Introduction
Narrative fiction often seeks to attract and entertain readers with imaginative experiences of characters that go through a transformation; therefore, it often utilizes quest-like plots that allow readers to embark on journeys to achieve certain goals that will eventually lead to change. In The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho provides his readers with a vicarious experience of both spiritual and physical journey, thereby making the story timeless. The journey in the novel can be viewed as a way to resolve the intense spiritual conflict of the poor shepherd, Santiago, who through intense physical struggle manages to find spiritual fulfillment.
Analysis
In the process of chasing his dream, the boy encounters Melchizedek, the king of Salem, who reveals to the protagonist that he prevents people from abandoning their pursuit of personal legend. He then proceeds to tell a parable of a miner who was about to give up on searching for emeralds. However, Melchizedek did not want the man to sacrifice his legend; therefore, he turned himself into “the most beautiful emerald in the world” (Coelho 13) and allowed the minor to discover it.
Just like Santiago, Dorothy, the main character in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, embarks on a journey. However, she does not get out of the comfort zone to pursue her Personal Legend on her own accord: the girl is transported by a violent tornado to an unknown land. The journey challenges her familiar constructs of the world by introducing her to strange characters whom she would never meet at Kansas (Baum 23). Despite her vulnerabilities and fears, the girl steps into the unknown and opens to new allies and companions who eventually help her to return home (Baum 113).
It can be argued that Melchizedek’s parable is directly related to Dorothy and Santiago’s journeys because it shows that by embracing a quest and persevering in their pursuit of a goal one can escape a familiar environment and achieve self-actualization. The strong symbolic significance of the parable is used to show that purposeful life is impossible without the immersion in unbearable conditions of the unknown. Santiago, Dorothy, and the miner discover that sometimes one cannot achieve selfhood without altering their attitudes toward a challenge. Personal legend and its realization represent an avenue for growth, fulfillment, and self-discovery. Santiago, just like the miner, is driven by the search for treasure; therefore, the parable is used to show him that he has to surmount all obstacles presented by his journey to realize his legend. The author of the novel makes it very clear that whether it is Santiago’s love for Fatima, formidable robbers, or attachment to comfort the hero has to overcome insurmountable difficulties and not quit before the decisive moment. He reassures Santiago by saying that “when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it” (Coelho 20). The story of the shepherd has striking similarities with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz as both of these novels use the symbolism of self-actualization to teach the readers the importance of perseverance.
Conclusion
The journeys of the protagonists of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Alchemist are imbued with a strong symbolic significance of personal transformation and self-realization. Such change can only occur if one is willing to embrace their powers and persevere despite numerous obstacles on their way. The parable teaches that one should never give up on the pursuit of their legend because the treasure might always be around the corner.