A Hero’s Journey… To Gold or the Meaning of Life?

… At a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what’s happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That’s the world’s greatest lie.”- The Alchemist (Page #18)

What I find so interesting about this quote is how I agree, but yet disagree with it at the same time. I agree that at a certain point we all lose control, and can find ourselves lost in life, and during this time fate can play an important role in our decision making process. I don’t consider myself a very religious person, but I do believe in fate. After all there has to be something connecting us all in this life right, or else what’s the point really? I don’t believe that fate is the singular driving force of the universe and effects our lives at every level, but believing in fate can give life more meaning than simply living one moment to the next in a linear fashion.

Yet I can see how fate can be precieved as a lie in the context of this story, since from the first few pages readers can immediately tell that the entire novel is about choosing your own path and following your dreams. But at least from my perspective I believe fate and destiny to be intertwined, therefore shouldn’t following one’s destiny involved even the slightest hand of fate? But I can see the Kings point, believing in fate wholly can lead to many obstacles and inaction in following one’s Personal Legend like Santiago in his quest for “gold.”

The question I want to pose about this novel, or at least from Part I is; how does the story and Santiago’s heroes journey relate to readers and life in general so easily? All the quotes we discussed in class are ambiguous enough to relate to all readers but yet directly relate to Santiago and his journey. All the obstacles and Santiago’s call to action resonate with readers on a personal level because all of us, wether or not we know it or not, are on a path to accomplishing our own Personal Legends. This brings the conversation back to the quote I found interesting because it serves as a warning to both Santiago and readers to take their Legends into their own hands rather than waiting for fate or a “sign” to intervene.