Minor Characters In The Alchemist

In The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, there are a myriad of quotations saturated with meaning and wisdom for the reader to feast upon with a mind craving inspiration. Surprisingly, many of these significant lines are shared by the minor characters that are introduced to share their wisdom and beliefs with the boy, Santiago, but rarely advance the plot. Melchizedek, the crystal merchant, the camel driver, and Fatima are all characters that only briefly appear in the plot, but their words play a significant role in the meaning of the novel. In Part 1 of The Alchemist, Santiago meets an old man, claiming to be the King of Salem, named Melchizedek. The king shares with Santiago many of the major themes that are echoed throughout the novel, but the

This old man explains the dream that gives his life meaning, and the fear that holds him back:“It’s the thought of Mecca that keeps me alive. That’s what helps me face these days that are all the same, these mute crystals on the shelves, and lunch and dinner at the same horrible cafe. I’m afraid that if my dream is realized, I’ll have no reason to go on living,” (Coelho 57). In response to Santiago’s endless questioning as to why the old man wouldn’t travel to Mecca, the crystal merchant reveals this ideology that prevents him from pursuing his Personal Legend. The significance held by this quotation is the representation of why people may not want to fulfill their dreams, even though they are capable. Santiago is surrounded by people who share this belief -- that dreams are not worth pursuing -- and must prove to himself that they are wrong. Dreams give the greatest power to those who believe in

I’m interested only in the present. If you can concentrate always on the present, you’ll be a happy man. You’ll see that there is life in the desert, that there are stars in the heavens, and that tribesmen fight because they are part of the human race. Life will be a party for you, a grand festival, because life is the moment we’re living right now,” (Coelho 87). Traveling through the desert with the treat of heat exhaustion and a nearby war, the camel driver calmly makes this statement, uncovering yet another significant outlook on life. With no attachment to memories of the past or hopes for the future, the camel driver claims to live the happiest of lives. I believe that life must maintain a balance between appreciating what we currently have, recognizing the past, and longing toward the future. While Santiago is focused on striving toward his Personal Legend, he also learns to take advantage of the moment at hand throughout his