Monday, September 15, 2014
9/15/14 the alchemist
The sheep in these quotes represent the people of a nation. If a nation takes care of its people the people forget how to survive without it. There are also many stories that compare people to sheep and their leader to a shepherd. He keeps the sheep for his traveling knowing they need him for survival and that he needs them to keep himself mentally stable. He also personifies the sheep more than once saying that one of his sheep that is lame is the smartest and produces the most wool. His behavior is not strange or out of the ordinary in any way; people fine animals or inanimate objects and gives them personality when they’re alone or away from society.
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I never thought about it like that. Good insight.
ReplyDeleteCan you expand on your response please? Comments should engage James' ideas, not just make a value judgment about whether you like his post or not.
DeleteI agree, I also think that the sheep have something to with his Person Legend. Like when he goes to the pyramids, he will end up back with his sheep. His sheep will teach him lessons for life.
ReplyDeleteWho is this? I am not sure that you are posting on your POHS blog. Please check and see, because I do not have this blog on my list.
DeleteI think that it's very true that the sheep represent a nation, with the lame one that is the smartest representing someone like Steven Hawking. This sheep may not know how to quantum physics, but it certainly knows what it's doing.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that the sheep represent the people of a nation because the sheep all follow one leader, unlike humans. We don't just follow any instructions given to us by any leader. Our only cares in life also aren't food and water, unlike sheep.
ReplyDeleteI must disagree. All sheep do not have one leader, just like how all humans do not have on leader. Much like sheep, we have herds- or, in our case, countries- that are led by one individual. If we were deprived of the material things that distract us from our survival instincts, all we would be left with was a need for food and water. In a way, sheep are the dumbed down versions of humans except for the fact that there are some humans that become leaders. Even then, I am almost certain that when left to fend for themselves, leaders form among herds of sheep. And as for following instructions, we actually do. We have laws that we must oblige by or we are sent to jail or even executed. While we agree with some of these laws, there are others that are highly questionable. It depends on the person. Our other cares for life are material things and mental ones as well. The latter is due to our brain development and the prior is due to our nature. After all, we always seem to want more.
DeleteI like how you think the sheep represent the people. I disagree though because I didn't think the sheep represented anything and I agree with Matthews point. I just think the sheep are there the protagonist a reason to travel.
ReplyDeleteThis is true perfection, you're point of view is as majestic as a gorilla riding on Oprah over a rainbow dragon. I didn't think of the sheep as this such metaphor, after reading your theory I feel enlightened. Truly masterful.
ReplyDeleteWhat were your thoughts on the sheep, Noble? Please expand on your answer.
DeleteI felt that the sheep were symbolizing the people that Santiago longs to see. Since he doesn't have any friends or close family, I think he chooses to confide in the sheep for the love and affection that is lacking in his life.
ReplyDeleteI seem to disagree with your idea due to the reason that I believe that the sheep really don't symbolize nothing. Like you mentioned, the sheep are they for the reason that Santiago uses them to get money, the ability to travel (which is his dream), and so that he can still in a way socialize. In my opinion, that's the only reason that they were there; they don't symbolize nothing. Your thought did actually make me think for second about it; your idea was very interesting!
ReplyDeleteI agree that the sheep definitely represent something in the book, but I don't agree that the sheep represent people in a nation.
ReplyDeleteI side with you on the fact that none of the sheep embody a specific type of person/ the people of a country. Just because one's slow, one grows wool faster and another is more intelligent doesn't mean that they've been assigned personalities by Santiago. The symbolism (so far) isn't deep enough for that, and the types of sheep that he lists aren't special snowflakes in any way. He does less of giving them personality and more of just recognizing them by their characteristics. James' idea was interesting nonetheless.
DeleteAmber - I would like to know more. If you disagree with James, then what do you think the sheep represent, if anything?
Deletei would have to disagree too, i don't think the sheep represent people i think it has something to do with a personal legend that we haven't heard from the story.
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ReplyDeleteI think of the sheep a little differently. To me they are symbolism for people that have given up on their self legacy. Like the baker, and all the store clerks, that don't do anything but make money to eat and buy more product to sell to make more money. But I like what you have to say and I don't diss agree 100%
ReplyDeleteI thought of the sheep as more like the boy. They have been traveling for so long that they have lost their animalistic quality.
ReplyDeleteI think that the sheep definitely represent something in the book, just not people.
ReplyDeleteI disagree, I don't think that people will forget how to survive without a nation, therefore I do not think that sheep represent a nation.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the statement about the sheep representing people of a nation. But if they did symbolize the people of a larger nation, what exactly is that larger nation? If you're referencing Santiago, perhaps, but I can't exactly see him as a nation.
ReplyDelete