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  • Essay / The Value of Destiny in The Alchemist and Antigone

    “As we move through life, the force of fate creates events that we only appreciate when we reflect on our existence. » In the 1988 novel, "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho echoes the sentiment of this statement, through its reformation of the characterization displayed in the fifth-century Aristotelian tragic play, "Antigone". Both composers explore the moralistic adventures of accepting fate as a means of living and achieving one's destiny. Nevertheless, Coelho reverses Sophocles' initial characterization of Antigone, through which he propels his authorial intention, synthesizing a stronger connection with contemporary audiences, making the manifestation powerful and enduring as context, values ​​and traditions evolve over time. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essayThe conceptual motivation of destiny as a motivator in life is emphasized through an individual's moral capacity to achieve his or her goal. Antigone's hamartia is centralized around her acceptance of fate, with the embrace of death as the final resolution. Throughout the play, Antigone has been depicted as following natural law to bury Polyneices and going against Creon's decree. Antigone's reception of her fate is represented by parallelism in her statement: “And if I must die for this pure crime, I am content, for I will rest by her side; His love will respond to mine. reflects that of Paul Collette's only attempted uprising against the neo-Nazi dictatorship that conquered France in the 20th century, right down to the futility of his attempt. This crystallizes Antigone's dedication to fulfilling her destiny despite her knowledge of the consequences of her actions. Through this, Sophocles demonstrates the importance of following destiny to fulfill one's destiny, a concept further amplified in Santiago's motivations in "The Alchemist." Santiago's journey through "The Alchemist" relies solely on his motivation to find his treasure, which is emblematic of his destiny. In the novel, the concept of "personal legend" replaces destiny, which is the only means that allows Santiago to live a satisfying life. The protagonist's devotion to this "Personal Legend" is reflected in Coelho's use of an imperative voice: "Remember that everything you face is only one thing and nothing else." .. And, above all, don't forget to follow your destiny to its conclusion. » laying the foundation for his higher cognitive process as he continues his journey, overcoming many obstacles along the way. Overall, Coelho's depiction of his journey mimics the concept of destiny as a motivator in life, present in Antigone. However, Sophocles' selfless characterization of Antigone differs greatly from Coelho's absent-minded portrayal of Santiago. By employing the notion of arête, Sophocles was able to pioneer her as a virtuoso beauty who is the source of Antigone's personal motivation. This presents her as extremely compassionate and caring, while also incorporating connotations of her strong-willed mindset, allowing her to stick to her goal without hesitation, as she sacrifices herself for the advancement of her journey. Sophocles uses a euphemism in “Nay, save thyself; I don't regret your escape. …for you have chosen life, and I have chosen death. which validates one's willingness to self-sacrifice and manifests one's determination to fulfill not only the natural law of honoring one's deceased loved ones by rejecting death as an end, but rather as a step in the process. Contrary to this, Coelho reversed Le.”