Identity In The Alchemist

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Books are always written with a purpose—sometimes written to give insight to the readers or simply to inspire the readers. In the story, The Alchemist, written by Paulo Coelho, a shepherd boy named Santiago learns the way of life through his search for his treasure and his personal legend. The theme of the book can be interpreted by reading along as Santiago goes on the journey to accomplish his personal legend and obtain his treasure. The theme in the story is that anybody can acquire their goals and aspirations if they possess enough trust in themselves and abide by their hearts. This can be seen throughout the book and throughout Santiago’s life as there are many events in which he has to believe in himself in order to achieve what he desires.…show more content…
As for Santiago, he desired to be able to discover his treasure and to be able to read the world. As he went on his journey, he needed to believe in himself. At one point of the story, soon after he decided to commence on the journey to find his personal legend, he was robbed of all of his belongings. It was hard for Santiago since “…he was in a different country, a stranger in a strange land, where he couldn’t even speak the language” (39). This event was devastating for Santiago. Soon after, Santiago decided that he had to find a job in order to buy sheep and restore his life back to normal. Unlike many people today, Santiago was able to find faith in themselves after going through such hardship to pick himself up from the misfortune. Santiago believed that he would be able to return to his previous life as a shepherd if he was able to make some money. Many people, after enduring through such hardship, go through a mental breakdown and find themselves in a hole in which they cannot get out. As for Santiago, he decided to put himself out there and find work in order to restore his life since he believed that he would be able to do it. Although the faith he had in himself helped him during his journey, it was not the only thing that helped…show more content…
When he was still a young boy, “his parents had wanted him to become a priest, and thereby a source of pride for a simple farm family” (8). Although he was mindful that his parents wanted him to become a priest, he knew in his heart that he wanted something different. During a talk with his father, his father told him that the only people who traveled amongst them were the shepherds (9). This talk with his father allowed him to realize that his heart had truly wanted him to take a different route in life than his parents planned. He stuck to what he his heart desired and gained the backing of his father. In another instance of the story, after he stopped working for the crystal merchant, he had to make a tough decision on whether or not to go back to being a shepherd or to pursue his personal legend. Santiago’s heart told him to pursue his personal legend instead of going back to being a shepherd. “… it’s in the desert that I have to search for my treasure. If I don’t find it, I can always go home” (65). If he had not listened to his heart, he would have never been able to achieve his personal legend and obtain his treasure. Although there were risks to the choices he made when he listened to his heart, he followed his heart because he believed in his heart and the choices it helped him
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