Alchemist Essay

Discover Yourself

“When I have truly been searching for my treasure, every day has been luminous, because I’ve known that every hour was a part of the dream that I would find it. When I have been truly searching for my treasure I’ve discovered things along the way that I never would have seen had I not had the courage to try things that seemed impossible for a shepherd to achieve.” (Coelho 250) In the Alchemist, Santiago, a shepherd, dreams of a treasure at the Egyptian pyramids and decides to follow his destiny. He leaves his life and sheep in Andalusia in pursuit of his treasure. During his journey, Santiago meets new people who help guide him to his treasure. Santiago learns to overcome his fears, find love and understand the soul of the world. Santiago is able to achieve his destiny by acting courageous, staying open-minded throughout his journey and optimistic to new adventures.

During his journey, Santiago uses his courage, and fearlessness to overcome many obstacles. First Santiago makes the decision to follow his destiny. He leaves his life as a shepherd, and sells his sheep for money to get to the pyramids, where Melchizedek, the king of Salem, tells Santiago where his treasure is. Later after arriving at the oasis, Santiago shows courage by presenting the omen he saw in the desert to the chieftains. “The oasis is neutral ground. No one attacks an oasis” (Coelho). The oasis is said to be safe, however Santiago reads an omen (from the flight of hawks) that shows him an army is coming. Santiago at first does not want to tell the chieftains about the omen, but the camel driver convinces him to do so. Had he not done so, Santiago would have not met the alchemist. Finally, Santiago, during his journey, becomes fearless through listening to his heart. The alchemist teaches Santiago that you will never be able to escape from your heart. So it’s better to listen to what it has to say. That way you’ll never have to fear an unanticipated blow. “The boy continued to listen to his heart as they crossed the desert… He lost his fear.” (Coelho) Not only is Santiago courageous throughout his journey, but Santiago is optimistic to new adventures.

Staying optimistic throughout his journey helps Santiago keep following his destiny. First Santiago keeps an optimistic attitude himself after being robbed in the Tangier market. While sitting in a bar in Africa a boy about the same height and age approaches Santiago. Santiago tells him that he needs to reach the Egyptian pyramids, and the boy offers to help. As they walk though the market, Santiago is distracted for a few moments and Santiago’s new friend is nowhere to be found. “He looked around at the empty plaza again, feeling less desperate then before. This wasn’t a strange place: it was a new one.” (Coelho) Even after being robbed, Santiago keeps optimistic. Later, after working an entire year for the crystal merchant, Santiago still chooses to follow his destiny. When Santiago is robbed in the market he is left with no money to return to Andalusia. Therefore Santiago starts work for a crystal merchant. After a year of work Santiago has enough money to buy himself a hundred and twenty sheep. “But I’m going back to the fields I know, to take care of my flock again.” He said that to himself with certainty but he was no longer happy with his decision. He had worked an entire year to make a dream come true, and that dream, minute by minute, was becoming less important. Maybe because that wasn’t really his dream.” (Coelho) Santiago instead uses his money to travel to the pyramids, and keep following his destiny. Finally Santiago stays optimistic after being attacked, and discovering his treasure is not at the Egyptian pyramids after all. While digging for his treasure, a couple of refugees from the tribal wars approach Santiago in need of money. After finding the gold, given to Santiago by the alchemist, the men figure he has more gold hidden underground. “And although his mouth was bleeding and swollen, he told his attackers that he had twice dreamed of a treasure hidden near the pyramids of Egypt.” (Coelho) The attackers leave, and the leader tells Santiago “two years ago right here on this spot, I had a recurrent dream, too. I dreamed that I should travel to the fields of Spain and look for a ruined church where shepherds and their sheep slept…” Santiago’s treasure was right where he started his journey. “His heart was bursting with joy. Because now he knew where his treasure was.” (Coelho) Santiago uses his optimism to overcome difficulties during his journey and an open-mind to open up to new challenges, experiences, and knowledge.

Santiago must maintain an open-mind throughout his journey to gain knowledge and reach his destiny. Even before he set off on his journey, Santiago has an open-mind. First Santiago becomes a shepherd. As a boy Santiago wanted to travel. His fathers tell him that “Amongst us, the only ones who travel are shepherds,” Although shepherds are not as respected, Santiago decides to become one because he is open to new experiences. Later once Santiago has started his journey he meets the English man. The English man has a suitcase full of books and is traveling to meet an alchemist. The English man tells Santiago of alchemy, the elixir of life and the philosophers stone which can turn metal into gold and prolong life. Santiago learns of the Soul of The World, which helps an individual discover his destiny, because Santiago is not quick to judge and is willing to listen to the Englishman. Finally Santiago encounters the alchemist. After telling the chieftains of the omen he had seen, about an army coming to attack the oasis, Santiago is approached by the alchemist. “If the warriors come here, and your head is still on your shoulders at sunset, come find me”, said the stranger (Coelho) By keeping an open-mind and coming to find the alchemist, Santiago learns to listen to his heart. The alchemist teaches Santiago all he needs to learn and guides him on his journey. “This is why alchemy exists,” the boy said “so that everyone will search for his treasure, find it, and then want to be better than he was in his former life.” (Coelho) Santiago is able to find is treasure by using his courage, optimism, and by being open-minded.

Because Santiago remains courageous, optimistic and open-minded, he is able to find his treasure and achieve his destiny. Courage is one of the most important traits to have when following ones destiny, without courage Santiago never would have decided to follow his destiny, tell the chieftains about the omen he had seen, or become fearless by listening to his heart. He did not achieve his destiny by this trait alone. Santiago kept an optimistic attitude throughout his journey which kept him going after being robbed in the market, after working an entire year for the crystal merchant, and after being attacked and discovering his treasure was not at the pyramids after all. Santiago maintains an open-mind which helps him fulfill his dream of traveling by becoming a shepherd, gain knowledge from the English man and finally encounter the alchemist. Everyone should follow Santiago’s example realize their destiny and strive to achieve it. “At a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That's the world’s greatest lie.” (Coelho) Our lives are not controlled by fate. You are the controller of your own destiny and when you realize that destiny you will have a choice, like Santiago to choose to follow your destiny or not. You might find yourself confused and scared. The choices we make during our confusion and fear can determine the person we become. Make a choice and discover yourself.