...“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it” (Coalho 22). Throughout this novel, I picked up several indications of real life experiences that the main character goes through. The Alchemist is a story about a young young shepherd who leaves his home in Spain to search for treasure in the Pyramids of Egypt. The main character, Santiago, leaves everything he has, including his flock of sheep, to follow his heart and love for travel and search for treasure that he has been dreaming about. This quest takes Santiago to places he did not set out for, and teaches him lessons that he was unknowingly hungry for. By the end of this book, Santiago uncovers real treasure, himself. Through this novel, I understood...
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...an old woman who has the ability of foretelling the future. This woman tells him that there is a treasure that is waiting for him. After this, the young shepherd keeps looking for this treasure by travelling through different countries and learning about various traditions. During his journey for the treasure, he falls in love with an Arabian girl called Fatima and she also taught him a lot of new things. Finally, he arrives at the place where the treasure is supposed to be, in Egypt. Surprisingly, he does not find any treasure! Taking a closer look at this novel, naturally the reader would question the reason behind going through all of these obstacles in the novel, when the shepherd ends up without the treasure. Is the author’s intention to provide the reader with entertainment and suspense? Or is it just an open end for this book, with the aim that the young shepherd finds the treasure in part two of the book? The answer to these questions is that the author’s intention is neither to develop suspense for the reader so he could be entertained, nor to make the reader himself searches for the treasure in another part of the book. The moral of the book lies in its analysis; in other words, it has to do with the argument that the writer wants to point out, which is the main point of this paper. Paulo Coelho’s argument is that people always search for treasures. The word “treasure” does not mean that people search for gold and jewelry, but it means that they search for anything...
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...Coelho states, “...There is one great truth on this planet: whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it's because that desire originated in the soul of the universe. It's your mission on earth" (Coelho 22). Amid the introduction, of the novel, the author progresses to tell us that we all need to be aware of our personal calling, like Santiago. Coelho refers to our personal calling as God’s gift; he believes that it is the path that God has chosen for us. Throughout the novel, we read of Santiago’s strive on reaching his destiny. Without the hope and willpower needed to accomplish our dreams, we could never persevere in following our fate. This is why our pure hope, our dreams, and the path to enduring our true fate, are key themes in unveiling the plot....
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...anybody but himself. One night when he went to sleep he had a dream about a treasure in a kingdom far away from Ethia. He knew it contained the most valuable in life though he never got the opportunity to open it, but a terrifying monster guarded it. The next day when Edward woke up he was obsessed with the idea of the treasure, he was sure that it would be loaded with a countless amount of gold and precious jewels, so he gathered the best of his knights and by the next dawn they went of for the quest of their lives. Brave as the lions and strong as the horses on which they rode they left their beloved home Ethia. In hours they rode and by sunset Edward Gainsborough decided it was time to rest. The next day they rode just as far as the day before, but as they rode farther away the landscape became more barren and desolated. Edward knew it was dangerous and it would be for the best to turn around, but he wanted the treasure more than anything – even if it should be with the cost of the lives of his knights. Suddenly one of the knights burst out, “Oh look! A straggling village” then another knight asked, “Why are the houses so small?” Edward couldn’t believe his own eyes. Could it really be true? “Drelmeomland” he said. The other knights looked at him as if he was suffering of some kind of mental illness, “excuse me sir, but Drelmeomland only exist in the myths” “well, lets see if that theory is true”. As they entered the small village with the ancient looking houses a...
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...applying them to a healthy lifestyle. As you read deeper you discover an ever deeper level of connection as Paulo creates a philosophical map to reach your goals and dreams. Alchemy at its very basic fundamentals is an ancient practice of taking something invaluable and, through change, making it valuable. A teaching that allows insight into a very important life quality: using the resources you have to your advantage. “When each day is the same as the next, it’s because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day that the sun rises” (29). This is a quintessential element in “The Alchemist.” Santiago, the main character, embarks on a journey after a dream reveals to him a destination of hidden treasure in the Egyptian desert. Each day Santiago faces new challenges on the road to his treasure, and each time he accepts these challenges and turns them into steps that bring him closer to his treasure. The author makes Santiago very relatable throughout the novel by creating the absence of a name. Allowing a reader to immediately place themselves in The Boy’s perspective and apply his attitude their life. This attitude is the attitude of the Alchemist, a resourceful person who takes advantage of every obstacle in their way. However, not only does The Boy become resourceful, he immerses himself in the quest for his dream. “Intuition is really a sudden immersion of the soul into the universal...
