Coelho selects Narcissus's myth as the prologue because it incorporates several elements that are useful later in the narrative. For instance, the reader is able to see the ascription of human traits towards inanimate objects as when he describes the lake that cries. Such a myth sets a magical tone within the narrative at the prologue besides highlighting the interrelationship between animate, things and inanimate, which are developing the main theme of the story Coelho, (Paulo and Clarke 2). Also, the author chooses Narcissus’s myth as the prologue since it highlights the question or issue of selfishness, which is at the heart of The Alchemist.
Journal Entry Two
1. Foreshadowing
The main aim of foreshadowing in narratives is to offer readers with background information regarding the characters within the story. For instance, within the prologue, the alchemist is pleased about an altered version of the myth regarding Narcissus. Following Narcissus's death, the goddess asked the lake if it was grieving for the loss of beauty and the lake responded by saying that it was weeping for Narcissus because it never noticed his beauty (Paulo and Clarke 12). Meaning that the lake recognized Narcissus's true value in enabling others sees the beauty within themselves. Also, at the abandoned church, Santiago recognized its broken roof which enabled him to see the stars after it darkened (Paulo and Clarke 24).
2. Tone
The prologue sets a magical tone in the narrative at the prologue by suggesting a crying lake used to describe the interrelationship between animate, things and inanimate, which are developing the main theme of the narrative. Also, the author has developed a sad tone in the narrative by calling the lake, the lake of tears. In this case, the lake perpetually wept for Narcissus since it missed the reflection of his eyes (Paulo and Clarke 2).
3. Irony
The author calls the lake a lake of tears because it recognized Narcissus’s true value in beauty despite being referred to as Narcissus. Secondly, the abandoned church enables Santiago to see the beauty despite being abandoned.
4. Symbolism
The lake wept for Narcissus because it recognized that his beauty reflected its own beauty following his death. Secondly, the author has illustrated that things that appear broken tend to reveal hidden beauty if one takes time to seek through the abandoned church. Although the church is abandoned, it revealed the beauty of stars (Paulo and Clarke 22).
5. Fable
The lake turned to be a lake of tears following Narcissus’s death because it had never realized his beauty despite being very close to him every day. Each time Narcissus knelt to study his reflection on the lake, the lake would only choose to see its reflection in his eyes. Secondly, the author has illustrated that something good can be found in hopeless situations or unlikely places through the abandoned church.
Journal Entry Three
1. Soapstone for the Poem
The speaker of A Dreams Deferred is a young inquisitive person regarding broken dreams. The audience is ambitious individuals who have dreams are aspirations. The purpose of the poem is to let the audience reflect on their own dreams. Finally, the subject matter of the poem are dreams and the poem carries a worrying tone.
2. Connection with The Alchemist
Connecting The Alchemist to A Dreams Deferred by Langston Hughes, Santiago illustrates that if one is patient enough to listen to his or her heart, dreams actually explode. In essence, Santiago realized that personal dreams are part of the soul’s universe.
Works Cited
Coelho, Paulo, and Alan Clarke. The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream. 2015. Internet Source.
