In The Alchemist, a book by Paulo Coleho, a boy named Santiago goes on a journey to find treasure. After a long journey filled with life lessons, he realizes that his personal legend was the treasure all along. Paulo Coleho uses the symbols of The Baker,The King of Salem, The Englishman, and Santiago to explore the theme that finding one’s personal legend is they key to happiness and contentment. In the first part of the book, two characters help to convey the theme. The Baker’s character is one who didn’t go follow his dreams and find his Personal Legend, and he is never fully content. This is made clear when the King of Salem tells Santiago, “[The baker] never realized that people are capable, at any time in the lives, of doing what they dream of.” This is
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The Englishman spent years trying to find the alchemist, as he wants to know how to create gold. He believes that material possessions are the most important of all. When the Englishman asks Santiago what he has learned, he says, “I learned that the world has a soul, and that whoever understands that soul can also understand the language of things.” This is not the answer the Englishman was looking for and he is disappointed. He cares less about spirituality and the Soul of the World, and more about material items like gold. Near the end of the story, Santiago realizes that the true treasure was learning his Personal Legend, and once he finds it, he is overcome with happiness. When he finds his treasure, he asks God why he made him cross the desert to find him. God tells him, “If I had told you, you wouldn’t have seen the Pyramids. They’re beautiful, aren’t they?” God is letting Santiago’s Personal Legend fulfill itself, letting the boy travel like he has always wanted to do. This reinforces the theme by showing the great sense of joy Santiago feels once his Personal Legend is
The Englishman spent years trying to find the alchemist, as he wants to know how to create gold. He believes that material possessions are the most important of all. When the Englishman asks Santiago what he has learned, he says, “I learned that the world has a soul, and that whoever understands that soul can also understand the language of things.” This is not the answer the Englishman was looking for and he is disappointed. He cares less about spirituality and the Soul of the World, and more about material items like gold. Near the end of the story, Santiago realizes that the true treasure was learning his Personal Legend, and once he finds it, he is overcome with happiness. When he finds his treasure, he asks God why he made him cross the desert to find him. God tells him, “If I had told you, you wouldn’t have seen the Pyramids. They’re beautiful, aren’t they?” God is letting Santiago’s Personal Legend fulfill itself, letting the boy travel like he has always wanted to do. This reinforces the theme by showing the great sense of joy Santiago feels once his Personal Legend is