Steps to Eternal Happiness“I’m an adventurer, looking for treasure.” (Coelho 40)Santiago, a young shepherd boy in The Alchemist is an adventurer, who abandons his life in the land of Andalusia in search of his treasure. Being deeply immersed in curiosity, caused by the repetitive dream regarding the treasure hidden beneath the pyramids, Santiago makes a bold decision to leave for Egypt to realize his true destiny. While in search of his treasure, Santiago encounters wise people, who play a major role in Santiago’s ultimate success of realizing his destiny. Santiago’s qualities such as determination, bravery and wisdom make it possible for Santiago to successfully find his treasure.
Throughout the journey, Santiago demonstrates countless examples of determination. For instance, Santiago’s strong urge to leave Andalusia to follow his discovered destiny proves his trait of determination. Whilst Santiago is drowned in his thoughts concerning his destiny, the wise king of Salem, Melchizedek comes into view and offers to help Santiago by assisting him to locate the hidden treasure. Melchizedek teaches Santiago that when people are young, they are not afraid to dream. But as people get older, a mysterious force will convince them that their reality is getting further from their dream and the number of those who successfully achieve their destiny is limited. Wanting to realize his true destiny, yet convinced by the old man’s wise words, Santiago bravely abandons everything in Andalusia and shows his determination by leaving for Egypt to follow his destiny. This first step was important to achieving Santiago’s destiny, as Santiago wouldn’t have been different from any other shepherds he knew if he didn’t leave Andalusia. After Santiago’s arrival in Tangier, another example of determination can be seen. Santiago meets a new friend, who claims to lead Santiago to the direction of the Pyramids. While Santiago is occupied in the market, his new trusted friend disappears with Santiago’s money in his hand. Wanting to believe his friend’s disappearance was a coincidence, Santiago still awaits for his return. When Santiago realizes that his new friend had left him for good, Santiago has nothing but the two stones the wise man had left him before the boy departed for Africa. Only relying on the fact that the old man’s blessing is still with him, Santiago says
“I’m an Adventurer, looking for treasure” (Coelho 40). This quote proves Santiago’s determination clearly. Although Santiago has lost everything, he is determined to follow his destiny holding on to the fact that he has traveled further than any other shepherds. If Santiago gave up at this point only because he had lost everything, his journey would have stopped. Later on in Santiago’s journey, Santiago’s determination helped him to find his treasure once again. After working with the crystal merchant, Santiago travels further to Al-Fayoum to get closer to his destiny. During his journey to Al- Fayoum, he meets an Englishman, who teaches him about the Soul of the World and how the Soul of the World is connected to the heart. After endless days and night, the caravan arrives in an Oasis in Al-Fayoum. There, Santiago meets a woman of the dessert named Fatima. After Santiago’s encounter with Fatima, soon he meets the alchemist. To continue the job as an apprentice of the Alchemist, he is forced to make a decision to further pursue his destiny or remain in Al-Fayoum with the woman he loves. Again, Santiago leaves the oasis with determination aware of the fact that Fatima will await for his return. These following examples prove Santiago’s determination that helped him finding his treasure.
Another trait of Santiago that made it possible for him to achieve his destiny was his bravery. His bravery was crucial for Santiago to save himself from danger and also to take a step further to realize his true destiny. One of the most evident proofs that verify the importance of bravery in his quest is Santiago’ reaction to his first encounter with the Alchemist. While walking back after warning tje tribal chieftains about the meaning behind the flight of the hawks, a man fully dressed in black mounted on an enormous horse comes into view. The man dressed in black, the Alchemist, tests Santiago’s bravery and his knowledge regarding the Soul of the World. Santiago proves his bravery by being unafraid of death, demonstrating his knowledge about the Soul of the world by claiming that he would be a part of it soon after his death. Satisfied with the boy’s answer, the Alchemist requests for another meeting in the future. If Santiago was not brave, it would have been difficult for him to maintain his life as the Alchemist, like the desert, tests all men and kill those who are easily get distracted. Later on his journey, Santiago again, proves his bravery. After leaving the oasis, to further pursue his destiny, a bigger obstacle awaits Santiago and the Alchemist. Few nights later, Santiago and the Alchemist are captured by the soldiers, mistaken to be spies. Surrendering all his gold in return of three days, Santiago is forced to turn into the wind. Bewildered and scared, he states
“You gave them everything I had! Everything I’ve saved in my entire life!” (Coelho 134). The Alchemist tells Santiago that it was the money that saved his life for three days. Although Santiago is portrayed to be afraid at this moment, it is actually his bravery that motivates him to carry on. With his strong bravery, Santiago eventually does not give into his fear and strives to learn to turn himself into the wind and manages.
