Painting by Rose Ganucheau.

The Voice Within

Young girl, don't cry

I'll be right here when your world starts to fall

Young girl, it's all right

Your tears will dry, you'll soon be free to fly

When you're safe inside your room you tend to dream

Of a place where nothing's harder than it seems

No one ever wants or bothers to explain

Of the heartache life can bring and what it means

When there's no one else

Look inside yourself

Like your oldest friend

Just trust the voice within

Then you'll find the strength

That will guide your way

If you will learn to begin

To trust the voice within

Young girl, don't hide

You'll never change if you just run away

Young girl, just hold tight

And soon you're gonna see your brighter day

Now in a world where innocence is quickly claimed

It's so hard to stand your ground when you're so afraid

No one reaches out a hand for you to hold

When you're lost outside look inside to your soul

When there's no one else

Look inside yourself

Like your oldest friend

Just trust the voice within

Then you'll find the strength

That will guide your way

If you will learn to begin

To trust the voice within

Yeah...

Life is a journey

It can take you anywhere you choose to go

As long as you're learning

You'll find all you'll ever need to know

You'll make it

You'll make it

Just don't go forsaking yourself

No one can stop you

You know that I'm talking to you

When there's no one else

Look inside yourself

Like your oldest friend

Just trust the voice within

Then you'll find the strength

That will guide your way

If you will learn to begin

To trust the voice within

Young girl don't cry

I'll be right here when your world starts to fall

~Christina Aguilera

I find the lyrics to Christina Aguilera's song, The voice within rather touching and meaningful. The theme of Listening to your heart in order to achieve your destiny is clearly shown in these lyrics.

"Just trust the voice within

Then you'll find the strength

That will guide your way

If you will learn to begin

To trust the voice within "

This part of the song resembles to 'The Alchemist' when Santiago the protagonist is told by the Alchemist that he would have to listen to his heart, or in this case the voice within. Listening to his heart would guide his way into achieving his destiny. Throughout time and culture, people's beliefs do not change that determination, and being able to talk to your heart is what is needed in order to be able to achieve your destiny.

The True Search of Destiny

Destiny

Destiny staggers through the barren desert

Cloaked in a thin layer of rough dark tattered cloth

concealed from the rest of the world, discovered only by those who seek her.

~Cho Min Je

In native american culture, before puberty a child must set off on a vision quest in seek of a spiritual guardian animal without any help or guidance. Metaphorically speaking, before puberty, a child must set off on his/her journey to discover his/her destiny. However, this journey involves fasting, and can take up to several days. The spiritual guardian, or in this case, 'Destiny' is concealed from the rest of the world, and for those who seek her, they find her. After a vision quest, their spiritual guardian leads the child, as he grows older into becoming what his destiny would lead him to becoming.

Painting found from:

http://fc07.deviantart.com/fs43/f/2009/147/8/1/Guardian_Angel_by_mis_destiny.jpg

Dare stay Determined

One who feels he/she is ready to set off on a possible life changing journey must be able to stay determined on the way. Life tests the people who are daring enough to attempt in accomplishing their own destiny, with obstacles which without determination would be impossible to fulfill. Determination pushes one to surpass his/her limits. At times when I may get a bad grade, I am determined to raise the grade up, as it is like a wake up call to try better. Determination is a key trait, and component which helps drive one closer to achieving his or her destiny.

Painting by ~Kisskornel, Deviant Art

Adapting to the harsh realities of the world

“It is I who dared to do so’ – Many lives will be saved, because I was able to see through the soul of the world.” (Coelho 105) I believe this quote from the novel; ‘The Alchemist’ defines Santiago, at first a lonesome shepherd who craved travel, as a brave and determined individual. Andalusia is where Santiago first encounters the idea of his destiny, the first setting of the novel. As the novel progresses, Santiago’s destiny becomes clearer to him as he slowly approaches closer towards achieving it. Santiago is portrayed as an extraordinary individual whose characterizing traits of bravery, persistence and determination help guide him into the achievement of his destiny.

