Adaptable Confidence

A Unique Pursuit

“When I took my sheep through the fields some of them might have died if we had come upon a snake. But that’s the way life is with sheep and with shepherds.” (Coelho 49) Life is unpredictable and is filled with wonder and danger. This quote shows that life will always have a challenge, no matter what you do. In “The Alchemist” the protagonist Santiago is a proud shepherd boy from Andalusia, Spain. He later has a recurring dream about buried treasure in the Egyptian Pyramids and boldly leaves Spain in a pursuit for his new destiny. Along his quest, he meets various people, each of them teaching the boy about life and how everything is connected. On his journey he finds true love in the dessert and becomes a courageous person. The protagonist, Santiago, using his confidence, adaptability, and adventurous traits, he is able to achieve his destiny.

With his new-found confidence following him, Santiago is able to overcome his harsh trials. The start of his confidence was being able to become a shepherd and travel around the Andalusia countryside. He then meets a king Melchizedek who teaches Santiago about omens. Omens are the signs that help you achieve your destiny. His bravery led him to follow his destiny and travel across the border to Africa. He was hesitant to leave Spain, but he knew there was treasure waiting for him. While traveling he had to face many hardships, but keeping persistent he was able to overcome these. To start his adventure he travels to a city called Tangier, where he meets a crystal merchant right after being robbed. The crystal merchant dreams of going to Mecca, as this is the fifth Muslim obligation. The crystal merchant was too afraid of change and adapts to leave his crystal stand. He has worked in the same place for 30 years. The crystal merchant states, “‘You dream about your sheep and the Pyramids, but you’re different from me, because you want to realize your dreams… I prefer just to dream about it.’” (Pg 52-53) With this conversation with the crystal merchant Santiago realizes everyone has a destiny, but few pursue there dream for they are scared of failing. Santiago’s confidence helps him to continue his journey toward the Pyramids. As Santiago comes closer to the Pyramids he falls in love with a woman in the desert, Fatima. He wants to stay with her but knows there is still a treasure waiting at the Pyramids for him. He hesitantly leaves Fatima in hopes he will return one day to be with her. Santiago is able to leave his most precious possession so he can carry on his journey. From pursing his dream Santiago must to be able to put confidence in his heart, while crossing the vast lands separating him from his treasure.

Being able to adapt, Santiago is capable of traveling across the various locations without too much struggle. The first case in which he has to adapt was when he was robbed in Tangier. He had nothing in his possessions, but he didn’t see this as a strange place, he saw it as a new one. He rose up again to complete what we started. Santiago was able to carry on his journey after losing everything. During his quest Santiago travels the deserts of Egypt and meets a wise alchemist who decides to take in the boy as a disciple. This wise old alchemist teaches Santiago about the soul of the world of which is how everything is connected. He also teaches the boy about how alchemy is about achieving spiritual perfection, and thus Santiago must master alchemy to be able to achieve his destiny. The alchemist states, “‘Most people see the world as a threatening place, and, because they do, the world turns out, indeed, to be a threatening place.’” (Pg125) The alchemist is explaining that the world becomes how we see it. While traveling the desert the boy and the alchemist stumble upon a tribe while the alchemist brags of how Santiago can change himself into the wind. This was the alchemist’s test to see if the boy understood the soul of the world. The boy had to talk to the wind, talk to the sand, talk to the sun, and finally to God. By seeing God Santiago finally understood the soul of the world is how everything is one and united. Though Santiago is able to adapt to almost any location, he wouldn’t be able to leave Spain if it weren’t for his adventurous quality.

Being adventurous Santiago is able to pursue his destiny while dealing with the challenges. The first action Santiago took was to seek out what his dream meant. This led his to start his adventure and make a decision whether to seek his destiny or stay a shepherd. This dream affected his life in a severe way which led him to the Pyramids. He changed his personality to become brave and courageous to be able to wander to the Pyramids. While in the desert of Egypt, Santiago makes a decision of going onward with his adventure. Santiago has started in Andalusia and has traveled to the Egyptian Pyramids. He has made tough decision on his journey, like joining the alchemist, which have changed Santiago’s personality altogether. Santiago has read to omens to help him on his destiny. Meeting Fatima was joyous for Santiago but leaving her made him hesitant. Santiago must leave Fatima in order to pursue and accomplish his destiny. He states “‘I had a dream, and I met with a king. I sold crystal and crossed the desert. And, because the tribes declared war, I went to the well, seeking the alchemist. So, I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you.’” (Pg117) This has Santiago understand the challenges he has to go through to achieve his destiny. Santiago has the adventurous qualities to complete his destiny and to overcome his hardships.
Confidence, adaptability, and adventure, each of these traits make Santiago a participant in his destiny. Santiago’s confidence helped him to read the omens and continue his journey for his destiny. Adaptability led him to be able to travel to the far reaches beyond Spain. Being adventurous Santiago is able to seek adventure and is able to risk everything for his destiny. Santiago has many respectable traits which lead him through the cruel roads to his ultimate treasure. Character traits play a role in literature life and reality, each combination is unique and each may help or hinder your abilities. Coelho’s message is that we each are unique and each have a destiny to pursue.


Terry Fox

“When life knocks you down you have two choices- stay down or get up.”- Tom Krause
Persistence helped me to be able to be a participant in my destiny. Being persistent is to be able to keep on going, never giving up through the many obstacles you have to face. I have to make everyday decisions that will affect me for the rest of my life. Persistence teaches me to live on every day happily and courageously. Without persistence I wouldn’t be able to complete my everyday task without complaining. Similar to Santiago, I possess persistence to be able to carry on during hardships and rough times.

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