In parts 1 and 2 of THE ALCHEMIST with the Crystal Merchant, Santiago arrives at a dusty crystal shop on a hill owned by an old crystal merchant after getting all his savings stolen by a thief. He discovers how expensive a trip to Egypt is, and so decides to work for the merchant for a longer time. Business goes better, which is a good omen, as the merchant says, and Santiago also wants to make changes to improve business even more. The crystal merchant doesn’t like change as he is scared that he must live with his mistakes but still lets Santiago build a crystal display and sell tea in crystal glasses. Soon, many people climb the hill just to go to the shop. While Santiago still wants to find his treasure, the crystal merchant says that while it is his dream to go to Mecca, he never did, as he realizes that his dream is what keeps him alive. He says the word "Maktub" (it is written), meaning that some things are “meant to be”. When Santiago gets enough money, he remembers the words of King Melchizedek, and he says farewell to the merchant to leave for his trip to Egypt.
The fear of making a mistake is a factor that everyone has that can have both advantages and negative impacts. Humans are scared of the obstacles that prevent them from succeeding in life and achieving their dreams by nature. In the novel, the Crystal Merchant is presented as a character who has allowed fear to take over him and rule his life. He is unwilling to keep pursuing his dream of going to Mecca, as he is afraid that Mecca will be a disappointment to him and he isn’t sure what he will do with his life after achieving his personal legend. The crystal merchant keeps the idea of going to Mecca as a distant dream in the future, attempting to protect himself from mistakes. However, from the knowledge learned from the camel driver, it is shown that dying one day is the same as dying any other day and that we should focus on the present instead of getting distracted by the past or future, like the crystal merchant. People who appreciate the present are granted an award of being able to face future obstacles with bravery and the happiness of life in the very present. If someone dies, at least they have died while trying to pursue their dream instead of dying while cowardly hiding far away from it. Fear prevents people from listening to their heart and prevent them from discovering and keeping in touch with their true self. Fear should never be the factor that rules over us and controls our lives, as it hides our joyful side and the key to listening to one’s heart and the universal language.
Instead of relying on God to give one a different route in life, many characters in the story believe that there is a universal plan behind the reason why anything happens. The memorable phrase “Maktub”, or “it is written”, is first said by the crystal merchant, and then by other characters in the story, hinting or meaning that many things in life are meant to happen. In the excerpts, the merchant repeatedly says this phrase, telling Santiago that God has a reason for everything to happen, including for the thief to steal Santiago’s money and for Santiago to arrive on the steps of the crystal shop. Later in the novel, Santiago also realizes that God really has planned everything at the very start, just like leading him to Egypt to see the beauty of life while the treasure is actually in the church. Many characters, like the merchant, Fatima, and the camel driver believe that everything that happens in life is written by “the hand who writes all”, as shown in later events. “Maktub” means fate or destiny, or in other words, the universal plan that God has made for the cause of everything. All the plans and happenings in life are created for different reasons that are connected to the concept of one’s Personal Legend. These planned occurrings attempt to make people aware of their dream or personal legend, just like what happens to the crystal merchant. Many things in life are planned out and have a reason for them to happen, such as letting one view the secrets in life.
While everyone has a dream and one’s own Personal Legend, it is hard to pursue it until the end and succeed. The only way to grasp happiness and work on the career one really wants is by enjoying the beauty of the world while remembering the normal life one has. Within the story, it is shown that the Crystal Merchant and Santiago have different aspects of pursuing one’s personal legend. Santiago decides to listen to the advice given by King Melchizedek and keeps pushing toward his dream of finding treasure. The Crystal Merchant says how he always wanted to sell crystal for money to go to Mecca. Because of selling tea, he now has more than enough money, but still doesn’t go, as he realizes that it is his dream that keeps him alive and happy. The novel shows that pursuing one’s dreams not only needs hard work and the joy of doing it but is also entirely up to the person themselves. While the crystal merchant has everything he needs to go to Mecca, he doesn’t, according to his own decision. Moreover, the idea of one’s personal legend might not be made for one to succeed in it, but also to realize and enjoy the beauty of the world on the path to achieving it, like the crystal merchant, who realizes that what he really wants isn’t going to Mecca, but instead, to sell crystal. On one’s path to one’s personal legend, one might also meet other people, like Santiago, who helps them realize their real passion and enjoy the happiness of life. One’s personal legend or dream can lead one to discover the beauty of life and enjoy the happiness on one’s way.
In THE ALCHEMIST, excerpts from parts 1 and 2, Santiago takes arrives at the front steps of a dusty crystal shop without much business and works there for the old crystal merchant. Through the crystal merchant, one can see that he lives his life with fear; fear controls and directs his life, as he is scared of making mistakes in business, in the future, and in his personal legend. As the camel driver says later on, we shouldn’t worry about the past or future too much, but instead focus on the present first. “Maktub”, a phrase often used by the crystal merchant, means “it is written”, or that some things are just meant to happen. Many characters in the story believe that God has a permanent, universal plan set out for every situation, instead of believing that God has a changeable plan. In other words, they believe that everything that occurs is planned out and is a type of omen sent out by God. The novel emphasizes the importance of one’s Personal Legend, or dream, that one should pursue until one achieves it. While achieving it is very hard, it is aslo entirely up to the individual; if they want to pursue it, they will, but if they don’t want to, like the crystal merchant, they won’t. The crystal merchant has always wanted to go to Mecca, but out of his fear of disappointment and the future, he decides not to, as the dream itself keeps him alive and working.
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