What is the purpose of fate and free will in The Alchemist?

In Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist, the word fate isn't used, but the theme most closely linked to it is Personal Legend. The premise behind achieving one's Personal Legend is that everyone has one, but not everyone chooses to do what it takes to fulfill it. In order for someone to fulfill his or her Personal Legend (destiny or fate) he or she must choose to work for it. The book's protagonist, a young boy by the name of Santiago, represents each of us as he is confronted with the knowledge that he has a Personal Legend to fulfill. He must use his free will and choose to follow omens that will help him along his way to discovering his treasure (or fate). 

This way of thinking if completely different than how the Greeks or Shakespeare thought of Fate. For example, tragic heroes such as Oedipus, Romeo, Hamlet, or Macbeth cannot run away from or change their destinies because the stars have sealed their Fates. These characters, in reality, do not have the ability to use their free will, or free choice, because Fate desires to destroy them. Conversely, Coelho uses fate more like the end result of good choices and dedicated commitment to following omens, the language of the world, and the soul of the world--which is God. It's as if Coelho shows his protagonist that his fate, or the end result which is the epitome of his own absolute happiness, is found only after using his free will to choose the right course while discovering his Personal Legend. 

In the introduction of The Alchemist, Coelho explains it as follows:

"When we first begin fighting for our dream, we have no experience and make many mistakes. The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times. 

So, why is it so important to live our personal calling if we are only going to suffer more than other people?

Because, once we have overcome our defeats--and we always do--we are filled by a greater sense of euphoria and confidence. In the silence of our hearts, we know that we are proving ourselves worthy of the miracle of life" (vii).

The above passage shows that each of us needs to choose to get up again and again when searching and fulfilling our Personal Legend, or Fate. We can find the ultimate happiness or treasure that we seek because it is our fate to find it, but we must also do our part and choose to find it--even if it means falling down seven times and getting back up eight times.