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...happiness, wealth, long life, health, or intelligence, whatever it may be, dreams affect the lives of many people. Some may live to fulfill their dreams, some live not realizing their dreams, and others hide their dreams in fear of failing in the end. People lay out excuses, whether it may be the problem with time, money, family, or work, these factors should not interfere with working to achieve your dreams. There is no doubt that it won’t be an easy process, there will be obstacles, and there will be challenges, how you overcome these things are up to you. Your reaction to these hardships could in fact make it or break it. This process of achieving your dreams is shown in Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist. Coelho’s novel was written to show the importance of dreams and having something to live for. In an interview with a magazine, Coelho explained, “The Alchemist is about -- well, it is a fable about the necessity we have to follow our dreams.” Coelho also added, “They will lose their jobs, they will start having problems, but it is the only choice because in any case, you have to pay a price for your dreams,” when he was asked about the problems that may evoke when people would start chasing their dreams. To Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist was written to show the self sacrifice that needed to be made to follow your dreams. The Alchemist outlines the adventures of Santiago, as young shepherd, as he travels from his homeland in Spain to Egypt in search of a treasure that appears in his...
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...EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT ONE’S LIFE” What is education? Why we need education in our live? Like our great heroes said, “Education is the most important in our life”, “A gift of knowledge that cannot be stolen and can bring you to the top of your dreams. Education is important, specially, to those can’t afford to go to school, because of their status in life. But the greatest treasure that can be achieved is education. Through education, one person’s knowledge can be enhanced. Education can bring you to the top of the world and will help you reach your dream and it will end up coming true. But if you don’t have education, you will end down like a sleeping shrimp in a running river, who just following the dashing of the water and waiting for nothing wherever the river will Leeds you. See, if you only have education it will Leeds you to the right path, it can give you a grateful life and you can do anything without people scolded at you. Education can build a character of a person. Me as a person, youth and student for me without education I didn’t have this kind of status and strategy in life my parents give me a good education for my good future to be in life as long as I do this. Now, I’m doing all my best for my education like the other have. I’m studying hard not only for myself but also for the others. As long as I reach it, I will go for it. It’s a goal and it’s a big treasure that can make me rich. I will fill it with knowledge to be a better citizen of our country someday. ...
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...amazing, it can take you anywhere in reality. What I dream of is a goal to be set, it is a journey to be taken. When I dream, I force myself to take the challenge and walk into unknown grounds to bring everything I dream into a reality. Some of these day time dreams would come to reality, like the time I dreamed of becoming good in math, but some dreams are not meant to be and other could be way to far from our hands. Some when realized fulfill you of happiness and you just want to live in that moment. I believe that dreams are like a treasure to be search for and discovered. The first time I found myself chasing my dreams was when I was in the fifth grade. It all started by the middle of the last semester, we were learning long division, but my background in math was really bad. I was lucky to know how to add. I was never a good student, but it was difficult for me to concentrate and pay attention. During class I would picture myself being the best in every subject, especially math. I desired that dream to be true more than anything, so I decided to bring it to life. First I tried to concentrate, but it was difficult. Months passed and I kept struggling with long divisions. One day I was trying to solve a long division for my homework, I started to analyze the equation and ask myself questions about it, then I discovered how to solve them. At the end of the year I was awarded a diploma for my achievement in math. Ever since, I enjoyed solving math problems, now it is my...
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..."But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.' (Matthew 6:20 NIV) "Life moves pretty fast, if you don't stop and look around one in a while, you could miss it." This little bit of wisdom comes from the mouth of that sage of the '80s, Ferris Bueller, just before he took his day off. Of course, if you've seen the movie you realize, not only is this Ferris' mantra, but essentially the point of the movie. How fast does life move? Try this on for size, "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" came out 31 years ago. Which would make Ferris today older than his parents were in the movie. Let that sink in for a moment. Of course, Ferris is right, life does move fast. It's that time of year when I'm remedied of this every tiem I look at social media or look ta our mail. I've seen pictures of kids going to prom that I'm sure were only in kindergarten the other day. I've seen pictures of graduation ceremonies of people I am sure must be too young to graduate. Why they are only.....Is it possible?...
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...(Allegory, 2010) The author sees death as important as life, especially when death comes to makes its claim. The message that the author conveys is that no one can escape death. The author also sees that death does not care about who you are or what your status may be. The author sees death as man’s final destination, from which there is no return. No one knows when death will come, and no one is prepared when it does. The characters that the author use is a good representation of the characteristics many people have and lose throughout their lives. Good deeds, knowledge, discretion, strength, Everyman’s five wits and beauty. As the play begins, it is evident that God has control over death and death does not come on its own. The purpose of death is to seek those who are not living by God’s law and to bring them to stand in judgment before God. The important question that the author asks is what happens to you when you die. Everyman looks at different areas of his life that he is unwilling to give up. Throughout the play, as Everyman takes his journey he begins to realize that the things he felt were most important to him are not. The author makes it simple to make sure you have done good deeds before you die, because those are what you will account for when you stand before God. Death is used throughout the play to show Everyman the truth about what should be valued. As Everyman takes his journey to God, he sees the true value of the things he has cherished, and...
