"The Alchemist" Revised version of previous essay.

Essay by ccmustangs2001 September 2003

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Santiago couldn't forget his vision that vanished just as quickly as it had come...he had seen an army, with its swords at the ready, riding into the oasis. The Alchemist, written by Paulo Coelho, is a book about a boy who has a dream, which leads to the pursuit of his treasure, his personal legend. Along the way he learns many important life lessons. The boy, Santiago, believes in omens and pays close attention to his surroundings. However, there is one simple lesson Santiago learns from an alchemist - seldom are you believed when you possess great treasures within you - and it ends up saving his life.

The alchemist found it important to show Santiago one of life's simple lessons, when you possess great treasure within you, seldom are you believed. While the alchemist was hunting for his falcon three armed tribesmen approached, and after searching through their bags and discovering their possessions one asked: "What are these things?" - "That's the Philosopher's Stone and the Elixir of Life. It's the Master Work of alchemists. Whoever swallows that elixir will never be sick again, and a fragment from that stone turns any metal into gold." [The Alchemist] After the Arabs laughed and let the Alchemist and the boy continue on, the boy immediately asked 'are you crazy?' In reply, the alchemist told him one of life's simple lessons, "When you possess great treasures within you, and try to tell others of them, seldom are you believed." The Alchemist had told the soldiers exactly what each item was. The soldiers, in return, did not believe him-it didn't seem possible that what the Alchemist had said was actually true. When you know something is true, others may not ever believe you, mainly because of how far fetched it is,