Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist presents viewers with a doctrine, The doctrine is that everyone has a private legend they have to find that will lead them to joy and happiness. Nevertheless, we have the choice to follow our private legend. They do not make decisions for themselves, only doing what they're told to do by others, or what they can read into specific omens and signs.
Thus, we have an anomaly of choice: do you trace your individual legend and give up your free will and be happy, or do we choose to not follow our personal legend and live openly, but unhappily? Santiago, the central figure, is a shepherd.
At the start of the novel, he's considering requesting a young lady's hand in marriage. He's satisfied with his lot in life until he satisfies Melchizedek, a mysterious man of excellent wisdom, who shows to Santiago the concept of the private legend. This personal legend is something that pushes every man, woman, and child to become happy, or they wind up feeling useless and empty.
Apparently, the ground conspires to help everyone find their private legend by giving impending omens, everything from an arbitrary bird flying high to someone stealing all your money. Developing this philosophy plays out through The Alchemist.
When Melchizedek informs Santiago to go on a trip to Egypt, Santiago drops everything, from the sheep he cares about to the woman he was going to marry. There's a consideration involved, but not a lot. He does what Melchizedek says, Largely because he's a mysterious man who looks a bit biblically cool.
Therefore, fifty pages in the Alchemist we have the first of many obvious violations of the doctrine of a personal legend. Santiago, on his trip to Egypt, learns many lessons and much wisdom. Actually, I lied. Santiago just learns that people wind up not following their private legends, but they're still happy.
One such Individual is the Crystal Merchant he satisfies and works for. For several years, the idea of following his private legend of traveling to That the holy city of Mecca was Sufficient for the Crystal Merchant. Finally, the Crystal Merchant gives up on his private legend, but still seems content, if bored, running his marginally profitable business.
Following the Crystal Merchant satisfies Santiago, he decides to continue pursuing his private legend, since he believes it'll be good for him, even when it just relieves the boredom. This is The first major contradiction to That the idea of That the private legend.
Some individuals will never succeed in their private legend, but they can still be joyful. Destiny is That the idea that everything is already preordained from the stars and that any decision you make has already been chosen for you with fate or a higher power.
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