“The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never forget the drops of oil on the spoon” (Coelho 32). In the Alchemist, by Paul Coelho, the protagonist and hero, Santiago embarks on a journey to find happiness and achieve his destiny. Santiago, a young shepherd boy, begins his journey in his home of Andalusia. However, he courageously abandons this simple life due to a recurrent dream about a hidden treasure. This dream leads him to the Pyramids of Egypt, and along the way he encounters individuals such as: Melchizdek, the Englishman, the Alchemist, and Fatima who teach him the Language of the Universe, the Soul of the World, and love, hence giving him greater purpose. Overall, it is Santiago’s open mind, courage, and persistence, which allow Santiago to become an active participant in his destiny.
Throughout the journey, Santiago’s open mind is evident. Melchizdek, the King of Salem, whom at first is a stranger to the boy confronts Santiago about unusual claims about his past, the Soul of the World, that everything is connected, and he encourages Santiago to pursue his destiny. Although Melchizdek’s claims were unfamiliar to Santiago, he kept an open mind and stayed attentive to what Melchizdek had said- unlike others who would have avoided such a strange old man. Melchizdek declares, “The Soul of the World is nourished by people’s happiness…To realize one’s destiny is a person’s only real obligation. All things are one. And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it” (22). Santiago took what the King had said into consideration. At first he is hesitant and undecided about which path to take, for he“…had to choose between something he had become accustomed to and something he wanted to have”(26). Nevertheless, his capability to consider new ideas allowed him to make the right decision and become an active participant in his destiny, “There was nothing to hold him back except himself” (27). The open mind of Santiago is also evident when he learns and understands the Language of the Universe and touches the Soul of the World, hence making him worthy to be the Alchemist’s apprentice. Santiago’s is one of few who are capable to comprehend and perform works of alchemy. This was key to the boy’s survival for on his way to the Pyramids, Santiago and the Alchemist encounter intimidating Bedouins. These men of the desert will only spare Santiago’s life if he is able to transform himself into the wind within three days. This can only be accomplished through touching the Soul of the World. On the final day the boy realizes he must summon help from forces such as the wind and the sun to help him with such a task. However, they too are unsure how to transform the boy to the wind, hence advise him to call upon Allah. As he does so, his open mind understands that everything is connected. That the ability to transform himself into the wind is within him, “The boy reached through the Soul of the World, and saw that it was part of the Soul of God. And he saw that the Soul of God was his own soul. And that he, a boy, could perform miracles”(145). Santiago’s open mind allowed him to follow his destiny instead of continuing the life he had adapted too. It also allowed him to touch the Soul of the World, which was essential to his survival and achieving his destiny. However, Santiago’s willingness to consider new ideas was not the only quality essential in fulfilling his destiny, he also needed his courage to overcome obstacles that stood between him and his treasure.
Many of Santiago’s actions display the immense courage he possesses. Unlike many, Santiago was able to overcome the fear of failure. This is crucial in accomplishing his destiny because being afraid of failing, Melchizdek declares,“… makes a dream impossible to achieve…”(135) His courage was also shown when he made the decision to risk everything he had adapted to in search of his treasure. His will to step out of his comfort zone allowed him to acquire abilities that were essential to his survival and reaching his goal. Throughout his journey Santiago must understand the Language of the Universe and touch the Soul of the World. To do so the boy must be courageous, for the Alchemist claims, “Courage is the quality most essential to understanding the Language of the World”(106). Therefore the Alchemist tests the boy’s courage by threatening him with the tip of his blade in their first encounter. Santiago shows no signs of fear proving himself worthy to become the Alchemist’s apprentice. The Alchemist then begins his mentoring and evokes the Language of the Universe, and the Soul of the World in Santiago. Another individual who played a substantial role in evoking these abilities to Santiago is a desert woman who he met in the oasis. Fatima is significant because Santiago’s undying love for her was the key that evoked the Language of the Universe, and the Soul of the World in Santiago- he describes this phenomena, “At that moment, it seemed to him that time stood still, and the Soul of the World surged within him… he learned the most important part of the language that all the world spoke- the language that everyone on earth was capable of understanding in their heart. It was love… It was the pure Language of the World. It required no explanation…”(88-89). However, now Santiago must leave her to pursue his destiny. This causes him to become hesitant for he is unsure if he will return to her, he claims, “Fatima was more important than his treasure (and that) love requires you to stay with the person you love” (91-93). In the end the Alchemist and Fatima are able to convince Santiago that “… love never keeps a man from pursuing his destiny” (115). This allows Santiago to collect the strength and courage to continue his pursuit and leave Fatima. To find his treasure however, he must communicate with his heart for he must immerse himself into the desert, “How do I immerse myself in the desert?’ ‘Listen to your heart. It knows all things, because it came from the Soul of the World, and it will one day return there.” (122) The boy must immerse himself in to the desert because in his journey Santiago must cross over a large tract of desert to reach the Pyramids of Egypt; hence understanding the desert would be much to his benefit. he Alchemist also explains to Santiago that he must listen to his heart, “Because, wherever your heart is, that is where you’ll find your treasure” (123). Santiago’s courage was required when communicating with his heart because as the Alchemist emphasizes, “Don’t give into your fears… If you do, you won’t be able to talk to your heart”(135) This proves the boy’s courage because from the first moment Santiago conversed with his heart, till the moment he found his treasure, Santiago was always capable of communicating with his heart; even through life or death situations he encountered along the way. Santiago’s courage was much needed for him to follow his destiny, leave the love of his life in order to continue pursuing it, and his courage was also needed to communicate with his heart- however; his persistence also plays a key roll in accomplishing his destiny.