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...all men seek for? What we aim for in life, in pursuit of it? Just like a pirate needing his battleship to hunt for his lost treasure. Only that happiness is far greater than any old pirate treasure and to most it means everything. But what exactly does it mean? What does it mean to you? What does it make us feel? What exactly does it do to us? Based on the Merriam Webster’s collegiate dictionary the tenth edition, happiness is a mental state of well-being characterized by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy, pleasurable or satisfying experience, a state of well-being and contentment. But is that all there is to happiness? In our society, happiness is taken lightly and they label it as a temporary enjoyment or pleasure. Some people think that a mere giggle is a sign of true happiness when it really is not but rather a sign of amusement or immediate satisfaction. To some, happiness just means not having a bad day. For others, it is being popular with a large social circle rather than having just someone to love and a few good friends. Some say they are absolutely happy because they are filthy rich, beautiful and have every material thing they ever wanted. I know that as young people that we are, who have yet to fully experience life, we probably believe that money will bring us happiness. While it is true that money can help you in your search, but money itself will not bring you happiness. It only fuels our daily lives in order for us to go on...
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...on a journey to find a treasure beyond his craziest dream. Along his way, Santiago learns to listen to his heart and defeat his fears. Through character, conflict, and form, the author suggests that when one really wants something, the entire universe conspires in helping them achieve it. To begin with, on his journey to pursuing his dreams, Santiago meets many characters that help him. Santiago is a shepherd from a small Andalusia town. He chose to work as a shepherd so he can travel the country. Santiago goes to a woman...
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...phenomenal author Robert Louis Stevenson, has written many novels throughout his life but he is most remembered for his classic Treasure Island. Greed is one of the human’s defective qualities that cannot be erased nor disregarded. Trust is being able to rely on someone without fearing betrayal. Adventure is needed in everyone’s lives, to live a life free of regret. The life of a hero is something everyone desires. Treasure Island is classic novel that proves it through its relatable themes, life changing lessons, powerful archetypes, and universal symbols. Without greed the world would be at peace, and as one, but since everyone desires something that they don’t have, such as wealth, power or fame, problems are created. Greed is an important and major theme that is presented throughout Treasure Island and our everyday lives. This amazing classic novel, illustrates how greed is a trait that leaves misery and death on its destructive path. The plot of this novel is based on finding pirate treasure and it revolves around the universal theme of greed. The adventure begins with Billy, a mutineer who fled with treasure from his previous crew to keep for himself. The Billy’s greed gets him killed and the treasure map to the whereabouts of the treasure ends up in Jim’s hands. As Jim, the protagonist of this story comes close to finding the immense treasure they’ve been looking for; the greed of mankind reveals its true form. Because of the pirate’s greedy and selfish ways, they could only think...
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...will suffice/ So that it bring me gold, or silver brings/ Or else, I care not- brooches, spoons, or rings." Personally, I believe that the pardoner is willing to tell just about anything to receive money for himself. The story also portrays the effects that greed has on one's life. The tale of the three men overtaken with greed relates to this present decade of people. "Show me the money" has been the theme of this generation. Everyone is caught up in his or her own battle of gaining their share of the riches. This is very similar to the tale of the three men that struck gold under the oak tree. The men were concerned with how to travel with the money without looking like robbers as noted when they stated, "For men would say that we were robbers strong/ and we'd, for our own treasure, hang ere long" (p 7). They were not concerned about whose money they were stealing they cared only about their personal statue. They did not want to appear as robbers, so they planned to travel at night as seen in this quote on page 7, "This treasure must be carried home by night." The three travelers set out to slay death. An old man directed them to death's path. The path was under an oak tree that actually had a treasure of gold. In my opinion, the old man was very wise in pointing the fact out that death will be found at this tree. When the men reached the tree, they automatically begin to think only of...
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...students that I have helped receive an “A’ or “B” and they were excited, sealed the desire to teach for me. Why I teach? Because teaching is transformational; it allows me to empower students with knowledge, and I view children as valuable. I agree with Sarah Brown Wessling that teaching is transformational when a person can see the potential of someone even though they may not see it themselves. Many student place limits on themselves because of their home life. I enjoy pouring into children. I am honored when I can encourage students to push beyond their foreseen limitation. As I spend time with students, bonding, by the end of the year, I literally see them more empowered. Michelle Shearer says she “loves to empower students with knowledge and skills to take ownership of their education and their lives.”(M. Shearer, personal communication, Summer, 2010). I enjoy spending time with student talking about the future. I ask questions such as: 1. Where do you see yourself in five to ten years? 2. What type of life who you like to live? When asking these types of questions, I probe to see what they think it will take to make their dreams a reality. When I see that it may need to be steered differently, I gently guide them in the direction that may be better. Even though I may not see the end result, I am thrilled at the end of the day knowing I have planted seeds that potentially grow into something amazingly beautiful. Finally, I teach because I am fighter to reverse...
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