PAULO COELHO AS A NOVELIST

This text was my last assignmet of Introduction to Literature. I am not really sure this text will be trully correct in grammar, and giving you a satisfying analysis. Nevertheless, that is my work. I am novel in this thing. So, If u've got any comments and recomendations, please feel free to share your thought :)

Paulo Coelho was born August 20 1947 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is a brazillian lyricist and novelist. He has become one the most famous author in the world today. He is the recipient of numerous prestogious international award, one of them is the Crystal Award  by the World Economic Forum and France’s Legion d’honneur. 

Paulo Coelho began to publish his first book when he was 38. His novel are Hell Archives ,The Pilgrimage, The Alchemist, Brida, The Valkyries, Eleven Minutes, etc. In total, Coelho has sold more than 150 million books over 150 countries and have translated into 71 languages. The unqiue thing is, he only writes a book when he has found a white feather in the January of odd year.

The young Paulo was a boy who wanted to be a writer, but when he conveyed his intention to his mother, his mother said that being writer was not good for his future. Nevertheless, Pauolo made such a rebellion in order to keep his dream to be a writer. Knowing this, his parents sent him to mental instruction or psychiatric hospital from which he had escaped three times before being released at 20. To follow what his parents wanted, Paulo enrolled in law school, abandoning his dream to be a writer.

One year later, Paulo dropped out and started drugs in the 1960’s. “In 1986, Coelho walked the 500 plus mile Road of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain, a turning point in his life. On the path, Coelho had a spiritual awakening, which he described autobiographicalyy in The Pilgrimage” (Wikipedia). Santiago de Compostela itself is a site of Catholic pilgrimage. Coelho once stated in that year “I was very hapy in the things I was doing. I was doing something that gave me food and water to use the  metaphor in The Alchemist, I was working, I had a person whom I loved, I had money,  but I was not fulfilling my dream. My dream was, and stil is, to be a writer.”  He also said “I always knew that my personal legend, to use a term from alchemy, was to write.”

Paulo Coelho has married with Christina Oitica, an artist. They divide time between Brazil and France. In 1996, Coelho founded the Paulo Coelho Institute, which proides aid to children and elderly people with financial problems. On May 9, 2006, in Sofia, Bulgaria, Paulo Coelho was awarded by the President of Bulgaria Georgi Parvanov the "The Honorable Award of the President of the Republic"and in September, 2007, Coelho was called as Messenger of Peace to the UN (United Nations).

Paulo Coelho reached his peak popularity when he wrote a novel with a title The Alchemist. This novel really changes Coelho’s life as a writer. This novel makes him so famous and popular, translated into 71 languages, sold roughly 65 million copies, has made Paulo Coelho as the most translated book in the world by living author, according to Guinness Book World Record.

(Exposition) The story of The Alchemist begins when an Andalusian sheperd boy, Santiago, wants to be a wanderer. His parents do not allow him at first, because they wish that their son could be a priest. Becoming a priest is such a pride for his family—a poor farmer family. Besides, Santiago had studied in Seminary for 16 years. But, Santiago himself is more interested in knowing more about the world rather than God or humans’ sins. Santiago still insists to be a wanderer, and finally that his Dad permits him to go wandering.

One night, in his initial journey, Santiago dreams about a child whom tells him that if he goes to Pyramid in Egypt, he will find a treasure. When he comes to a forecaster, gypsi lady, to interprete his dream, she says that he should go to pyramid in Egypt, because there he will find a treasure. Later, Santiago meets an old wise king from Salem, Melchizedek, who tells him to sell his sheeps, and introduce him about Personal Legend and Soul of the World and gives him two stones, black and white stones named Urim and Thummim (black for yes, white for no). Nevertheless, Santiago must keep relying on his own decision. “Personal legend is what you have always wanted to accomplish. Everyone, when they are young, knows what their Personal Legend is" states Melchizedek. He also says “At that point in their lives, everything is clear and everything is possible. They are not afraid to dream, and to yearn for everything they would like to see happen to them in their lives. But, as time passes, a mysterious force begins to convince them that it will be impossible for them to realize their Personal Legend….whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it’s because that desire originated in the soul of the world. It’s your mission on earth.” Those quotations later will inspire Santiago to always continue his journey.

