The Journey To Knowledge In The Alchemist By Paulo Coelho

The Journey to Knowledge In The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (1988) Santiago was following a recurring dream of finding treasure, but on the way gained a lot of knowledge about omens (Gods signs) ad personal legends (ones faith or story). While his parents wanted him to become a priest he always wanted to see the world, but his father told him that his family35 were poor and the only way for him to see the world was to become a shepherd: and so he did. He always got the same dream under a sycamore tree next to an abandoned church. In his dream he is at the base of the pyramids and a young boy tells him about treasure, this is what started his adventure. Santiago learned a lot throughout his journey to treasure. In the beginning he followed the …show more content…
He learns lot from the caravan leader and an Englishman. He learns about The Alchemist; someone who can transform lead to gold, and a war going on in the desert. He then reaches the oasis with the caravan and helps the Englishman find the alchemist. While asking he finds a young girl named Fatima and instantly falls in love with her. He thinks about her throughout his adventure until he sees her again. At this time he learns that one of the best things in life is true love, and that it is one of the greatest treasures he got on his journey. Santiago then finds The Alchemist and he tests Santiago, after Santiago passed The Alchemist tells him the direction of where he lives, then they leave the oasis the next day to head to the pyramids. These scenes are significant because they represent that good things come to those who wait and push through. Since he waited and passed through the whole desert hiding from the tribal wars, he finds the Oasis. He also learns many things from the alchemist and learns to find and follow the …show more content…
Here he learned what the true meaning of love is and he overcomes another one of his fears. He also figures out the best way to knowledge is to actually experience it. Since he learned it on the spot while he had no idea before he transformed. “And that he, a boy, could perform miracles.” (152). At this point he learns that mostly anything is possible if you put your mind to it. The last part of his journey is when he reaches the pyramids and starts to dig for his treasure then, two refugees come. They steal his gold, and make him dig for his treasure so they could take it. “They made the boy continue digging, but he found nothing.” (162). At this section in the story he is on his final test; he finds nothing, is severely injured and almost gives up at the final corner. He continues digging though and one of the refugees mentions how dreams are worthless. “But I’m not so stupid as to cross an entire desert just because of a recurrent dream.” (163). At this point the boy figures out what where his treasure is, from the refugees dream, under the sycamore tree where he