The term "threshold" as used here is unfamiliar to me.
However, based upon your definition "going into the unknown," Santiago, in Paulo
Coelho's The Alchemist is one who readily moves into the unknown
with faith that all will be well.
Santiago decides that he
wants to be a shepherd so that he may move around and not be kept in one place. He wants
to see the world and knows he can do this by caring for sheep. It is not what his father
wants for him, but when they discuss it, the boy's father gives his son his
blessing.
When Santiago is later robbed of the money that
he gets for selling his sheep, at first he is not sure what to do. However, he is
optimistic and knows he fill find a way to move on—in one direction or
another.
"I
am an adventurer, looking for treasure," he said to
himself.…………………………….
[He]
realized he was in a new world. But instead of being saddened, he was happy. He not
longer had to seek out food and water for the sheep; he could go in search of his
treasure, instead. He had not a cent in his pocket, but he had
faith.
The "threshold
guardian" is defined as:
A figure or event that tests the resolve of
a Hero as he pursues his destiny and/or his
goal.
The threshold guardian
also places the "hero"...
...in a position where he must make a decision
that reflects a sincere commitment to the task at
hand...
In this story,
Santiago has two likely threshold guardians. The first is the King of Salem
(Melchizedek) who the boy meets before he sells his sheep. It is Melchizedek that
defines the concept of one's Personal Legend for Santiago, encouraging him to follow his
dreams. In requiring a tenth of the boy's sheep as "payment" for his help, Melchizedek
teaches Santiago that "Everything in life has its price." This does not only mean a
monetary price that must be paid. For soon after, all the money Santiago made from
selling the rest of his flock is stolen. Here, too, Santiago is learning the same
lesson. I don't believe there is anything in the story to indicate that Melchizedek
caused this calamity to befall Santiago. However, it seems that the universe
is working to help him succeed,
echoing:
When
you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve
it.
The stones of Urim and
Thummim answer the boy's question as to whether Melchizedek's blessing is still with
him, and the answer is "yes." With this knowledge, Santiago passes this test by
overcoming the enormous disappointment of losing his money. His faith convinces him that
he will succeed.
The other threshold guardian would be the
alchemist. Although he is the boy's teacher (and later sees Santiago as "his perfect
disciple"), he submits Santiago to the ultimate test: the alchemist tells the war lord
holding them captive that Santiago can change himself into the wind, and the "general"
will kill the boy if he is not successful.
Under these
circumstances, Santiago is able to use the universal language to speak to the sun, the
wind and "the hand that wrote all." In this way, he becomes the wind
and...
...reached through to the Soul of the World, and
saw that it was a part of the Soul of
God.
The alchemist's
challenge allows the boy to achieve all that lies before him.
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