Along his journey Santiago faces many challenges that he is able to overcome due to his persistence. Examples of Santiago’s perseverance were when he, continued to pursue his destiny even after straying from his path, when he did not give up on transforming himself into the wind, and when he constantly digs for his treasure in the location next to the Pyramids. When Santiago arrives in Tarifa all his belongings are stolen hence he must regain his money through working for a crystal merchant. This causes him to wander off from his path for the crystal merchant causes Santiago to question Melchizdek’s judgment, “But the old king hadn’t said anything about being robbed, or about endless deserts, or about people who know what their dreams are but don’t want to realize them. The old king hadn’t told him that the Pyramids were just a pile of stones, or that anyone could build one in his backyard” (60). Nevertheless, in the end Santiago ignores this discouragement, and continues on his path towards his destiny, “The hills of Andalusia were only two hours away, but there was an entire desert between him and the Pyramids. Yet the boy felt that there was another way to regard his situation: he was actually two hours closer to his treasure… the fact that the two hours stretched to a year didn’t matter” (61). Although Santiago sidetracked from his destiny, he did not give up nor lose hope on finding his treasure. Habitually, when someone is distracted from his or her duty for over a year, one would lose hope or interest on what they were obliged to do. Regardless, when Santiago veered back on the path towards his obligation he once again became committed to finding his treasure. An obstacle Santiago had to overcome in order to survive was to transform himself into the wind within three days. Although he had no knowledge how to do so he remains persistent and determined, “On the second day, the boy climbed to the top of a cliff near camp. He spent the whole afternoon of the second day looking out over the desert, and listening to his heart” (137). His persistence and determination allows him to perform this spectacular feat, and never failed to give him the strength to overcome all the obstacles that stood between him and his treasure. When Santiago has reached the Pyramids of Egypt, he endlessly digs for his treasure, “Throughout the night, the boy dug at the place he had chosen, but found nothing. He felt weighted down by the centuries of time since the Pyramids had been built. But he didn’t stop. He struggled to continue digging as he fought the wind, which often blew sand back into the evacuation. His hands were abraded and exhausted but he listened to his heart. It had told him to dig where his tears fell.” (153) Little does he know however, that this is a false location, it is when he is bruised and bleeding that his treasure’s real designation is revealed. His thief and tormentor states, “You’ll live, and you’ll learn that a man shouldn’t be so stupid. Two years ago, right here on this spot, I had a recurrent dream, too. I dreamed that I should travel to the fields of Spain and looked for a ruined church where shepherds and their sheep slept. In my dream, there was a sycamore growing out of the ruins of a sacristy, and I was told that if I dug at the roots, I would find a hidden treasure” (155). If Santiago had given up on his treasure a moment sooner he would not have encountered his persecutor, who although robbed him, revealed to him the location of his treasure. Throughout his journey Santiago is faced with endless challenges that test his open mind, courage and persistence. He boldly overcomes these obstacles and is rewarded with love, greater meaning, and his treasure.
Subsequent to venturing across Africa to the Pyramids of Egypt, Santiago’s journey takes a full circle back to his home of Andalusia Spain. Buried beneath a sycamore tree he unearths his treasure and fulfills his destiny without losing his values or forgetting his responsibilities. Santiago, a humble shepherd boy goes further than any shepherd has gone before in search of his treasure, love, and happiness. He is able to do so for he is willing to accept new ideas, he faces challenges without fear or doubt, and no matter how impossible the task he is steadfast to his destiny. Having said so, Santiago’s experience transmits a message of faith. Everyone has a treasure that awaits them; however, it is only those who follow their dreams and listen to their heart that are able to break free from their blindness and unearth the treasure right beneath their feet.
