Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him [her]. Will he [she] gain anything by it? Will it restore him [her] to a control over his [her] own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to swaraj [freedom] for the hungry and spiritually starving millions?
Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."

- One of the last notes left behind by Gandhi in 1948, expressing his deepest social thought.

In January 1948, before three pistol shots put an end to his life, Gandhi had been on the political stage for more than fifty years. He had inspired two generations of India, patriots, shaken an empire and sparked off a revolution which was to change the face of Africa and Asia. To millions of his own people, he was the Mahatma- the great soul- whose sacred glimpse was a reward in itself. By the end of 1947 he had lived down much of the suspicion, ridicule and opposition which he had to face, when he first raised the banner of revolt against racial exclusiveness and imperial domination. His ideas, once dismissed as quaint and utopian ,had begun to strike answering chords in some of the finest minds in the world. "Generations to come, it may be", Einstein had said of Gandhi in July 1944, "will scarcely believe that such  one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon earth."

peace is one of the qualities that every man in this world should have and should fight for because peace is what will make this world a better place.

my personification poem

Destiny

Destiny paces the desert

in his cloak, full of dreams

leaving the fear of failure behind

The book The alchemist is all about the destiny of a boy. Destiny is something you always wanted to accomplish and that it will make you happy . Some people don't want to realize their destiny because is to hard for them to accomplish because they are scared of failure but some people just leave their fear behind while searching for their destiny because they know that there is a treasure waiting for them.

my journey

“I’m an adventurer looking for my treasure” Ever since Santiago was child he had wanted to know the world, and this was much more important to him than knowing God and learning about man’s sins. Santiago always wanted to be an adventurer, he wanted to travel everywhere and he finally does what he wants when pursuing his destiny. At the beginning of The Alchemist Santiago was a simple shepherd in Andalusia, until he decides to follow his destiny to find a treasure in Egypt, he is told to follow his destiny by melchizedek a messenger of god , at the beginning Santiago thinks is just a joke but he realizes that melchizedek was telling the truth and that he should follow his destiny so that’s what he does he decides to follow his destiny and starts his journey to Egypt . Santiago is a truly spiritual character as he learns new things from other characters in the book; the three traits that helped Santiago reach his destiny were that he is observant, brave and loving.

Santiago was observant. Like the wisest men once told a boy, “The secret of true happiness is to see all the marvels of the world and never forget the drops of the oil spoon”. Santiago had to observe everything around him, looking for omens, things that could help him find his destiny and follow the path that god gave him. Santiago watched everything to learn new things from it, like when he was in the desert “The caravan and the desert speak the same language, and it’s for that reason that the desert allows crossing. It’s going to test the caravan.” (Coelho page 75) he observed the caravan day and night and see what he could learn from it. Santiago learned more things observing than with books. “I’ve seen how the guides read the songs of the desert, and how the soul of the caravan speaks to the soul of the world”. (Coelho page 76) Santiago always observed everything but he never forgot to pursue his destiny.

Santiago learned to be brave and make new choices in his life that were uncomfortable; he had to get out of his comfort zone to reach his destiny. From the beginning he took risks by leaving his sheep and venture to the unknown world, he was also brave when he was in Tangier and he got robbed by the thieve, he decided to push on and to keep following his destiny when he knew that he could just take a boat back to Spain. Santiago’s bravery was put into test was when he first met the alchemist and when he went to tell the chieftains about his visons knowing that they could just kill him “Courage is the quality most essential to understanding the soul of the world”. Santiago become’s brave to be able to listen to his heart because the only way to listen to yours heart is to not be afraid of failure“ my heart is afraid that it will have to suffer”. Santiago was afraid that there would be no treasure that all this time it was just a lie, and that kept him from not listening to his heart, but then Santiago realizes that he shouldn’t be afraid of failure because his heart told him that “ Everyone on earth has a treasure that awaits him.” After that Santiago started to listen to his heart and became brave because he knew that there was a treasure waiting for him in Egypt.

During his journey Santiago seeks love “I came to tell you just one thing” the boy said, “ I want you to be my wife, I love you” Santiago first love was the merchants daughter then he has to leave her so he can pursuit his destiny, then he meets Fatima in Alfayoum that’s the true love for Santiago, he finally meets the love of his life now what Santiago has to do is find his Destiny. At the beginning Santiago didn’t want to leave Fatima he just wanted to stay with her ”That’s why I want you to continue toward you goal” Santiago decided to listen to Fatima and continue his journey towards getting his treasure “Love changes the world”.


Conclusion: Santiago was a truly special character in the book he was observant because he watched the world around him to learn new things, Santiago was also brave because he went to search for his destiny and kept going when things didn’t go as he planned and he was also loving because he was always looking for love until he found Fatima, kept thinking about her because he loved her. We saw how Santiago went from being a simple kid to wise men, we saw how he grew up while he was in his journey, how he finished his journey, how he found his treasure and how he finally found true happiness.


I consider my self brave . I always like to try new things that other people wouldn't do. No matter what my destiny may be,or where it is I would look for it because I don't fear new things . I think being brave is very important for people that want to find their destiny. Although they don't know where their destiny is if they are brave there would be more wiling to go after it . It takes bravery to get out of that comfort zone and try something new something that would make you happy . You shouldn't be afraid of failure because if you are wiling to take the chance , there is always a treasure waiting for you . If you are brave enough to start following your destiny you'll find the treasure that is waiting for you to find it .