(Conflict) Santiago’s journey is not easy as Santiago thought. He faces a lot of obstacles, such as robbery in Tangier, the time when he can not speak any single of Arabic. He wants to be back home, but later he decides to stay and work in Crystal shop. After one year, he has already had enough money to buy sheep and return home. However, he recalls what  Melchizedek said, then at the last minute, he makes up his mind to take all risks and join caravan to Egypt.

In the caravan, he meets an Englishman who tells him about the alchemist. When he arrives in Al Fayoum oasis—the home for titular Alchemist, Santiago meets a beautiful Arabic girl, Fatima. He falls in love. He discovers that love is like Personal Legend, it comes from Soul of the World. There, Santiago is rewarded a position as a counselor, for his deed in warning upcoming battle. It makes him more settled living in Oasis. Therefore, Santiago is in two minds, between staying in Oasis with Fatima or continue his personal legend to find treasue in pryramid. But, the alchemist awakes him that he should pursue his personal legend. The alchemist teaches Santiago to keep listen his heart also will lead him to the treasure.

(suspense) Stepping close to pyramid, Santiago and the alchemist are taken prisoner by warring tribe. The alchemist says that Santiago is a magician, he can turn himself into wind. To know that, the tribemen are impressed and promising will let them free if they can prove it. Santiago has no idea what he is going to do. But, after 3 days meditating, he asks the Soul of the World to ask the elements to help him. First he asks the desert, then he asks the wind, after that he asks the sun and, at last, he asks the Soul of the World. Immediately, the wind whips up, and Santiago disappears and reappears on the other side of the camp. Afterwards, the tribemen let them free.

(Surprise) Afterthat, the alchemist shows the direction to pyramid and then leaves Santiago himself to continue the journey. In pyramid, once again Santiago meets robbers, they asks what Santiago’s intention coming there. Santiago answers that he will seek treasure that buried there, as what his dream has said. One of the robbers laughs at him, and says that he has had the exact same dream, except that in his, the treasure was buried in Spain. At that time Santiago realizes that the treasure is back in Spain the entire time.

(Ending) Then, Santiago goes back to Spain. He digs the ground below the tree when he got a dream about treasure. Voila, he finds a chest full of gold—enough for him and Fatima. The he says to himself “I am coming Fatima”

From the story of The Alchemist which takes place in Andalusia (Spain) and Egypt (Africa) we can conclude that the stor is about understanding life, especially to understand our Personal Legend (dream). The theme is about pursuit of Personal Legend. As we can meet in the novel that the story tells about Santiago struggle to get his Personal Legend. He must allow his wealth, sheep and leave Fatima for his Personal Legend.

In the story also, we will find some symbols, eg the alchemist, Personal Legend, Urim Thummim, Melchizedek from Salem, and Soul of the World. The alchemist as the one who can changes base metal into more valuable metal symbolizes Santiago’s journey to achieve his Personal Legend. As Santiago undergoes, his journey to reach Personal Legend has turned him into more valuable person—a person who can fulfill what his trully desire—travels to the Pyramid, learns about life, dream, and love and then getting gold. Personal Legend represents dream—a heart calling—something that every person has. Melchizedek from Salem—Melchizedek in the book of genesis is a king of Salem. Salem is another name of Jerussalem. Salem is semitic root of š-l-m means safe, peace, as shalom in Hebrew which means  peace. Therefore, Melchizedek symbolize the God messenger from city of God (Jerusalem) to help the dreamer whom is in process to pursue dream (Personal Legend). As novel says “because every second of the search is a second's encounter with God and with eternity” . Soul of the Universe symbolizes spiritual unity which binds all natural elements and human beings into one spirit. This spirit will lead the dreamer to understand that by Soul of the World he can make all elements in the world conspires him to get his one goal: achieving dream. This symbol is reflected when Santiago has to transform himself into wind in front of tribemen whom prison him and the alchemist, he asks help to Soul of the World to ask the elements (desert, wind, sun) to help him. Then he finally change into wind. This is also emphasizing the quotation from Melchizedek (“when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it"). Urim and Thummim is a medium to help Jews to make divination who is wrong, who is right. It was usually used by Spritual leader of Jew. The use of Urim and Thummim can be known in Samuel 14:41 ‘ Therefore Saul said, “O Lord God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O Lord, God of Israel, give Urim. But if this guilt is in your people Israel, give Thummim. And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped’. Therefore, in the story Urim and Thummim symbolizes the God’s help if Santiago can not find the answer or can not decide.

