M. Schlauch's Blog about Some Things

Why did Coelho go into so much depth on the Andalusian girl if Santiago never meets her again in the real time of the novel? Since this could easily cause a stronger internal struggle in Santiago if he had to chose between the girl and the journey if Santiago knew that the Andalusian girl still had an interest in him.

I really disliked the idea of the "Personal Legend" because I felt that the idea is very cliche and not well explained. When the idea of the "Personal Legend" is first introduced by Melchizedek, the King does not go into great detail regarding what the Personal Legend is, as he mentions the concept, saying that the book that Santiago is reading "describes people's inability to choose their own Personal Legends," then immediately changes the topic without explaining what the Personal Legend (Coelho 20). I also feel like the idea is overused, with the hero deciding their own fate, and the fact that the concept is glossed over without much explanation does not make the concept stand out as unique in comparison to other Hero's Journeys.

Near the beginning of the novel, while the reader is getting to know Santiago, it is revealed that the adventurous shepherd has fallen in love with an Andulasian girl, the daughter of a merchant that he had done business with. The two meet as Santiago is reading, and Santiago starts going into the details of his journey as a shepherd. Almost a year later, Santiago is anticipating arriving back at the city where he plans to ask for the Andulasian girl's hand. This girl is important because she is one of the main reasons Santiago originally dismisses the journey that the Gypsy fortuneteller sets him on, because if he went to Egypt, he would not be able to see this girl again. This is also one of the major internal conflicts Santiago has after his meet with the King of Salem, as he wants does not want to miss the opportunity to see the Andulasian girl, but also wants to find his Personal Legend in Egypt.

The introduction of Melchizedek, the King of Salem, was a very crucial moment in the plot of this novel since this character is the reason why Santiago begins his journey to the Pyramids of Giza. The King, disguised as a poor, old man, is noted to be a servant of God that points people in the path of their Personal Legends, which is why the King appears to Santiago, a conflicted shepherd that is unaware of his future. Melchizedek confronts Santiago to teach him that, on his journey, he needs to make his own decisions, and cannot rely on others for guidance all of the time. This is shown through his gift of the white and black stones, Urim and Thummim, which would only help Santiago in a time of his desperate need. Melchizedek is seen as the "mentor" in the hero's journey timeline, as he is the person who begins Santiago, the hero, on his journey to find his true meaning in life.