Anthony Kiedis: Scar Tissue

Children are often seen as reckless, unafraid, and invincible. Children are ignorant to the world around them and the consequences of their actions. Because of this, often commit daring feats that no sane person would. In the Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, Santiago embarks on a journey to find his personal treasure. In the novel, Santiago is a sheep farmer, without family and real responsibility. Santiago can be seen as a child who is unaware of his consequences as he embarks on his journey. He becomes this figure that readers want to become, a leader in chasing a personal legend. Unfortunately, the common reader, unlike Santiago, has many responsibilities. Coelho paints a picture of a perfect situation in which to chase a personal legend, one without responsibility and family. In modern day, chasing a personal legend with responsibilities may take years or may never happen.

Santiago's responsibilities are dramatically different compared to Kiedis'. In Scar Tissue, Kiedis is a drug addict who grew up in Hollywood trying to make it big in his band, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers. At a young age, Kiedis didn't have the conventional childhood. Kiedis learned to survive on his own, stealing at age 6 and lying constantly. At school, young Kiedis was urged on by his teachers to pursue writing and poetry, a hobby that would later become his personal goal. In the alchemist, Paulo explains how goals can be achieved, “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” In Kiedis' case, teachers were helping him achieve this way to express himself. When Kiedis decided to ignore their advice, the universe began to take his negative attitude and further put him on a track to failure. Kiedis' addiction grew until it almost got him kicked out of the band. It was only when his ability to express himself did Kiedis begin to fully seize writing and performing. By writing and performing without drugs, the universe began to help Kiedis, supporting his band and allowing it to 'make it big'.

.As Kiedis grew older, he began to develop more responsibility as well as a drug addiction. Kiedis had to learn to balance leading his band and supporting his terrible lifestyle of drugs. While in the band, Kiedis wrote songs to express himself just as his teachers has urged him on to do. Writing and performing were Kiedis' dreams; sadly, there were many obstacles in the way. Unlike Santiago, Kiedis had band members to answer to if he ever did something wrong. His band was a very weak support system but still motivation to quit drugs. In the novel, Drugs are definitely Kiedis' main enemy, stopping him from fully expressing himself.

In the novel, Kiedis expresses his true feelings of performing, "I thought [performing] was the most beautiful thing and this was how the world was responding (244) "