Tuesday, July 29, 2008
A thought....
I suppose I should ask the question since it occurred to me. What do you think about Fatima's Personal Legend? and her treasure? Does Coehlo suggest that there's similar value in hers, even though she was much less active in pursuing it? What does it say that the Personal Legend of the one woman we really see is fulfilled by meeting a man who finds her? Whereas as the men all have to do and pursue, sometimes travel at great lengths, to realize theirs?
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3 comments:
I don't think Fatima's personal legend is in any way diminished just because she didn't travel miles and miles for it and just because it was Santiago. She had the job of sitting and waiting and often times that can be far harder than actively pursuing something. She also had to wait a long time hoping that Santiago would come back once he'd found her. All that shows a great level of patience, security, confidence and faith.
As for her treasure being Santiago, I think that is beautiful too. To me my greatest treasure are my husband and children and people are often the most important thing in our lives. I think Fatima simply represents another aspect of seeking and finding one's personal legend.
~Emily~
i don't know. i think she was 'just a women of the desert." she said it enough times. :)
Call me sexist if you will, but I'm with Emily on this one. I see nothing at all demeaning about the portrayal of Fatima's Personal Legend. You don't actually state that is your view though, as you just asked a question, so I would be interested to hear your thoughts. However, your question doesn't accurately portray at least part of the story. You say, "fulfilled by meeting a man who finds her"... That is not at all accurate to the story. In fact, Fatima says, "I have been waiting for you here at this oasis for a long time. I have forgotten about my past, about my traditions, and the way in which men of the desert expect women to behave..." This speaks of sacrifice on her behalf, and perhaps, the last line hints at ignoring settling for just whoever and waiting for, "the right one", even at great sacrifice. To say that, she merely was fulfilled by happening to show up at the well on the right day, misses the impact of these words that she spoke. Just because this story was not written about her Personal Legend, does not in any way mean that we should view this author as demeaning women's "Personal Legends", or even assume that this would be the author's view on what all women's "Personal Legends" should be like. (And my wife makes further excellent points on this matter which I won't rehash, but refer to her comment)
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