Pursuit of Happiness - Gopika Nikhil

FESTO DE COELHO: ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION 

As part of the 73rd Birthday Celebrations of the renowned writer Paulo Coelho, the English Department of Al-Ameen College has conducted an essay writing competition whose theme was the "Pursuit of Dreams in works of Paulo Coelho". Gopika Nikhil in her essay presents her opinions and perspectives regarding the subject. She discusses the optimistic attitude of Paulo Coelho and points out that the pursuit of dreams is the pursuit of happiness. We will be happy if we  have to courage to follow our dreams.

Pursuit of Happiness

Gopika Nikhil

St Aloysius college

"I always knew that my personal legend, to use a term from alchemy, was to write." say's Paulo Coelho, who is best acknowledged for his novel The Alchemist. He is an optimist, who believed within the zest to follow dreams. Apart from the character Santiago, from The Alchemist, he himself is an example for the pursuit of dreams. In quest of fulfilment, he followed his dream. He had to face heaps of hurdles and have tried varied professions throughout his early age of maturity. But he never quit seeking for his destiny, being an author.

 

For me, the pursuit of dreams is the pursuit of happiness. It is not attainable if we don't have the courage to seek and go behind it. In the novel The Alchemist, we can see the protagonist Santiago following his recurring dreams and intuitions. He's been robbed many times, there are times once he's feeling exhausted and getting ready to surrender his quest however he never did. He had to decide on between one thing he already had and something he needed to possess. He chose the latter and continued the quest for treasure.

 

Santiago is attempting to clarify that real victory  is in understanding our destiny by subjugation of our own mind. He embraced the victory by believing in his dream otherwise he won't be able to find the treasure which was within his reach. By the term treasure it's going to not essentially be materialistic. It can be an experience that you get when you don't get what you desire.