The Call is Brought by the Herald
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Coelho, 1993: 20-21 are depictions of the knowledge Santiago has got from the mentor:
The boy didnt know what a persons Personal Legend was. Its what you have always wanted to accomplish. Everyone, when they are young,
knows what their Personal Legend is. At that point in their lives, everything is clear and everything is possible. They are not afraid to
dream, and to yearn for everything they would like to see happen to them in their lives. But, as time passes, a mysterious force begins to convince
them that it will be impossible for them to realize their destiny. He wanted to know
what the mysterious force was….Its a force that appears to be negative, but actually shows you how to realize your
Personal Legend. It prepares your spirit and your will, because there is one great truth on this planet: whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do,
when you really want something, its because that desire originated in the soul of the universe. Its your mission on earth.
In this moment, the old man tells Santiago about how everyone has a
“personal legend”. The old man says that “personal legend” has appeared since a man is brave enough to have a dream or purpose in his life. However, as a man
gets older, he starts to think that it’s impossible to achieve the dream. It is the
“mysterious force” that obstructs the man with a negative thought or event so that he loses his desire to accomplish his real mission on earth. That is why, Santiago
must understand that there are dangers if he reamains in the same place and ignores the “personal calling”. The path of the “personal calling” is not easier than
any other path, for there is a “mysterious force” that will hamper him in achieving his dream. However, Santiago must be prepared with some knowledge and has
patience in dificult times. No matter what, responding the “personal calling’ and dealing with the destiny will lead him to realize his task in this earth.
Besides, Santiago is told how to realize his destiny or “personal legend”
and gets the treasure. That is by following the omens. An Omen is a sign that only
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God and the person who is given know it. The datum bellow is a description and an illustration of omen that the mentor has taught to Santiago:
In order to find the treasure, you will have to follow the omens. God has prepared a path for everyone to follow. You just have to read the omens
that he left for you. Before the boy could reply, a butterfly appeared and fluttered between him and the old man. He remembered something his
grandfather had once told him: that butterflies were a good omen. Like crickets, and like expectations; like lizards and four-leaf clovers. Thats
right, said the old man, able to read the boys thoughts. Just as your grandfather taught you. These are good omens Coelho, 1993: 29
The datum above illustrates one of several omens that the hero has encountered in the novel. An omen appears in many forms. It could be delivered
by the appearance of animals, nature, or coincidental events. The butterfly is the omen. General belief said that the butterfly is a good omen that signifies a
transformation or change and how somebody needs to undergo a change. Every butterfly goes from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly. Since the butterfly
is able to transform itself into something other than its present form, it has appeared in order to teach Santiago about the transformation. To transform means
that Santiago is not allowed to remain in the same condition. No matter how hard it is, he must experience challenges to grow and expand. Thus, to make good
decisions and judgments, the ability to use the knowledge about “personal
legend”, “mysterious force”, and the knowledge of how to realize one’s destiny, as well as the ability to use the knowledge of reading the omen are essential.
Those abilities are the wisdom that the old man has served to encourage Santiago.