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The Ordinary World
Campbell's steps to be a hero, is the first step. This is the feeling in which heros feel out of place in the world. They feel like their life is reapetative and without meaning. In The Alchemist, Santiago goes through this step at the start of the book. He feels his farm life is boring so he goes out and travels. "'The people who come here have a lot of monry to travel,' his fater said. 'among us, the only ones who travel are the shepherds.'
'Well, then I'll be a shepherd!'"(Coelho 9). -
The Call to Adventure
In the second step of Joseph Campbell's hero journey, the hero's let go of their normal life to be persue their dreams and adventures. Santiago completed thd second stage of being a hero when he bought a ticket to Africa and sold all his sheep. "But I had to insist on the payment of six sheep because I helped you make your desicion.'
The boy put the stones in his pouch. From then on he would make his own decisions" (Coelho 30). This shows that Santiago made a choice to go to Africa. -
Refusal of Qust
The third step to becoming a hero involves having a hardship that makes you want to give up. This is usually the first obstacle that the hero runs across. Santiago ran into this step when he got robbed when he first got to Africa. He ran out of hope. He was left with almost nothing
and had to restart from scratch. He wanted to go back to his old life. "He was no longer a shepherd, and he had nothing, not even money to return and start everything over" (Coelho 39). -
Accepting the Call
The fourth step involves getting back on the road after vering off course. This step always follows a harship that has been overcome. The boy (Santiago) overcame this step when he used his smarts and kindness to get a job and earn money in a foreign place. He worked for a year just to earn enough money to get back to square one. "The boy awoke before dawn. It had been eleven months and nine days since he had first set food on the African continent" (Coelho 60). He was able to pursue his dream. -
Entering the Unknown
This is the fifth step in Joseph Campbell's hero's journey. This is where you fist accept your quest and set out on your adventure. Santiago set out on his quest and entered the unknown when he found a caravan that would take him across the desert. He started his journey as he went across. "'You're in luck, you two' the fat Arab said.'There's a caravan leaving today for Al-Fayoum"'(Coelho 70). This represents Santiago taking his first steps in his journey. -
Meeting a Mentor
This event is the sixth step to becoming a hero. This step involves meeting someone who inspires you. This person gives advice and let;s you control your powers. In Santiago's journey, he ran into this step at the begining of the book, well before some of the previous steps. He met an old man who was a solution to his problems and helped him stay on the path to find his true self. "'Just as your grandfather taught you these are good omens'" (Coelho 29). The old man was there to show omens. -
Talisman
This is the seventh step in Campbell's guide to becoming a hero. This step involves finding a special or magical item that assists you on your quests. This step happened early in the book, right after he met the old man who helped him find his way down the right path. This man gave him two stones that could read omens. "'They are called Urim and Thummim. The black signifies 'yes' and the white 'no.' Whenn you are unable to read omens, they will hel you to do so" (Coelho 30). -
Allies and Helpers
This is the Eighth step in a hero's journey. This involves the hero finding someone who will help in anyway they can. This can be providing weapons or just supporting them. Santiago found many allies throughout his journey. One of which gave him advice and support on his path to find his treasure and personal legend. This was the alchemist. "'Because of the omens,' the alchemist answered. 'The wind told me you were coming, and that you would need help'" (Coelho 114). -
The Surpreme Ordeal
As the ninth step in the hero's journey the hero confronts the big test. They msut face their fear which usually involves a near-death situation. Santiago got tested when he had three days to become wind. He had to face his fears and look death in the eye. "'He is going to transform himself into the wind, just to demonstrate his powers. If he can't do so, we humbly offer you our lives, for the honor of your tribe'" (Coelho 140). This is his Ordeal and he passed it. -
Reward
The tenth step in the hero's journey is their reward for doing what is right. This can be a token or it can be gold, or just thanks. Santiago got many rewards and lost many items. One of his rewards was his reward for taking the journey to his personal legend. After getting past his Supreme Ordeal, the alchemist gave him some gold that he made. This was his reward for pursuing his dream. "The alchemist turned to the boy. 'This is for you'" (Coelho 155). He got this for his success. -
Journey Home
This is the eleventh step in a hero's jounrey acording to Joseph Campbell. This is usually after their Supreme Ordeal. There are usually a few problems that they stumble along on their way back but otherwise this is the end of their journey. Santiago's journey home involved finding his treasure. "I dreamed that I should travel to the fields of Spain and look for a ruined church where sheperdsadn their sheep slept" (Coelho 163). His treasure was at the church he slept in at the start. -
The Master of two Worlds
This is the final step in a hero's journey. This step involves reflection on how they've learned and grown throughout their hero's journey. Santiago had to reflect on his journey. His treasure ended up being where he started but without his quest, he never would've learned and discovered the many things that happened on his journey. "He thought of the many roads he had traveled, and of the strange was God had chosen his treasure" (Coelho 165).
