Essay on the Alchemist

The Alchemist: A Fable about Following your Dreams is similar to the work of literature that John Steinbeck wrote, Of mice and Men. Both stories talk about the dreams that the main character(s) and what they do to achieve them. In Of Mice and Men we see all of the hardships and difficulties that main characters George and Lennie go through to reach their Personal Legend, or, what they always wanted to accomplish. So far I believe the book is trying to show what it may take to reach your goals. I understand so far what is going on, and why Santiago has sold his sheep and left for Africa, because he was inspired and enlightened by the old man. I believe the old man symbolizes wisdom, and I also think he can symbolize God, watching over Santiago and trying to lead him to his treasure. I think the stones, Urim and Thummin, symbolize the old man’s guidance, because they help Santiago make decisions in terms of what to do and where to go. Another symbolic meaning, would be the sheep, symbolizing childhood and innocence. The boy sold his sheep and shed himself of his innocence to go out and move on to find his treasure. The old king reminds me of my grandfather, who is also full of wisdom and always knows what direction to point me in and can tell me what to do in many situations. And if my grandfather represents the old man, then I represent Santiago because I am always taking advice from him, especially in reaching my personal legend of being some sort of engineer, like him. I guess we are supposed to understand that the boy Santiago met in the bar stole his money, and he will never see the boy again, but I feel like Santiago gave up on finding the boy relatively fast. He didn’t try to chase after the boy once he lost sight of him, it was only a few seconds that Santiago let the boy out of his sight, how far could he have gone? That was all he had, and he didn’t even fight for it. Another thing I don’t get is that on page 44, it says the boy was “shaken into wakefulness by someone”, but who? Another thing I don’t understand is, the boy was so eager to see the merchants daughter again, and how he thought about her all the time, but he never ended up going to see her again. Will we see her later in the book? Also at the end of part one Santiago says, “I’ll work for you…I need money to buy some more sheep”. Is he really going to give up, after what has happened to him. From what the crystal merchant said about it taking years to be able to cross the Sahara I can see how he would see no hope in finding his treasure, but I hope he continues.

Part Two Response While reading The Alchemist: A Fable about Following your Dreams I have learned a lot about the journey it takes to reach ones personal legend, and when you want to reach your goals, the whole universe conspires to make it happen. But first, it starts with beginners luck, then you must follow the omens, or the signals from the world, and at the end you are tested, tested so that you do not forget all of the lessons you have learned along the way to achieving your personal legend. One thing I learned about listening to your heart is that, you should always hear it and listen to it, because it will lead you to your ultimate treasure. Sometimes people (like the Crystal Merchant) are afraid to pursue their dreams because they feel they don’t deserve them, or they cant pursue them. Your heart will never quiet, and if you try to ignore it then in the long run you will realize and finally listen to what it is saying, and what it says will come as a treasonous blow. And if your heart doesn’t speak to you, it means you are dead. In the book the

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