Table of Contents
Call to Adventure
Santiago is called to adventure when he has a recurring dream about the treasure in the egyptian pyramids. In his dream, Santiago was in an abandoned church when a child tells him he needs to go to the pyramids of Egypt to find treasure. He takes this recurring dream as a sign and decides to go out and find the treasure. The quote below shows Santiago deciding he must look for the treasure. This quote uses foreshadowing to show that Santiago is determined and won’t let anything get in the way of him completing his journey.
Quote: “I’m an adventurer, looking for treasure…” (Coelho, 24)
The Refusal of the Call
Santiago was raised a shepherd, and he loves his sheep. He is worried that without him, his sheep would not do well. Therefore, he refuses the call. He starts to think that his dream didn’t really have any meaning. The quote below show when he decided going to find the treasure was a bad idea. The author uses imagery in this quote to help you imagine Santiago about to buy the train ticket, and then deciding last minute that he couldn’t leave his sheep.
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Quote: “While standing at the ticket window, to boy had remembered his flock, and decided he should go back to being a shepherd.” (Coelho, 26)
Supernatural Aid
Santiago meets with Melchizedek, the King of Salem. The king offers to tell him where the treasure is, with only one condition. Santiago would have to give the king 1/10 of his flock of sheep. Reluctantly, Santiago agrees. The king also gives him one black stone and one white stone that are able to read omens. The quote below shows that Santiago went through with the kings offer and gave him the sheep. This quote uses an allusion to when the king asked for 1/10 of Santiago’s sheep when it says “He brought six sheep with him.”
Quote: “The next day, the boy met the old man at noon. He brought six sheep with him.” (Coelho, 28)
Crossing the Threshold
In order to get to Egypt, Santiago will have to take a boat which is very expensive. To pay for the boat ride, Santiago sold the rest of his sheep. This is very new and unfamiliar for Santiago because he used to be a shepherd and now he doesn’t have his sheep. The quote below shows how Santiago feels about leaving his sheep. This quote uses polysyndeton to show how there are many things we are afraid of losing.
Quote: “We are afraid of losing what we have, whether it’s our life or our possession or our property…” (Coelho, 76)
Belly of the Whale
Santiago is in the belly of the whale when he gets robbed. He gives people his truse very fast and it causes him to face consequences. Since all his stuff is taken from him, he can’t buy a ticket home. He is stuck in an unfamiliar place and he doesn’t know the language. The quote below shows how being in the belly of the whale changed his perspective on things. This quote uses foreshadowing to show that specific events can have significant lasting effects on a person’s mindset.
Quote: “I’m going to become bitter and distrustful of people because one person betrayed me.” (Coelho, 39)
Road of Trials
In the road of trials, Santiago ventures to the oasis and adapts to desert life. To make money, Santiago works for a crystal merchant to earn back some of the money he was robbed of. He then joins a caravan that takes him on the adventure to the oasis. On his adventure, he is faced with many obstacles. The quote below shows how Santiago lets parts of the world teach him lesson and guide him. This quote uses personification to show that Santiago lets the world teach him almost as a person would.
Quote: “…I can learn something from the desert…” (Coelho, 76)
Meeting of the Goddess
Santiago meets a girl named Fatima on his way to find The Alchemist. Immediately, he falls in love with her. She helps him on his journey to find The Alchemist, and soon enough, she falls in love with him too. The quote below shows how Santiago believes it was his destiny to meet Fatima. This quote uses personification to show that the universe can teach you human lessons even though it is not a human.
Quote: “So, I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you” (Coelho, 156)
Temptation
After falling in love with Fatima, Santiago starts to question whether he wants to pursue finding the treasure or not. He starts to think that Fatima is more important to him than the treasure. Santiago is satisfied being with Fatima and does not want to risk his life trying to find the treasure. In the end, Fatima convinces him to continue his journey to find the treasure. This quote below shows how Santiago decides to continue on his journey. This quote uses imagery to show how he has a different outlook on the desert now than he did before.
Quote: “Before I looked to the desert with longing, now it will be with hope.” (Coelho, 122)
Rescue from Without
Santiago’s dream ends up saving him. Most of the men did not believe Santiago about his dream. Even though no one believed in Santiago, Santiago believed in himself. It is very difficult to believe in yourself when no one else does, but Santiago did and that is what ultimately saved him. The quote below shows how Santiago feels about following your dreams. This quote uses personification to show that your heart can lead you in the right direction to follow your dreams.
Quote: “Why don’t peoples hearts tell them to continue to follow their dreams?” (Coelho, 138)
Refusal of the Return
After meeting Fatima and falling in love, Santiago does not want to go back to his normal life. He has accomplished everything he was hoping for. Therefore, he would be perfectly happy staying at the oasis with Fatima. The quote below shows that he has waited for a long time and is finally satisfied with where he is in life. This quote uses foreshadowing to show that after waiting, he may be satisfied and not want anything more.
Quote: “I have been waiting for you here in the oasis for a long time…” (Coelho, 187)
The Ultimate Boon
Santiago’s main goal in has adventure was to find the treasure in the Egyptian pyramids. Even though he did not find his treasure there, he found it somewhere else. His treasure was found under the Sycamore Tree when he goes back to the abandoned church. This quote below shows how when he found the treasure, he really found himself and achieved his goal. This quote uses personification to show that even though the universe is not a person, it still has a plan for you and has goals for you like a person would.
Quote: “…Whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it’s because that desire originated in the soul of the universe…” (Coelho, 37)
Master of Two Worlds
Now that Santiago is back from his journey, he has learned many things. While on his journey, Santiago learned to communicate with the universe. No one else knows how to do so, or even know that is possible. Now that he is back to his normal life, he must learn to use his new knowledge while staying true to who he was in his normal life and loving Fatima. The quote below shows that Santiago won’t let his true self change from his experiences. This quote uses personification to show that wounds and experiences can change you just like people can.
Quote: “Don’t allow your wounds to transform you into someone you are not”
