Step 5: Tests and the supreme Ordeal

Hero's Journey from ''the Alchemist''

In many myths the driving force of the narrative comes in the form of conflict. After all, it's hard to find a moral in a story in which nothing goes wrong and the hero never has to adapt or change. After all, as W. Clement Stone once said, "Every great man, every successful man, no matter what the field of endeavor, has known the magic that lies in these words: every adversity has the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit." The boy in The Alchemist is no different; during his journey to find the pyramid he faces many obstacles. For example, after the boy is robbed by a dishonest guide in Tangiers, he overcomes his disappointment and "instead of being saddened, he was happy" (50). Not only does the boy learn a valuable lesson about trusting strangers, but he also sets forth on his quest with renewed purpose and determination. Additionally, after the boy makes a sizable sum working for the crystal merchant, he faces one of the greatest tests of all: the trial of self-doubt. The boy's fear of the unknown and longing for the familiar threaten to derail him from his task. He tells himself that "I'm going back to the fields that I know, to take care of my flock again" (64). Only by recalling the words of his mentor, the old man with the bejeweled breatplate, can the boy find the resolve to continue." Finally, as the boy enters the oasis, he considers giving up, observing that "the closer he got to the realization of his dream, the more difficult things became" (92). Usually the hero must use the wisdom and experience gained form overcoming previous challenges to triumph over each successive obstacle. The boy applies the patience he learned in Tangiers to prevent himself from despairing of ever finding the treasure.

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