One With the World ~ The Alchemist

“Thank you,” Said the boy. “You taught me the Language of the World.” (Coehlo 146) Santiago, a kind natured shepherd boy, is called to his destiny, after receiving an omen in the form of a dream, through this dream, he is urged towards Egypt to find his treasure and achieve his destiny. Santiago begins in the fields of Andalusia, Spain, where he has the merchant’s daughter and sheep to satisfy his heart. But after embracing his calling, Santiago travels to Egypt, a land of extremities and unique culture. Santiago meets his true love; Fatima, also reaches a state of enlightenment and is guided by his mentor, the Alchemist, in the deserts of Egypt while embracing his heart and using his initiative to learn the Language and Soul of the World. Santiago is beckoned by his destiny’s calling when he dreamed of treasure in Egypt, his adaptable nature, open minded views and faithful heart guiding him along the way.

Being a shepherd boy for two years, Santiago has an adaptable nature to aid him in several obstacles he stumbles upon throughout his journey. “…he realized that he had to choose between thinking of himself as the poor victim of a thief and as an adventurer on a quest for adventure.’ “I’m an adventurer, looking for treasure.”(Coehlo 40) At this turning point, Santiago has just decided to pursue his treasure, even though he has just been robbed of all his money by a thief. With no money or knowledge of Africa or anyone to guide him, Santiago still perseveres to maintain a positive outlook for his destiny’s sake. Santiago uses his adaptive nature in order to achieve the next step in his journey: taking a caravan to the pyramids of Egypt, where there he will find his destined treasure. Not only does being a shepherd ¬¬¬¬boy prepare Santiago, but aids him in embracing the best of this new world he has been destined to arrive in. Adaptability is a vital natural ability for Santiago to possess, but even more-so is his faith in his heart, and the ones he loves or cares for.



Unlike most characters, Santiago has a unique way of finding a loyal faith to place in others that he is almost certain will help him. When he is first robbed in the docks, Santiago takes a painful downfall to his faith, but as the story progresses, Santiago takes charge with his adaptable nature and faith. Fatima, a desert woman, first met Santiago by the well in ‘the oasis’ declaring his love for her courageously and without hesitation, having faith in his hearts immediate longing for Fatima. Although at first Fatima hesitates, she comes to embrace Santiago, and lets him continue on his journey, for she believes in “Maktub.” If I am really part of your dream, you’ll come back one day.”(93 Coehlo) Maktub was first introduced to Santiago in the crystal merchant’s shop, where he had worked for the man in hope of regaining his shepherd ways; but instead ‘Maktub’, or ‘it is written’ in Arabic teaches Santiago that he will continue on his journey, for Allah has already wrote it. Allah is the Islamic equivalent of God, not only does Allah know the world, but writes the history and future of it. Santiago uses his faith in the crystal merchant and Fatima to continue pursuing his destiny, but unlike most, he will soon be relying on his open-minded views in order to overcome his next challenge, understanding and embracing, the Soul of the World.

It’s hard to find faith in the people and places you love, but Santiago has the unique ability to find a loyal faith that is unbreakable in Fatima and the Alchemist is fortified over his journey and their own participation in his destiny. “We are all made with the same hand, and we have the same soul….. Cross the seas, blow away the sand that covers my treasure, and carry the voice of the women I love.” (140 Coelho) At this turning point, Santiago places his faith in the Alchemist to guide him in speaking the ‘Language of the World’. This ‘Soul’ of the world is the stage of inner connection to all living things in our hearts that most choose to ignore. The Alchemists are the group of humans who live and work to achieve the portal to the ‘language of the world’ or ‘soul’. But as the Alchemist stated: “Not all alchemists are the same”, through this statement, the belief that all alchemists are pure or equal is incorrect, and that each alchemist chooses to follow his destiny through a different journey, some more similar than others.
But the faith that you must have in your beliefs and religion are the key to achieving this ‘gateway’ and understanding are challenging enough to stop many from achieving their destiny. Yet Santiago overcame this obstacle, and through his love for Fatima, faith in the alchemist and adaptability to the ever-changing world he lives in, he is now one with the Soul of the World and through god, is his own messenger to supporting the world to be a better place.

Growing from being a peasant shepherd boy to an enlightened young man whose soul is one with God, Santiago is the change God and the Alchemist want to see in the world. He has remained loyal to his heart through his journey, keeping his adaptable nature and his open-mind that has been vital along the way. Santiago listened to his heart, and through his patience, learned to speak to the wind, the sun and everything alive about love and how his love pushes him to achieve his destiny; His love for Fatima and his own heart, his love for the world around him and his love for everything alive in the world. Only when Santiago fulfils his destiny back in Andalusia, Spain, does he realize that the treasure was never his real achievement, but the journey along the way. For every step he took towards his treasure, Santiago was growing, and now a wise young man, he is God’s messenger, Santiago is the change he wants to see in the world, and will never cease to pass his faith onto others, will continue the chain the of love that the Alchemists’ urge people to embrace.