The Alchemist uses limited omniscient point of view. Coelho as the author tells the story from the point view point of Santiago. As written here “The boy mumbled an answer that allowed him to avoid responding to her question. He was sure the girl would never understand”. Meanwhile, if we are talking about characters, there are several characters inside Santiago, King Melchizedek from Salem, the alchemist, Fatima, and the gypsi lady. Santiago is round protagonist. He mostly acts kind during the story, but sometimes he does wrong thing such as being hopeless such as when he lose his sheep he almost gives up to be back home and let his Personal Legend away. King melchizedek is flat protagonist because he helps Santiago to gain his dream by giving wise suggestions. The alchemist is protagonist because he leads Santiago where the treasure lies. Fatima is also flat protagonist because she convinces Santiago to always recall his Personal Legend, she is sincere to be left by Santiago though she loves him so much. Unlike, the 4 characters that have been mentioned before, a gypsi lady is antagonist because she is such a money minded, she does not want to interpret his dream except he gives her one tenth of the treasure.

After reading the novel, I can draw conlusion that this story provides us a message that to be really we are, we should fulfill our dream, because it is our heart calling, our treasure. As once states in novel
“ ‘Why we must listen our heart?” asked the boy while they were building tent that day
“Because wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure’ ”. Do not have to be afraid of being failed because God and universe will support us, as stated “Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second's encounter with God and with eternity”.

Sources:
www.biblegateway.com

www.goodreads.com

www.sparknote.com

www.wikipedia.com

www.wikiquote.com

Dopamine=Kamu

Orang akan mensekresikan dopamine setiap kali mereka berhubungan sex, makan dan mendengarkan musik. Dopamine adalah hormon yang diproduksi oleh otak kita sehingga membuat kita senang. Oleh karena itu hormon ini disebut pula hormon kesenangan.

Bagi aku, dopamine itu bukan hanya ketika aku mendengarkan musik dan makan, tapi juga ketika ada kamu. Aku dopamine ketika melihatmu, mendengarmu dan membayangkanmu. Kamu itu perangsang dopamine-ku. Aku tak mengerti kenapa demikian. Barangkali karena kamu itu sama nikmatnya dengan makan dan musik favoritku. Kalau kamu itu makanan, kamu itu ibarat nasi goreng baso spesial dengan tomat, timun, kubis dan selada segar. Dan kalau minuman, kamu itu seperti gula aren dalam cendol yang aku teguk di siang yang terik. Begitu segar dan memupus hausku dengan kilat. Saat itu dopamine-ku keluar. Dan, jika kamu itu adalah lagu, maka kamu itu adalah Coldplay. Aku dopamine tiap kali dengar Coldplay. Dan, kuantitas dopamine-ku bertambah begitu kutahu bahwa kamu juga menyukai Coldplay. Oh, dan aku sekarang sedang mendengarkan lagu-lagu Coldplay! Delta, aku dopamine. Dopamine lagi, lagi, dan lagi, karena ada kamu disetiap hentakan nada-nadanya.

