The idea of a personal legend is entirely cohesive with the idea behind the bildungsroman. And if nothing else, we know that Santiago fulfills his personal legend. Ironically, he never even had to leave home to find the treasure, but that was the purpose, for him to fulfill his personal legend was to travel and explore and he did so. Although this novels ideas may be bit “new agey” to some, it seems to me that there is an undeniable element of faith throughout this novel, to me the Soul of the World is like the trinity, and when you are following the path God has set out for you he does indeed place “omens” in your way, and as my grandmother always says just because it’s the right way it’s not the easy way. Santiago faces hardship, a long arduous journey, being robbed on a few occasions and develops into a man. There is a book called Walk Two Moons, and there is a line I will always remember and have applied to my own life, “in the course of a lifetime, what does it matter.” For Santiago, his journey is not fruitless, it means no regrets, and fulfilling the deep desire and call he felt for traveling. For Santiago, the course of his life is fulfilled by his travels; he becomes a man, meets the love of his life and learns invaluable life lessons. Indeed, I do believe the The Alchemist is a bildungsroman.
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