Santiago As A Key Factor In My Hero's Journey

Optimism filled his soul like the fresh paintings hanging in the museums. He expected the future will harbor better things than just quiet farming. In that spirit, he never accepted the limits of digging peat or milking cows, or practicing a religion he did not profess to.

Santiago’s growth was inspiring to me. He has learned a great deal from action. He learns quite a lot about the land and his sheep by being a shepherd and paying attention to the world around him. His grandfather had mentioned to him a while back of an omen. “By traveling, watching and paying attention, the world will speak to Santiago to help him find is Personal Legend.” Through action, Santiago learns how easy it is to search for one’s Personal Legend. Everyone has their own way of learning things. For example when Santiago decides to try reading the Englishman’s book and he would try and read the signs of the desert. The boy does not learn a thing from the book and the Englishman learns nothing from watching the caravan. Just as Santiago

This is a great example of perception vs. reality as everyone makes it seem that one person might be happy, but inside they can be at the complete opposite state. This causes him to have the desire for more wisdom than what he has been taught. He wanted to find out what was really important and wanted to feel no emotion in regards to what people think of him.

This caused in him a feeling in which he had never felt before, and thus inspired him to new things to get himself more aquatinted with God:

He proclaimed, "I had to sink to the greatest mental depths, ...in order to experience grace, ...to sleep deeply and awaken refreshed again" (78).  When he stopped his religious pilgrimage for the pleasures of a senseless life his quest for inner direction seemed to be setback, but this was actually imperative in moving forward to find himself.  He unknowingly achieved the second step in his journey and was left with just one more stage.

He freely relinquished his identity as known by his secular achievements. It is true we are often tempted by success, achievement and wealth. Sometimes it is hard fulfilling the role as leader in a church, and one can experience loneliness abstaining from temptations. However, one’s effective leadership is possible

believed he could be free. Whatever it took he continued his walk of faith until he

Being a small child he was obsessed with the idea of servicing God and his Word. He always tried to influence his peers, trying to show them the saintly and the proper path of truth. This time was the time of formation of his leadership spirit. Despite the fact that no one listened to him, he did not give up; it may seem strange, but he was weekly preaching four dogs at a local chapel. He has no support in his family, therefore he found it at one of the village residents; she believed in him with all her heart, supporting his pure effort. Once he asked her: “Can I be like a Mr. Kennedy when I grow up?” These words are the best reflection of his huge desire and eagerness for leadership and recognition.

He went searching for the truth because even though he was brought up as a Christian his pride had darkened his thought of the truth and what to believe. During the second half of his life he spent it reflecting it upon, explaining, defending, and living out the truth that he had experienced through faith in Jesus Christ. His faith in Jesus Christ made him believe stronger

The lines “My body healed in the hospital, but my mind persisted in laying siege at the gates of heaven, pleading for admittance. There was nothing more to live for.” showed how he felt dead inside after losing his sight and this marked the lowest point in his journey. It was not until later on when he started to accept his predicament that he started to rediscover life. This part of the journey can be seen in the lines “I was rediscovering life, and the process was exciting.

He felt that it unacceptable to keep his spiritual beliefs from influencing his work life, and believed that instead they should be interconnected. In his entries about his life, at one point he describes his decision to say yes to God and surrender his life to Him. He stated that from that time on, he knew his life “had a goal,” (pg.257), it was given meaning and

He was seventeen and looking for a better life. He was headed straight for South America in search of work and a future. South America had not been his first choice. Tales of cannibal savages steered him clear away. He would’ve much rather go to New England, but tough times and cheaper boat tickets had forced him to reconsider. It wasn’t that bad though; before she died, his Spaniard mother had taught him how to speak Spanish, so at least he would know the language. Santiago would have liked to have her by his side as he faced this unfamiliar horizon. He missed her terribly every single day.

Upon being told by the oracle at Delphi which claimed he was the wisest of men, he concludes that he wiser than other men only in that he knows nothing. He then sets out to fulfill what he believes is his duty

Santiago is a heroic character because despite his failure to catch even a single fish in eighty-four days, the old man is an honorable fisherman who still goes out each day. He does not complain but instead he perseveres through his pain and suffering. He continues to have hope and confidence and throughout his journey he never loses his pride. Even when Santiago battled deadly scenarios he continued to bravely fight through his pain and injuries. 3.

Santiago is seen by many as a hero