The name of the
King of Salem is Melchizedek and he acts as Santiago's first mentor, teacher, or spiritual
guide. He is a person's introduction to learning about what a Personal Legend is and he helps
them to make the choice to follow it. He actually shows up in a person's life when she or he is
about to give up on their dreams and follow a life of "safety." Melchizedek reveals
that he doesn't always show up in person form, either. Not everyone gets to seem him as the King
of Salem. He tells the boy that he shows up as a good idea, sometimes, and makes decision making
easier on people. Not only that, but most people don't even realize that he's visited them and
helped them out.
As Santiago decides to seek his Personal Legend, he looks
back on his encounter with Melchizedek fondly. He remembers the advice and gifts he was given
and they keep him motivated not to quit throughout the journey to Egypt.
In
the Bible, Melchizedek was a high priest who actually collected tithing from Abraham, the father
of the covenant in the Old Testament. For Coelho to select this high priest as Santiago's first
mentor in the book is an allegorical choice in itself. He is a very old figure who dates far
back in history. Coelho references this himself by saying the following:
"Melchizedek watched a small ship that was plowing its way out
of the port. He would never again see the boy, just as he had never seen Abraham again after
having charged him his one-tenth fee. That was his work"(33).
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