There are several passages in the novel which help define Santiago as a brave main protagonist. One example which shows his trait is Santiago’s name. Santiago’s name is an allusion from Santiago Matamoros, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. Santiago Matamoros was a strong, brave believer, who would kill those who denied his beliefs. Santiago is a risk taker who manages to stay brave when facing challenges which he may need to overcome in order to achieve his hidden treasure. “It was a frightening bet. But he had been making risky bets ever since the day he had sold his sheep to pursue his destiny. And, as the camel driver had said, to die tomorrow was no worse than dying on any other day.” (103) this quote signals readers that Santiago has managed to stay brave, and take risks in order to achieve a greater goal. However, Santiago reassured himself of the things the camel driver said, “Dying tomorrow was no worse than dying on any other day” Santiago believes he has achieved many things throughout his journey in search of the hidden treasure awaiting him at the end of his destiny and that if he were to die there, he would have died after coming through so much. Santiago states that it was a frightening bet, however that he was now used to taking these risks for the better and that he knew it would be the right thing to do. Within the quote, Santiago also states that he had been making risky bets; ever since the day he has sold his sheep to pursue his destiny. The day he embarked on his journey to find the hidden treasure awaiting him at the end of his destiny, he had started off by giving up one of his dreams, for another. Without much thought, Santiago sold his sheep in order to help carry out his new destiny. Santiago’s bravery is one of the main traits which help him continuously throughout the novel in achieving his destiny. However he also relies on staying persistent.

Santiago is able to fulfill his destiny because of his ability to stay persistent. Santiago, meets a supposedly beautiful young woman of the desert, who Santiago instantly falls for. Unable to conceal his feelings inside, confesses his love for her and the two are quickly engaged in a relationship. His love for Fatimah means a great deal to him, however so does accomplishing his destiny. Therefore Santiago has to overcome one of the hardest obstacles on his journey. His heart. Although on his pursuit of his destiny, Santiago misses Fatimah terribly, he does not give up on doing what he had set off for. “Two years ago, I dreamed that I should travel to the fields of Spain and look for a ruined church where shepherds and their sheep slept. – But I’m not so stupid as to cross an entire desert just because of a recurrent dream.” – The boy stood up shakily, and looked once more at the pyramids. They seemed to laugh at him, and he laughed back, his heart bursting with joy. Because now he knew where his treasure was.” (155) in this passage of the novel, the leader refuge of the desert tells Santiago, that he shouldn’t be so stupid as into coming so far just to try find a treasure which seems so ridiculous. However the leader refuge instead of keeping Santiago’s hopes down, he helps him realize where his treasure had been hidden all along. He hadn’t given up throughout his whole journey and had survived the last challenge, his final obstacle. Santiago is able to carry on and not give up on his destiny because he is able to stay persistent, unlike many other individuals. While Santiago is certainly persistent, another character trait which helps him accomplish his destiny is determination.

One of the several traits which make up Santiago as a character is his strong level of determination, and helps him work towards his destiny. The boy first realizes his ‘destiny’ after visiting a gypsy, curious of a recurrent dream. After feeling the need to achieve his destiny, Santiago meets with the king of Salem, Melchizedek. Melchizedek asks of Santiago to sell his sheep to him for his blessing and guidance to help lead him on his way in reaching his destiny. Santiago is determined that his doing would be able to help accompany him in achieving his destiny. His actions suggests that Santiago is determined that he will be able to reach the treasure awaiting him at the end of his destiny. At a certain part in the novel, ‘The Alchemist’ Santiago is faced with one of the more difficult challenges which helped determine whether or not Santiago were to be killed or set free. Santiago, being able to speak the language of the world, communicates with the deserts, which leads him to the wind, and finally to god, in seek of asking to be granted the ability to transform him into wind. Although Santiago is not completely sure if his plan of talking directly to the soul of the world would grant him the ability to accomplish a superhuman act, he is determined to try as he is not ready to give up just then and risk the death of himself. As a boy, Santiago was willing to do the things he wanted to do, not the things his fathers, or ancestors wanted him to do. “The people who come here have a lot of money to spend, so they can afford to travel,” his father said. “Amongst us, the only ones who travel are the shepherds.” “Well then I’ll be a shepherd!” (Pg 9) This quote defines Santiago as the ultimate risk taking determined individual. He is willing to live his ways of lifestyle unlike how he has ever before because he wishes to what he wants. Santiago’s determination helps motivate him throughout time and time again in the book which helps him achieve goals no other person would have been able to accomplish.

Throughout Santiago’s pursuit of his destiny, he is faced with several challenges and obstacles which he must overcome in order for his success. Santiago’s traits of endless bravery, persistency and determination reappear several times in the novel ‘The Alchemist’ as these are the several of many key traits which keep him motivated and working actively towards his goal. Santiago serves as a great example, showing readers clearly that one’s traits help determine the probability of being able to accomplish one’s destiny. His ability to stay brave, persistent and determined throughout the book after having to complete several life changing trials is what builds up Santiago as a character. Santiago’s change in personality and character is shown clearly throughout the book to show how one can change so much and learn to be accustomed to some of the harsh realities of the world.