Q3

Q3: Summarize the discussion between the king and the boy regarding Personal Legends. Do you believe there’s such thing as a Personal Legend?
Santiago is sitting on the bench reading when an old man sits next to him and starts talking to him. He doesn’t want conversation but still the man keeps talking to him. The old man comments on the book the boy is reading, he dislikes it because the book states that there is a certain age where you lose all control over your own life, and you lose the ability to choose your own Personal Legend. From then on the book tells you that fate takes over. The man tells Santiago that he is King of Salem and will help lead him to the treasure in his dreams. The boy is told he has found his Personal Legend and that he needs to pursue it before he gets too old. Once you are older there’s a “mysterious force” that holds you back from accomplishing what you’re meant to do. If the boy gives the King 1/10th of his flock he will continue to help.
Personally, I don’t believe there is such thing as a Personal Legend or that you have complete control over what happens to you. I don’t think that there’s one thing everyone was meant to do. If you have a dream or something you’ve always wanted to do than you should try to pursue it, but if things don’t work out the way you imagined, it’s ok. Sometimes things can take a turn for the better and if it doesn’t then you’re on another path; another journey. You can’t control some of the things that life throws at you. You can either get around it and continue after your dream or go with the flow.