The Alchemist as Hero Myth more than Bildungsroman

The Alchemist can be considered as a bildungsroman for multiple reasons, it seems to contain even more elements of the “Hero Myth.” Santiago does undergo a great amount of growth as he achieves his Personal Legend, but the fact that he is still called “the boy,” even on the last page of the novel, leaves readers wondering if there is any other “legend” as there is such a neat conclusion despite him still being a “boy.” While this is a great achievement and the boy’s journey has been at least a year, he doesn’t seem to really “come of age,” despite great understands of God and the soul of the world. As for “Hero Myth” examples, Santiago steps out of the world that he knows (shepherding), is encouraged in that “crossing of the threshold” by a mentor figure (Melchizedek, king of Salem), faces great hardships (work, fear in desert, robbery, being held prisoner) and faces an ultimate challenge (to become the wind) after training with the alchemist that allows him to “return” with the “boon” of fulfilled self-exploration, a fulfilled Personal Legend, and a material treasure (as well as a sweetheart) to boot.