M. Schlauch's Blog about Some Things

What role do you think alchemy will have on Santiago's development? Based on the title, the Alchemist that the Englishman is in search for should have great significance on Santiago, but during his caravan trip, the former shepherd shows very little interest in alchemy.

I dislike one small yet significant part of Coelho's writing. One of the thing that bothers me the most about reading this novel is that many of the characters in the novel do not get names. So far, the Andalusian girl, the Crystal Merchant, and the Englishman have been semi- to very significant to the plot of the novel, as well as to the development to Santiago as a character. The reason I dislike these characters not getting a name is that it makes the characters a lot less connectable and not very memorable (as I had to go look back through the novel to figure out what the "merchant's daughter" was referred to as). Even though I can see how Coelho wanted to use these characters more as symbols to contribute to the development of Santiago, it gives off more of a message that Coelho simply got lazy and did not want to come up with a lot of names for his characters. It even bothers me more that the only two characters that have gotten names so far (even though this is...

Beginning during Santiago's hookah session with the Crystal Merchant, the phrase Maktub  is introduced, meaning "It is written" in Arabic. At this time, the phrase does not have much meaning, but later when Santiago is asking for the merchant's blessing, the merchant says the phrase before he "gave the boy his blessing." Later on, during the caravan trip through the Sahara, Santiago recalls the teaching of the Crystal Merchant as he gazes through the desert in search of meaning. Santiago thinks to himself that his intuition is simply his ability to become one with the world and the past, and then repeats the phrase Maktub.  As the phrase continues to be used throughout the novel, Maktub  begins to lose its true meaning as "It is written" and begins to be used as a peace word, where saying the Arabic word gives Santiago a divine peace.

During their trek through the Sahara on the way to Egypt, Santiago and the unnamed Englishman exchange hobbies; Santiago takes up to reading the Englishman's books while the Englishman attempts to enjoy gazing into the desert to find meaning. However, Santiago makes it clear that he does not find an interest or an enjoyment in alchemy, as he questions why the books that the Englishman carries with him have to be so complex. However, the Englishman's response was truly enlightening, as he says that only those with the "responsibility for understanding can understand" the alchemy books, as it would be a terrible thing for everyone to have the ability to turn lead into gold, as he mentions that "gold would lose its value." Not only does the Englishman do an amazing job at passively attacking Santiago's responsibility, he also makes a very valid point about alchemy, as that only a select few should be able to use alchemy since it would hurt the economy if ev...