Why Is Santiago Important In The Alchemist

Toro
English 2x, Per. 2
17 August 2010
Performing Miracles In the novel The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho, the main character, Santiago, seeks out his personal legend. His personal legend is to go to the pyramids in Egypt to find the treasure he has dreamt about. Throughout his long journey across the desert, he learns many lessons of great significance . In one particular scene towards the end of the novel the chief of a tribe believes Santiago and the Alchemist to be spies of an enemy. The chief threatens to take Santiago’s life away if he fails to turn himself into the wind. I chose this scene for the visual project because of the importance it has in the novel, what the scene symbolizes for Santiago, and how it shows that Santiago changes as a person. I chose the scene where Santiago turns himself into the wind because of the importance it has in the novel. Without this scene readers would never know if Santiago truly understands alchemy and his whole reason for being. It shows Santiago all he has learned during his journey and puts him up to the ultimate test with his life on the line. The alchemist tells him, “the Soul of the World tests everything that was learned along the way…It does this so that we can, in addition to realizing our dreams, master the lessons we’ve learned as we’ve
moved toward that dream” (Coelho 132). By turning himself into the wind, it is obvious Santiago has mastered the lessons learned. Another reason I chose this scene is because of what it symbolizes for Santiago.
When Santiago asks the alchemist why he has to listen to his heart, the alchemist responds, “Because, wherever your heart is, that is where you’ll find your treasure” (128). To turn himself into the wind, Santiago has to understand the language of the world, and it is his heart that has to teach him that. He shows he believes in himself, and in everything he has learned. He is now ready to finish his journey on his own. When he turns himself into the wind, Santiago proves to himself that he can accomplish anything and that he has already reached the true treasure he has been searching
for. The third and final reason I chose this scene is because it shows how Santiago changes as a person. At the beginning of the novel he is happy as a shepherd, but in his heart he knows he has always been settling for second best. When he begins his journey in search of his personal legend he is frightened about the drastic changes his life has taken. He quickly finds that everything in his life has been a test, and each time he passes he is closer and closer to his goal. When he turns himself into the wind, “he saw that the Soul of God was his own soul. And that he, a boy, could perform miracles” (152). Everything he has learned throughout his whole life comes together so that he can achieve the impossible. The scene where Santiago turns himself into the wind displays great importance to the novel, it symbolizes many accomplishments for Santiago, and it shows ho Santiago changes as a person. The scene ties everything he learns throughout his journey together. It never has been about the treasure. It has all been about his life and his destiny. When he turns himself into the wind, he proves he truly understands the language of the world, and when he understands that he has accomplished his personal legend.

Falvey