The Alchemist- as a Bildungsroman

This book is a compilation of life lessons, as discovered by Santiago during his journey to fulfill his personal legend. It’s the epitome of a bildungsroman novel. Santiago goes from being a young Sheppard boy to listening to his own heart as well as God’s plan for him (as shown through omens). He confronts those that help him along his journey, like the old man, and the alchemist. He also faces many obstacles that test his courage, patience, and determination.

The boy must believe in himself, and trust in the Soul of God in order to fulfill his journey. This bildungsroman ends happily, as he discovers the treasure and then heads back to be with his love, Fatima. He has fulfilled his life’s journey.

I think most bildungsroman novels do not show the protagonist fulfilling his journey completely. Usually there are lessons learned as some things are lost, and others gained. However, in this novel, Santiago seems to gain everything that he was in pursuit of, and leaves the reader wondering what else he will accomplish in his life. He has only to journey back to find his love.

Therefore, I see this book as the ideal bildugroman, not the realistic one. It is an inspiring, sweet story, that feels more like a legend passed down for generations than a novel. It inspires us to seek out our own personal legend.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho- Part I

“It’s true; life really is generous to those who pursue their Personal Legend, the boy thought.” -166

This book is a charming story of Santiago, a boy who discovers that his Personal Legend is to venture across the desert and uncover buried treasure. Along the way, he experiences many obstacles, but ultimately clings to his Personal Legend and fulfills it at all costs.

The boy learns that the world will help those who are on their path toward their Personal Legend, and not even love will get in the way. This book tells us that we each have a Personal Legend that we can choose to pursue. This lesson is a great one for us soon-to-be grads who will have to decide what to go after in the coming years. Should one pursue what they love and feel they were born to do? Or should he or she be open to new opportunities that arise, or find contentment in simpler things? This book serves to inspire us to say yes to the first question, and seek out our own Personal Legend with new dedication and fervor.

The House on Mango Street- III

Eperanza is a great protagonist for a bildungsroman novel. She searches for her identity (part of which is her cultural identity) throughout the book, and is continually influenced by the community of women around her. Her house on Mango Street is both a barrier or hindrance in her life, and also a reflection of her heritage. Esperanza recognizes the poverty, gender discrimination, and abuse that women like her mother, Sally, and other neighbors experience. She decides that she does not want to ‘wait beside the window’ as her grandmother did, nor does she want to wait for someone to come along to change her life, as Marin does. Esperanza decides that she has the power to take control of her own life, and the strength to leave her home.

Part of this coming of age novel is Esperanza’s struggle with her cultural identity. Even while deciding to leave Mango Street, she knows she is leaving only to return for those that are unable to get away. She feels a connection with the community, that is partly pride and partly pity. Nonetheless, this novel shows that those around her have had a huge influence on her, and are ultimately part of her identity. She can leave Mango Street, and must in order to achieve all of her dreams. Yet, Mango Street is already a part of her. She’ll bring her cultural identity with her to her future experiences.

This bildungsroman novel shows a teenage girl struggling with growing up and with understanding who she is. It is a novel that any reader can connect to on some level, as we all must encounter this search for purpose and identity. I really enjoyed this book, and connected with Esperanza. It made me recall the typical struggles of teenage years and reflect on my own search for identity.

Esperanza & Lucy- an unlikely resemblance?

When Mr. Larson first mentioned a connection between Lucy (from 'A Room with a View') and Esperanza, I thought he was crazy. The characters could not be more different. Lucy is middle-class, well-bred, full of endless opportunities and luxuries. Esperanza is a minority, struggling in poverty, limited by her home on Mango Street. Right?

Although they are very different, both experience huge limitations brought on by their home/family life and cultural norms. Lucy is told to marry Mr. Vyse, a man she doesn't love, by her mother and everyone who surrounds her. It is acceptable for her to strive to raise herself up to a higher social class. She is a young woman, who should study, travel, and always uphold a high degree of modesty. These are her limitations, which seem to suffocate her at times. She finally finds a way to break free and seek her own happiness by marrying George.

Similarly, Esperanza is limited by the many suppressed women she is surrounded by and society's view of women's proper place. Eventually she, like Lucy, does rise beyond these limitations. She says she will leave her house on Mango Street, if only so she can return one day for the people that cannot leave. She will return for those she cares about, that cannot overcome their limitations.

The House on Mango Street- I

The last lines of this book has been on my mind:

"They will not know I have gone away to come back.
For the ones I left behind. For the ones who cannot out" (110).

Esperanza is continually told that Mango Street will forever be a part of her, and that she is destined to return for the sake of those who cannot leave. Although she doesn't like her home on Mango Street, her neighbors, friends, and family have left lasting impacts on her life. This is clear by reading the character's reflections and recollections.

This journal-like compilation of thoughts is pure poetry. The characters truly come alive, and Cisneros even uses rhyme sporadically. However, the wording of these particular lines (as noted above) is simply beautiful. These lines leave me knowing that Esperanza really does view Mango Street as her home, and is leaving knowing she will return. She cares about the people she leaves behind and will not fail to come back for them.

For better or for worse, Mango Street is home.

The Life of Pi- III Best novel yet!

I think this is the best novel we've read so far this semester, as well as the best example of a bildungsroman.

Our protagonist, Pi, struggles with finding God and a religion that fits him. As he ventures with his family across the Pacific Ocean to Canada, something goes horribly wrong and he ends up on the journey of his life.

Pi certainly faced huge obstacles on his journey that caused him to rely on God and his own human will to survive. Whether he struggled to survive on a lifeboat with a Bengal Tiger, or whether he fought for his life against a greedy, brutal passenger (the cook) is never confirmed. In the end, Pi chooses to tell the story with the animals, which he calls the "better story". Perhaps it's real, or perhaps it isn't. In either case, our protagonist survived and chose to tell a story full of hope and inspiration, that will truly make someone believe in God.

The Better Story

In chapter 22, Pi mentions "the better story" which foreshadows his re-telling of his journey by presenting two parallel accounts based on the same facts later on.

At the end of the novel, Mr. Okamoto answers Pi that "the story with the animals is the better story,"and Pi says, "Thank you. And so it goes with God."

I'm troubled by what he means by "better story". Does what actually happened matter less than what we would like to believe happened?

After finishing this incredible book, I am left with a question I'd rather not think about:
Do I believe in God because it is the 'better story' (the more optimistic option), or because I really believe He's real?