Heroes come in all shapes, sizes, cultures, ethnicities, genders and backgrounds. While some heroes slay dragons, die in battle, or pull a sword from a stone, others fight cancer, protest for civil rights or being a single parent. All heroes go through the same phase whether in life or in a well written novel. They face challenges, gain a mentor, falter, overcome opposition and return back home. This cycle is called the Hero’s Journey, an eleven step outline to become a hero of any story. In the book, “The Alchemist” Santiago, the main character, does go through the stages of a Hero’s Journey.
The first step in the Hero’s Journey is the Call to Adventure (Dulong). This is when the hero is introduced the possibility of a journey. In the land of Andalusia, Santiago is a content shepherd with a quiet and peaceful life. Puzzled by a recurring dream, he seeks the advice of a Gypsy woman who is known for interpreting dreams (Coelho 11). In his dream, he sees a child playing with his flock of sheep. “…[S]uddenly, the child took [him] by both hands and transported [him] to the Egyptian pyramids” (Coelho 13). The child then tells him, “If you come here, you will find a hidden treasure” (Coelho …show more content…
Santiago crosses the desert and makes his way back home to the very sycamore tree where he started his adventure. After digging he finds a chest of Spanish coins in the very spot he sat and spoke with the king of Salem (Coelho 166). He found the treasure! He succeeded in his quest, and has changed over the course of his trip. “Life is really generous to those who pursue their Personal Legend” (Coelho 166). He makes final plans to visit and repay the Gypsy woman and then make his last trip home to Fatima. He returned with knowledge of the world, the Urim and Thummim from the king, and his long pursued treasure. He has finished his Hero’s
The first step in the Hero’s Journey is the Call to Adventure (Dulong). This is when the hero is introduced the possibility of a journey. In the land of Andalusia, Santiago is a content shepherd with a quiet and peaceful life. Puzzled by a recurring dream, he seeks the advice of a Gypsy woman who is known for interpreting dreams (Coelho 11). In his dream, he sees a child playing with his flock of sheep. “…[S]uddenly, the child took [him] by both hands and transported [him] to the Egyptian pyramids” (Coelho 13). The child then tells him, “If you come here, you will find a hidden treasure” (Coelho …show more content…
Santiago crosses the desert and makes his way back home to the very sycamore tree where he started his adventure. After digging he finds a chest of Spanish coins in the very spot he sat and spoke with the king of Salem (Coelho 166). He found the treasure! He succeeded in his quest, and has changed over the course of his trip. “Life is really generous to those who pursue their Personal Legend” (Coelho 166). He makes final plans to visit and repay the Gypsy woman and then make his last trip home to Fatima. He returned with knowledge of the world, the Urim and Thummim from the king, and his long pursued treasure. He has finished his Hero’s