The Alchemist- How do you manage the expectations of the outside world versus who you would like to be? In The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho shows to his readers that Santiago’s way of life is incorrect and that Santiago should change his ways because the expectations of the outside world are higher than what he is currently meeting. The world expects Santiago to be more than what he is now. The people around Santiago think that he is not contributing to the world enough especially someone that is very knowledgeable. This can be seen when Santiago is talking with the merchant’s daughter and she asks, “Well if you know how to read, why are you just a shepherd?” (2). The merchant’s daughter is treating Santiago like a lesser human being just because