The last trait that helps Santiago achieve his destiny successfully is wisdom. Throughout his quest, a lot of evidences prove how his wisdom was essential for him to realize his destiny. He gains knowledge and wisdom from wise individuals who contributed immensely to Santiago achieving his destiny. After learning the existence of destinies behind one’s life by the old woman, Santiago is still bewildered as to whether he should stay in Andalusia or to pursue his destiny. Soon after, Santiago encounters the wise old King of Salem, Melchizedek. Melchizedek states “
When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it” (Coelho 21). Santiago learns that when you have a burning desire for something, the universe will help you to achieve it. Embracing this fact, Santiago takes the risk by choosing to follow his destiny. If Santiago wasn’t thinking back to what the old man had said, Santiago wouldn’t have achieved his destiny due to his lack of effort. Throughout his journey, Santiago also gains wisdom and knowledge from the Englishman. During his journey to Al-Fayoum, he meets an Englishman, who was also seeking for his treasure of meeting the Alchemist to learn how to transform pure metal into gold. The Englishman, teaches Santiago about the Soul of the World which he explains it as the principle that governs everything. He explains that the world has a soul and everything in the world is part of the Soul of the World because the earth is alive. Additionally, by traveling with the Englishman, Santiago becomes aware of the Language of the World. He begins to understand that it is a language without words, and without it, the desert will not permit the crossing of the caravan in its territory. With these two important factors learnt from the Englishman, it allows him to read omens, which later on, was essential in his journey. The last evidence that supports the idea of the importance of Wisdom in Santiago’s journey is his ability to listen to his heart. After having met the Alchemist, the Alchemist tests Santiago’s courage. When Santiago is proven to be appropriate as an apprentice of the Alchemist, Santiago is further tested in the desert. Santiago makes a bold decision to leave the Oasis to complete his journey to find the treasure hidden beneath the Pyramids. During this process, The Alchemist acknowledges that to prosper in life by achieving one’s destiny, you must listen to your heart. He explains that your heart knows best about the world because once, it belonged to the Soul of the World and soon it will return there. As time passes, Santiago is able to listen to his heart and ultimately, it becomes his main source of wisdom. Later on, Santiago achieves great tasks, which would have not been possible without his ability to talk to his heart.
Destined to live his life as a traveler, Santiago’s journey ultimately ends in the same place it began, on the Andalusian countryside, where he is able to find the treasure that awaited him. Santiago successfully achieves his destiny because of his bold determination to strive for one ultimate goal of fulfilling his destiny, his bravery of overcoming obstacles, and finally, his wisdom gained from individuals he met during his quest. After realizing his destiny, Santiago is enlightened, changed into a confident successful person in life, who fully understands one’s destiny charged within one’s life. Ultimately, he finds his true love and his destiny. Coelho typically portrayed Santiago’s character in such way to inspire the readers by giving them hope. He means, to prosper in life, one must welcome challenges that will bring them a step closer to eternal happiness.
Smile when it hurts most.”
This quote delivers an important message to all of us who engage in it. It guarantees our success in life when problems are confronted with optimism. Although written in my point of view, a teenager who lack both experience and knowledge, I have learned the power of optimism through my experiences. Optimism helped me to participate in my own destiny, as it allows me to look on the bright side, considering the outcomes of every possible choice that I am in control of. As optimism helps Santiago fulfill his destiny by allowing him to strive for one ultimate goal, I have learned the values of life through optimism, which enlightened me to be a successful student, yet a responsible person in life. Throughout my past years, I realized that optimism is the key to being successful in life. My optimism encouraged others when they were in despair and eventually, it led to enthusiasm and responsibility for everything I was assigned to do. Although my future is unpredictable, there is no doubt that my optimism will help me achieve my destiny, just like it has until now.
Gonsalves - Written World
