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Realism In The Alchemist

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Are Dreams Magical or Realistic?
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”, Harriet Tubman once said. In The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, dreams are glorified and encouraged to follow, they are referred to as a “personal legend” and everything in the universe has one. “Personal legends” are indeed rewarding, but can be strenuous to pursue. Coelho outlines this by detailing several characters, some of which who had followed their “personal legends” and others who had failed to do so. Santiago’s story shows the valuable and enriching journey he undertook to fulfill his “personal legend”, whereas the crystal merchant and …show more content…

However, although there are some aspects of this story that make the pursuit of “personal legends” realistic, there are others that prove it problematic.
Santiago is a young shepherd boy who enjoys travelling and raising sheep despite his father’s wish for him to become a priest. Already we see the ambitious Santiago following his heart instead of being weighed down by outside influence; the first step to fulfilling his “personal legend”. Later on, Santiago has recurring dreams in which a boy shows him the location of a hidden treasure in front of the great pyramids. Santiago had never laid his eyes on the pyramids before, yet he saw them in these dreams; something that seemed impossible, unless there was some form of spiritual connection to the universe that wanted him to pursue his “personal legend”. The boy became curious so he decided to get his dream interpreted by a gypsy. Curiosity is another aspect that makes Santiago successful in finding his “personal legend”. Had he not have been both curious and ambitious, the story would just be about a young boy tending to his sheep. The gypsy informs him of the great treasure that awaits him at the foot of the pyramids. She also tells him, …show more content…

These dreams are referred to as “personal legends” and everyone has one, regardless if they choose to pursue it or not. The theme of “personal legends” is evident in our lives, however societal standards cause us to believe our dreams are “unrealistic” or too “far-fetched.” World renowned physicist, Albert Einstein is a great example of why you should follow your “personal legend”. Although Einstein is accredited to be one of the smartest men that ever lived, he didn’t learn to speak until the age of four. Consequently, his parents and teachers thought he was mentally impaired. At the age of five, he developed an apparent affinity for nature and the laws of the universe. Already we can see him discovering his “personal legend”. In seventh grade, his teacher told him he “would never amount to much in his life.”(StoryPick). However, none of this discouraged him and he went on to become a luminary in nuclear physics. All of the trials and tribulations he went through were part of the overarching journey that he had to traverse to accomplish his “personal legend”, his destiny. As the alchemist told Santiago, “There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure." (Coelho 146). This is a valuable and realistic lesson that applies to everyone trying to achieve their dreams. Furthermore,

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