The Alchemist: Section 1 (1-50)

Signposts:

-Again & Again- In part one of The Alchemist, the repetitive use of the word "sheep" clearly showed a different, deeper meaning behind it. To Santiago, his herd of sheep is considered to be a chore in his life. When he first began talking about them as a "shepherd", he claimed they were ignorant; all they cared about was food and water. Santiago had to do all the nourishing and decisions. Yet, as it goes on, the young boy clearly recognizes their larger roles in his life. The sheep were a replacement for him as friends. Human relationships are too complicated once you notice the flaw in others. The flock was always beside him, and he can talk to them about anything. Once he became an "adventurer" instead, the time Santiago had with his animal friends taught him a lot about survival tactics and certain omens. Like, a bird might mean a snake is nearby. He begins to miss them, and sometimes, these memories make him want to go back. By mentioning the sheep so often and his different perspectives of them over time, it teaches the readers a valuable lesson. Even the small things in life shouldn't be taken for granted. Things you see everyday might disappear, and you'll realize their impact too late.
-Aha Moment- Around half of the first section, Santiago starts to poke around the recurrent dream that bothered him. Melchizedek, the old king of Salem, suddenly popped up into his life to answer the very question that the boy was curious about. The dream that he has been having is a call for Santiago's "Personal Legend" and traveling to the Egyptian pyramids will help him. The boy had a hard time processing this, and he thought the whole incident was a fluke, However, the king started writing down certain confidential things, such as information that he has never told anyone. At this moment, everything changed for Santiago. The shepherd, now, has to face a dilemma about his future: a shepherd or an adventurer. If he does go after his dream, he has to leave his ships and be prepared for any unexpected obstacles. Obviously, the shepherd path was easier. In the end, Santiago chose to fulfill his Personal Legend. Now, Santiago has to leave all the things he has been accustomed to, and he will have to go to a whole other continent with different languages. He can either be successful or not; his life is now back to the starting point.

Reflection/Reader Response:

I liked the idea of how signs and omens are embedded into the The Alchemist. It was mentioned that butterflies, crickets, grasshoppers, lizards, and four-leaf clovers are good omens. For the most part, it can be seen that these small caution signs will guide Santiago throughout his trip, and it is his decision to interpret what each symbol means. It adds a tad of fantasy into the book, because omens are generally considered superstitions. In the modern world, these concepts are labeled inaccurate in society, although many people believe it. Luck generally corresponds with signs and omens. This is because there are really no logical explanations for most of these beliefs. By adding this into the book, it is more interesting to read. It makes it seem more realistic yet different at the same time. Perhaps, it can change personal opinions on omens and signs. On the other hand, I disliked the idea of adding a somewhat mystical character in the book, such as King Melchizedek. The old man is considered magical since he can turn into "emeralds" and all. However, by adding him in, it contradicts with the religious beliefs of Jesus and God; Santiago was reciting the Our Father prayer, and there was a poster of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The king seems like an almost godly character in this plot. It would've been better to lower his position and miracles. It also leaves the reader hanging as we question who he really is. If the author's purpose is to encourage people to follow their dreams, a realistic fiction genre would be the best way to do that. This character makes the book too fantasy-like.

Discussion Question:

-What would have happened if King Melchizedek never wrote down Santiago's personal information? Would the things Santiago have been told still bother him?

-How is the theme of destiny and fate used in this section? Is it encouraged or discouraged?

-Based on the reading, what does the Urim and Thummim closely symbolize?