Wahai, para pembaca sekalian, aku sedang jatuh cinta. Tak peduli, aku sedang jatuh, aku ikhlas, karena tempatku mendarat sekarang adalah cinta. Aku tahu aku jatuh. Logika sedang tumpul, jantungku begitu labil seperti penderita sakit jantung, keberanianku sedang di titik terendah, rasa gugupku berjaya, mulutku bisu, otakku mogok, dan aku seperti manusia yang terkatung-katung dalam taman bunga. Ah, Delta kamu lihai sekali membuatku tunduk. Anehnya, aku tersenyum saja ketika kamu taruh pedang di dekat leherku.

Delta, Delta... .Kau benar, hujan sedang datang dengan sialan! Sialan, hatiku yang kena!

Untuk Delta,

Masih segitigakah?

Ketika Internet dan Komputer Mempengaruhi Perilaku Bahasa Kita

 Hai, hai...Kali ini aku pengen berbagi tentang kisah kampusku, yang mau aku ceritaain sekarang adalah soal proyek mini research kami yang ongoing :). I'm so merry, because I feel like researcher now! * beginner researcher, sebenernya* But, it's okay, at least, Im learning how to :D

Pernahkah kamu dengar temenmu berkata "Eh, aku sudah bisa download Skyfall lho!", atau "Foto-foto kita yang pas SMA dulu jangan lupa di upload terus aku tolong tag ya!". Kata download, upload, dan tag adalah istilah asing, dalam hal ini adalah bahasa Inggris. Kenapa mereka lebih memilih menggunakan download daripada mengunduh? upload daripada unggah/mengunggah? Tag daripada tandai/menandai? Padahal kan kita sudah punya bahasa Indonesia untuk itu, tapi kenapa masih saja kita cenderung menggunakan istilah bahasa Inggrisnya? Ini pertanyaan. Apa yang membuat kita demikian? Alasan apa yang melatarbelakangi perilaku bahasa kita seperti itu? Apa dampak yang mungkin ditimbulkan dari perilaku tersebut?

Nah, inilah yang bakal jadi topik mini research aku dan kawan-kawan dalam mata kuliah Introduction to Research Method :). Berawal dari sebuah diskusi mini, kami tiba-tiba mempertanyakan hal yang sama--hal yang kita temui sehari-hari namun jarang kita telisik lebih dalam. Sebuah hal sederhana, yang mungkin saja membutuhkan penjelasan/jawaban yang tak sederhana.Biar bagaimana pun, aku yakin beberapa dari kalian yang sedang membaca ini barangkali sudah bisa memberikan hipotesa, "Ya, kan soalnya kalau kita pake kata unduh dan unggah, kata-kata itu kurang familier dibanding donwload dan upload." Lantas, bagaimana dengan tandai atau menandai? bukankah, kata itu cukup familier? Lalu, bisa saja kita menjawab "Kalau tandai itu kan, apa ya...Ehm, kurang pantas kayaknya kalau dipakai di facebook, lebih sreg kalau pakai tag, lebih sesuai gitu kedengarannya." Kemudian, bisa saja beberapa memberikan alasan lain "Ya, kalo tandai itu pake dua suku kata, lebih simpel pakai tag, satu suku kata." Baiklah, setiap orang boleh muncul dengan pernyataan yang berbeda-beda, namun apakah kecenderungan alasan mereka melakukan demikian? Inilah nanti yang akan kita telusuri dalam mini research kita mendatang, ehehehhe... *I'm kinda passionate to do it!"

Oh, iya entar di mini research kami juga gak bakalan fokus hanya di ranah istilah-istilah dalam dunia internet, melainkan juga dalam dunia komputer, seperti kecenderungan kita memakai kata print daripada mencetak, close dari pada menutup, layout daripada tata letak.

Itulah, gambaran dikit dari mini research kami yang bergenre linguistik itu. Penasaran gimana hasilnya? Nanti ya... Insya Allah aku kasih tahu hasilnya setelah this mini reserach is done! :)