not Always What We Think It Is. Through Santiago’s journey in The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho teaches us that the “treasure” we are aiming for may not be our true goal.
“Why do we have to listen to our hearts?” . . ”Because, wherever your heart is, that is where you’ll find your treasure.” — Paulo Coelho
Santiago travels across the desert with the alchemist. He grows restless, wanting to learn more about the alchemist’s secrets. However, the alchemist explains that, although he has learned much, some things cannot be taught. Santiago must learn these things himself. The alchemist also explains that men complicate matters by seeking their Personal Legend’s treasures without living their Personal Legends. He advises Santiago to listen to his heart.
When nearing the treasure, the two men are traveling through dangerous lands. Santiago’s heart is becoming agitated. He hears from the Soul of the World about others who have failed to find their fortune. He is scared and wants to return to Fatima. However, he learns to be at peace with these worries.
Alchemist Teaches Fear, Dreams, Fate, and Omens
Fear
Fear of failure is the primary obstacle Santiago must overcome on his journey. Throughout the book, wise individuals tell Santiago this fear becomes irrelevant if you faithfully pursue your dreams. This wisdom is supported by the times Santiago truly pursued his dreams, like turning himself into the wind.
Dreams
Although dreams are common throughout The Alchemist, the most important dream is Santiago’s Personal Legend. Personal Legends enlighten the characters and form communication with the Soul of the World. You can use life goals to guide you through hardships. What’s more, the possibility of achieving your dream is what makes life interesting.
Fate
Many characters use the term “Maktub” throughout the book. Maktub means “it is written.” Santiago’s story shows that fate always cooperates with those in pursuit of their Personal Legends. Everything in the universe conspires to help you achieve what you desire. Therefore, you should remain focused on your goals and find comfort in the belief that your destiny is already written in the world’s history.
Omens
Omens allow you to find your meaning, no matter the environment. This is because omens are part of the Universal Language of the World. We should also try to find meaning in random events. Every event can be applied to our Personal Legend and considered another step toward achieving our goals.
You’ll be happy if you keep your eyes on the present. Life will be a grand party for you because life is the moment you’re living now.
Don’t Be a Sheep
The sheep in The Alchemist are symbolic. Although Santiago cares for his sheep, he also understands they lack something he has. He understands his sheep do not have the same capacity as him to have a Personal Legend. This is why they follow him wherever he goes.
Before Santiago started chasing his dreams, he was like a sheep. He followed others and was focused on material desires and social acceptance. Identifying your Personal Legend is vital in preventing you from becoming dependent on others.