“And I know the Soul of The World, because we have talked a great length to each other during this endless trip through the universe.” (Coelho 142)

Santiago learns how to speak the Language of the Universe and understand the Soul of the World, but not without having faced hardships. In The Alchemist, a boy Santiago bravely departs from his life as a shepherd in search of something that will add meaning to his life. Santiago desires to travel farther than the fields of Andalusia and sets off not knowing what will come ahead. Having dreamt of treasure at the Great Pyramids of Egypt, Santiago sets off in search of his Destiny. Along the way, Santiago befriends remarkable people that change his life. Each person supports and helps Santiago through the tough situations and new experiences he faces. Overcoming obstacles, discovering there is more to himself than he thought and adapting to new people places and things, Santiago struggles to uncover his destiny. Santiago achieves his destiny through his open mindedness, determination and bravery.

Santiago had to be open to new things for him to progress on his journey. When he arrived in Tangier, Santiago only knew Spanish, whereas the local language was Arabic. Had Santiago not learned Arabic, his journey would have come to a halt. The Crystal merchant that Santiago had worked for, spoke only Arabic. Santiago had to learn the language to work, work to make money and have money to continue on his quest for Destiny. Santiago had to be open to new people as well, because the people he would meet on his journey would do him great good. At first, Santiago didn’t really wish to speak much with the Englishman he had met in the Caravan, until he found they had something in common. “The boy was suddenly happy to be there at the warehouse.” (Coelho 66) The Languages Santiago knew carried past his career as a Crystal Merchants assistant and into the Caravan. In Spanish, Santiago could speak with the Englishman and learn of his journey toward his destiny. The Englishman taught Santiago of Alchemy and his quest to find the Alchemist and Santiago taught the Englishman to be observant during their time in the Caravan. When they arrived at Al Faiyum, Santiago helped the Englishman find the Alchemist by speaking to people of the oasis in Arabic. When found,
the Alchemist took to Santiago and supported and helped him better his ability to communicate with the Soul of The World. Santiago would never have been able to do any of these things with out first learning Arabic, for which he had to be open. Learning new languages, new things about the world and new choices, Santiago prepared himself for each new step toward his destiny by being open, no matter how hard it would be.

Determined to follow his quest for destiny through to its’ conclusion, Santiago pressed on. After being robbed at the Tangier market, Santiago lost the urge to fight for his destiny and decided to earn money and buy more sheep, continuing his life as a shepherd. Santiago worked in a Crystal Shop to earn the money. Santiago was and had always wanted to make an impact in his life, so when the time came, he was determined to follow through. “Don’t forget that everything you deal with is only one thing and nothing else. And don’t forget the language of the omens. And above all, don’t forget to follow your Destiny through to its’ conclusion.” (Coelho 29) When the long months of working in the Crystal Merchants’ shop were over and enough money had been earned, Santiago walked down the hill the shop was built on. He remembered his sheep and how they were friends and he thought about how the Desert wasn’t such a friend to him. He thought of how his treasure was out there and that he could always return to sheep. After contemplating the decisions, Santiago joined the Al Faiyum Caravan. While at the Oasis, as Santiago watched the sky, he noticed two hawks in the sky and read their pattern, having a vision. He had seen a vision of a group of soldiers on their way to attack the oasis. Determined to do something, Santiago told the Council of the attack, preparing them for an ambush, saving many lives. To carry through to find his destiny, Santiago was determined to get through the tough times and continue on his journey.

With bravery, Santiago had to overcome the trials the road held and conquer his realized fears to find his true destiny. After his meeting with the Oasis Council, to tell them of the attack he had seen, Santiago left the tent only to be thrown down by a mysterious masked man astride a white horse, wielding a scimitar. ‘“Who dares to read the flight of the hawks?”...”It is I who dared to do so.” And Santiago lowered his head to receive a blow from the sword. “Many lives will be saved because I was able to see through to the Soul of The World”’ (Coelho 105) Santiago had to face this man, show him he had no fear of him. As a result of his bravery toward the stranger, Santiago was allowed to live and was called to meet the strange man the next day, unbeknownst to Santiago that he had just met the Alchemist. The Alchemist told Santiago that he must leave what he cared about behind him and move on to achieve his destiny. Though hesitant, Santiago gathered his courage and went off into the desert to find what the last one plus years had been about. Desert robbers later attacked Santiago after he had parted ways with the Alchemist. When asked what he was doing, Santiago said searching for treasure but was not believed. He was told by one of the robbers about his own dream of treasure and where it was and how he never followed it, before leaving him to die. Finally, after the incident and long journey, Santiago arrived back at square one, under the old Sycamore tree where he had started his journey. Santiago found the treasure and new what he had to do and he headed back to the Oasis. Santiagos’ courage pulled him through the obstacles that stood in his way and cleared the path to achieving his destiny.

Bravely leaving his home, Santiago open-mindedly took in new experiences and skills, determined to find his destiny. It was important for Santiago to achieve his destiny because it was the only way he could live a happy life. After being ignored long enough, the omens that help you begin to fade away to nothing and leave you knowing you could have followed them. Santiago Achieved his destiny by not letting anything stand in his way, plowing through the obstacles and easing into the exotic, ready to keep on following the path to his destiny.