Transformation Of Santiago In The Alchemist By Paulo Coelho

Seven Dapp

Ms. Shaw

Honors English 9 Block 3

14 August 2023

Transformation of Santiago

In literature, a character often changes from the beginning to the middle and the end of a novel. Santiago undergoes many changes in the novel, The Alchemist, written by Paulo Coelho. At the beginning of Santiago’s personal journey, he is naive and unenlightened. By the end of the novel, he becomes more spiritually enlightened and mature. Santiago transforms when he realizes that everyone should pursue what they find meaningful in life, and pursuing what he finds meaningful brings him joy and influences those around him positively.

At the beginning of The Alchemist, Santiago is a very naive character and knows very little of the world. Throughout most of his

The crystal shop worker has his business changed permanently, and the owner tells Santiago, “you are forcing me to look at wealth and horizons that I have never known” (Coelho 60). The camel drive allows him to speak with an Englishman and he learns the ways of the desert. The Oasis chiefs can protect the inhabitants adequately due to Santiago. The leader of the militant tribe and an alchemist from the Oasis are changed when Santiago turns himself into the wind. This is shown in, “The men were terrified at his sorcery. But there were two people who were smiling: the alchemist, because he had found his perfect disciple, and the chief, because that disciple had understood the glory of God.” (Coelho 158). Reaching the Pyramids was his goal and once he finds that the treasure wasn’t there he is triumphant because he knows the true location and finally achieves reaching the pyramids. Throughout all these events the overarching theme is that Santiago pursuing his Personal Legend brings him joy and that the people around him are affected positively. This connects to the reader as the theme of the book is pursuing what makes one happy will lead to fulfillment and