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Santiago's Journey In The Alchemist

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Santiago’s journey in the alchemist is represented both literally and metaphorically. As he travels through the African desert, he learns lessons from the influences around him. They include people as well as forces of nature. He gains wisdom in alchemy and philosophy. By the end of the story, when Santiago has discovered his Personal Legend, he has transformed his thoughts and way of life. Arguably, the old man he encounters in the market plaza is his most influential teacher. The old man, also being a king, spurs on his entire journey with his discussion of Personal Legends. When Santiago asks why the old man is giving his wisdom to him, the old man tells him that "you are trying to realize your destiny. And you are at the point where you're …show more content…

On recalling his experiences with the old man describing omens, he reflects on how he knew omens himself before. “He had discovered that the presence of a certain bird meant that a snake was nearby, and that a certain shrub was a sign that there was water in the area. The sheep had taught him that” (Coehlo 20). The sheep and their habits were comparable to the omens that were described. As his longest companions, they are much he has to compare the events of his journey with. “There must be a language that doesn't depend on words, the boy thought. I've already had that experience with my sheep, and now it's happening with people” (Coelho 24). Here, he found similarities in what he has learned from sheep with what he has found out on his …show more content…

They trade their knowledge with each other. Combining this new information with old, Santiago thinks back to the merchant. “He had said that it was a good thing for the boy to clean the crystal pieces, so that he could free himself from negative thoughts. The boy was becoming more and more convinced that alchemy could be learned in one's daily life” (Coelho 44). Santiago learns that all he does can teach him about alchemy, even more so than the Englishman’s books. While stopping at the oasis, he falls in love with a woman named Fatima. He wishes to leave to pursue his Personal Legend, but at the same time he does not want to leave her. Fatima supports him continuing his trek to the pyramids. Later in the story, Santiago thanks God for “above all having met a woman of the desert who had told him that love would never keep a man from his Personal Legend” (Coelho 91). He learns from her that he should never hold back from his dreams, and he decides that he should not stay in the

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