Analytical Essay The Alchemist And The Little Prince

Throughout journeys we meet many people who affect our lives. The authors use plot to show their idea. “I saw a most extraordinary small person.” (4) In the “Little Prince”, the pilot meets the little prince, and Little Prince meets all sorts of people: the king, the clown, the businessman, and most of all the fox. The fox teaches the Little Prince about taming, and gives the answer to what the Little Prince has been looking for. “The boy has met the alchemist.” (112) Santiago, in The Alchemist, meets the gypsy, old king, thief, crystal merchant and many more. He learns lessons from each person. Meeting people is what makes the journey always joyful. There are some lessons we cannot realize on our own, instead we acquire them from others. Journeys are not completed only by our own, but with the help from others.

As meeting people throughout the journey exist, so does departure (parting). Using the third person narrator, the authors show the emotions and thoughts of the characters. “I am leaving today,” said the boy ~ “Will you give me your blessing?” asked the boy. (61) Santiago, main character of the novel “The Alchemist”, meets many people who help him directly or indirectly. But, for Santiago to continue his journey, they separate. “Ah,” said the fox, I shall cry.” (72) The Prince’s departure causes the fox great pain; the fox encourages the prince to move on with his journey back to his rose. At the end, the narrator, the pilot, separates from the little prince. The authors advise that separation is difficult and sorrowful by showing the feelings of the characters. However, they show sadness as another important part of journey that one must withstand to move on with our journey.

Through encountering barriers we grow both physically and emotionally. “It was sweet as some special festival treat.” (81) Antoine de Saint-Exupéry uses symbolism to express his concept of journey. The desert, which holds a lethal snake and no water, symbolizes the narrator’s mind, lonely and a grownup mind. Throughout his journey, talking and learning from the little prince’s knowledge, the desert (narrator’s mind) changes into a place with a well. The narrator’s concern about running out of water after he crashes to the desert show that he has grown old. Near the end, the well or the drinking water means a symbol of spiritual fulfillment.

It is not the destination; it is the journey that matters, is the main aspect these two texts share. Santiago and the little prince both set out on the journey to reach their destination, the treasure and answer. By using the characterization, we observe emotional and physical growth of the characters. Every moment in the journey is a learning experience. Meeting people, separating and talking teaches lessons. “There is only one way to learn,” the alchemist answered. “It’s through action. Everything you need to know you learned through your journey.” Santiago chooses to pursue after his treasure than his flock of sheep. His whole attention was on his destination (treasure) than the journey. But, as time passes by, Santiago learns from the events occurred on his journeys. At the end, the journey was what should be treasured and the destination was only a part of journey.

“What is essential is invisible to the eye … It is the time you devoted to your rose that makes your rose important.” (73) The fox teaches the little prince the answer to his journey. The prince was travelling to answer his question; however the constant questioning shows the search of finding the answers can be more important than the answer.

The children, when the adults do not, see that the journey is more important than the destination and press their faces eagerly against the windows as they ride, taking in the scenery

In conclusion, composers, through their text, value aspects of journey. All the process we encounter, such as meeting, departing, walking and thinking, are important to the journey. There are different aspects Paulo Coelho and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry communicate, but the idea that it is not the destination but the journey that matter, is the concept that these two books hold in common.

Journey, like somewhere in desert hides a well, is beautiful for what it hides inside.