Reflective Response

Reflective Response 
By: Raevon Khan

I chose Aliya's question number 5. Describe how Santiago is able to find the positive side to things during his journey in several occasions.

Santiago is able to find the positive side to things during his journey in several occasions because when Santiago continues his journey with the alchemist, he learns several new lessons about himself and his abilities. The Alchemist first explains that every single person’s heart emerges from the "Soul of the World" because Santiago’s heart connects him to the Soul of the World, Santiago is learning to listen to it properly. His heart does not always influence him in to do things in positive ways. It expresses fear, love for Fatima, and distracts Santiago from following his "Personal Legend." Santiago must go as far as to call his heart a traitor, and he wonders why he should listen to such a discouraging thing. The alchemist explains that every heart never stays silent, so Santiago must come to terms with his heart and figure out an easier way to connect with it. Other than that, Santiago must learn to separate himself from what his hearts desires and this will only work well if he pays attention to what his heart wants and the understanding of what it wants and needs.

Reflective Response

By: Moira Gesland

Question #1 from Raevon

How does the story of Narcissus relate to the extensive message of the Alchemist?

The story of Narcissus is the story of a person who is so in love with himself that he cannot stop looking at his own reflection in the water. Eventually, he becomes so entranced  by his own reflection that he doesn't realize he is falling into the water, resulting in his own death. In the novel, we learn that the lake was upset over the death of Narcissus because it can no longer look at it's own reflection in his eyes. Vanity, which is a human characteristic is displayed within the lake (personification).

This can be related to the message from The Alchemist because we can be taught that people can be connected to nature and the spiritual world. However, this can only happen if one pursues their personal legend. Throughout the novel, we see that Santiago puts himself first before anything else which isn't necessarily a bad thing because it is what helps him continue on his journey. By not paying attention to anything but his own dream, Santiago finds his true potential which eventually leads him to the Soul of the World.