Personal Legend In The Alchemist

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There are many phrases used throughout 'The Alchemist' by Paulo Coelho; one that impacts the plot of the book greatly is 'Personal Legend.' This phrase is first mentioned when Santiago, our main character, and a King by the name of Melchizedek first meet. Melchizedek explains that Santiago had 'finally succeeded in discovering [his] Personal Legend' (page 21). A person's Personal Legend is 'what [a person] ha[s] always wanted to accomplish,' (page 21); more specifically, it is 'one's destiny' (page 22). Although 'everyone, when they are young, knows what their Personal Legend is... as time passes, a mysterious force begins to convince them it will be impossible for them to realize their Personal Legend' (page 22). The force prepares a person's

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