How does the alchemist affect the personal legend of the englishman? by instructing the englishman to go and try, the englishman is motivated to continue on his journey toward his personal legend. the englishman, dismayed to discover that there is no recipe to turn lead into gold, abandons his quest. when he finds the alchemist, the englishman has fulfilled his personal legend. this leaves the englishman content and satisfied, so there is nothing left to accomplish. the alchemist shows the englishman that his pursuit of wealth is futile. the englishman decides to return to the caravan and take his life back into his own hands.