For your final blog post for The Alchemist, you may write about anything that you want regarding the book. You should write at least one well-developed paragraph and use textual references to support your point(s). You should choose any element of the book that was interesting to you and that you have not yet had a chance to write about.
Since I've already done enough complaining and nitpicking about Santiago's choices and the various story-driving elements of The Alchemist, I had to search the book to find a good question prompt to write about. The question I decided to go with is one that hasn't really been brought to any seminars (at least to my knowledge) and that I haven't really heard from anyone at all- why do Santiago's relationships oppose his goals? We've seen that this book somewhat adheres to the Hero's Journey monomyth, and in that respect some of the book's romantic elements are still applicable. He meets Fatima, quickly professes his love to her (pg. 98), and then leaves to go to the pyramids/ finish his quest. Once he had completed his quest, the book ends with her kiss- thus completing a very basic relationship structure. Nothing's wrong with that, but there was one thing that stuck out as being different from the Hero's Journey format: that the ladies Santiago wants to get with actually prevent him from completing his goal instead of being part his agenda themselves. First it was with the merchant's daughter, then with Fatima. In both situations, he is told by his mentor that pursuing them would be a distraction from his Personal Legend. In most works similar in structure to the Hero's Journey, love is presented as an additional goal to the main quest rather than as an obstacle. I found this small change to be very odd. There is also very limited dialogue and general relationship development between Santiago and his romantic interests, making the ending (and to be honest, he and Fatima's relationship as a whole) seem very phoned-in and contrived. But hey, maybe Mr. Coelho did all of this on purpose. Maybe he wanted to focus on other aspects of the story, or just didn't want to have an interwoven romantic subplot like many other books and movies whose stories resemble the structure of the Hero's Journey do. I'm not really sure. What do you guys think?
I think that his relationships oppose his goals because that is what happen a lot of times in relationships. Relationships usually cause one to settle down, and not follow their goals, unless both partners want to follow the same journey. There are too many distractions in life for everyone to be able to follow all their dreams. Very few people keep following their dreams and don't get distracted. In conclusion, I think his relationships were put in the book to show the distractions in life and one reason people can't follow their Personal Legend.
ReplyDeleteI agree with matthew when he says that one reason to not follow your personal legand is if one falls in love. While I was reading Braydens blog post I thought of some questions that you all may know the answer too. Does falling in love always have to be a distraction if ones trying to find their personal legan? Can fallin in love be a good sign, maybe even have alot of answers to where your personal legand is? And my last question, can falling in love be someones personal legand? In responce to Braydens blog post I think he put the " falling in love" in the books to keep Santiago's hopes up.
ReplyDeleteAt the end, you mentioned that the author did not add much romance like other movies/books, and I agree as well! In my opinion, I feel like he could have added more to the relationship too but at the same time, it would kinda make the story more of a romance novel rather than omens/ Personal Legends. The women in the book do indeed make it harder for Santiago to achieve his Personal Legend,but maybe it's just there to show how love can get in the way sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI don't really agree that girls were a distraction for Santiago while he was trying to achieve his Personal Legend. In fact, on page 100 it actually says how Fatima is a part of Santiago's Personal Legend and how, by him "achieving" (TOTAL objectification) her, he completed a part of his Personal Legend. So if anything, they only helped him achieve his personal legend, and without Fatima, he wouldn't have been able to complete it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with amber the whole reason Santiago wanted to achieve this personal legend was to impress this girl she gave him the drive to do so, so i think saying she was a distraction was a bit much much i do feel that she did kinda fog his thought
ReplyDeleteI think that the relationships aren't obstacles, but instead tools to teach Santiago discipline, which is more than necessary for him to complete his Personal Legend. I think that he would not be able to complete it if he had stayed with his love interest, so they're an obstacle in a sort, yes, but at the same time, it seems to be more of a way for Santiago to learn he has to be patient and control himself over his emotions.
ReplyDeleteI don't mean to sound selfish but if I was going to do my personal legend I would want to go alone anyone else would never be as excited as I would be bc it isn't theirs. That's why I think he never brought anyone let alone girls.
ReplyDeleteI see your point Becca, if he had brought anyone then he would not only be putting himself in danger, but he would also be putting others in danger. Based on the way that the story is written, I think that if he had brought any girls on his journey then he would have to "save" her or get her out of trouble.
DeleteI think that some of the relationships that Santiago formed on his journey were obstacles that tested him and made him stronger.
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