Always follow your dreams no matter what obstacles are in the way.
Action
Ideas
Personal Legends/Destiny
"The closer one gets to realizing his Personal Legend, the more that Personal Legend becomes his true reason for being, thought the boy."
Those who don't follow their Personal Legends become unhappy: "Because 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 that same horrible cafe. I'm afraid that if my dream is realized, I'll have no reason to go on living.
"
To realize one's destiny is a person's only real obligation. All things
are one."
Style
Literary Devices
Symbolism
Dreams: Literal Dreams that occur while sleeping symbolize Personal Legends and aspirations:"
Then,at the Egyptian pyramids... the child said to me, If you come here, you will find a hidden treasure.' And, just as she was about to show me the exact location, I woke up. Both times."
Santiago's Sheep: Symbolizes those who don't follow their dreams "The only things that concerned the sheep were food and water... Yes, their days were all the same, with the seemingly endless hours between sunrise and dusk; and they had never read a book in their young lives,
and didn't understand when the boy told them about the sights of the cities."
Conflict
Santiago vs. Self
Leaving Fatima or staying
Becomes unconfident and does not want to continue his journey after losing sheep and money: "I'm going to hate those who have found their treasure because
I never found mine. And I'm going to hold on to what little I have, because I'm too insignificant to
conquer the world".
Choosing between keeping sheep or selling them and moving on with his journey
Santiago vs. Man
Robbed and beaten at the pyramids for money
Robbed at the port in Tangier losing all his money. Leads him to the Crystal Merchant
Despite the many obstacles, he learns from these experiences and these obstacles lead him to the treasure in the end.
Stopped by tribe and forced to give away all his money