The Influence of Setting toward Santiago’s Characteristics as seen
in Paulo Coelho’s
The Alchemist
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
OCTOVIDA WIJAYANTI
Student Number: 994214001
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
The Influence of Setting toward Santiago’s Characteristics as seen
in Paulo Coelho’s
The Alchemist
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
OCTOVIDA WIJAYANTI
Student Number: 994214001
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
Don’t let your heart control
your head
This undergraduate thesis is dedicated to
My beloved parents, brother and
relatives
&
My dearest friends
.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I realize that I am not alone in doing this thesis. Therefore, I would like to thank them all. First of all, I am greatfull to Jesus Christ for his generosity. It is impossible for me to finish this thesis without his guidance and blessing. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my advisor Dra. Theresia Enny Anggraini, M.A, who helped me in doing this thesis from the start. I would like to thank her for her advice and support. This thesis is depicted especially to my mother, Maria Florentina Haniah. She is the greatest mother of all. I would thank to her very much for loving me. I am nothing without her. I thank her for understanding that I cannot finish my study sooner and giving me chance to be independent. I thank her for the trust on me and prayer every night. I would say special thank to my late father, Vincentius Herry Purnomo, for blessing so that I can survive and also to my little brother, Mahardhika Andre Marliano, for his pray and attention
I would like say thank to my uncle, Bapak Metodius Hidayat and my aunty,
Ibu Kristini without their financial support I cannot finish my study.
My special thanks go to my beloved heart, Albertus Tjatur Wiharyo, S.S. I really thank to the Almighty God for giving me chance to know him and to spend this greatest time with him. He has a great meaning in my life. Thank you for being a special person as a friend and as a brother for me.
I also would say thank to:
My beloved relatives Pak Dhe Jong, Papa Tung, Cie Wa, Cie Sien, Yuyun, San-san, Ade, Anggi, Lia, Erlin, Henri, Monic, Michael, and Marcelus
Belimbing’s family, Ibu and Bapak Suwandi, Mas Ranto, Mba Endah, Puput, SusterLulut and Mas Edi’s Family, I would say thank for their pray and love for me.
Beo community: Hera, Citra, Mba Lisa, Pengung, Brindil, Lusy, Reti, Melda, Asti, Dina, Josephine, Jambu, Anna, and Nambro.
The 99’ners: Angga, Lita, Kristin, Wita, Lenny, Bondan, Ria,Lala
My best friends: Yovita, Fanny, Yogo, Toto, Priyo, Moko, and Anggun.
4. Naive ... 31
5. Adventure... 32
C. The Main Character as Influenced by the Setting of the Story . ... 35
1. Survive ... 35
2. Brave ... 36
3. Wise... 38
4. Courageous... 44
CHAPTER V CONCLUSION... 47
ABSTRACT
Octovida Wijayanti. The Influence of Setting toward Santiago’s Characteristics as seen in Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2007.
This thesis discuses the novel of Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist. The Alchemist
is Paulo Coelho’s best seller novel. The focus of this thesis is on the intrinsic elements. This novel describes the life of a young boy named Santiago. This novel tells about Santiago who struggles to seek his dreams.
This thesis has three problems. The first problem is how the setting described. The second is how the character of Santiago depicted. The third is to show the relation between the setting and the Santiago’s characteristics.
To develop this study, the writer Formalistic approach. This approach focuses on the study of intrinsic elements of a literary work. Therefore, by using the formalistic approach, I will be able to find the relation between the setting and characteristics of Santiago as the main character in the novel.
Based on the analysis of the problems, the writer concludes the answers for the three problems formulated. The writer has found that there are four settings in the story, Andalusia, Tangier, the desert and Pyramids. Andalusia is the place where Santiago begins the story, while Tangier, the desert and Pyramids are the places where his journey to get the treasure in his dreams takes place. Santiago is seen as a sociable young man who is at the same time curious and naïve. He believes in God though he leaves the monastery and he loves to travel that is why he becomes a shepherd. Santiago’s characterization is seen to be influenced by the settings as he adapts to the settings during his journey to find the treasure. He becomes strong at will determined as he stays with the crystal merchant in Tangier whom complains all the time, moreover he is willing to take risk in his life such as when he confess about his dream to the tribesmen who tried to rob him. Santiago has slowly changed into a young man who is wise, patient and courageous while he journeys and stays in Al-Fayoum. He meets the woman he loves and a great alchemist in the journey to find the treasure but he does not find the treasure in the place mentioned in his dream, Pyramids. Instead, he finds the treasure in his own country, Andalusia.
ABSTRAK
Octovida Wijayanti. The Influence of Setting toward Santiago’s Characteristics as seen in Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2007.
Skripsi ini mendiskusikan sebuah novel karys Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist. The Alchemist adalah sebuah novel karya Paulo Coelho yang paling popular. Fokus penelitian ini terletak pada studi elemen-elemen intrinsik. Novel ini menggambarkan tentang kehidupan seorang anak lelaki yang bernama Santiago. Novel ini menceritakan tentang Santiago yang berjuang mewujudkan mimpinya.
Skripsi ini mempunyai tiga permasalahan. Permasalahan pertama yaitu menunjukan bagaimana setting digambarkan. Permasalahan yang kedua yaitu menunjukan bagaimana karakter Santiago dilukiskan. Permasalahan yang ketiga yaitu menghubungkan hubungan antara setting dan karakter dari Santiago.
Untuk menegembangkan analisa penelitian ini, penulis menggunakan pendekatan Formalistik. Pendekatan ini menekankan pada penelitian terhadap elemen-elemen intrinsik dari suatu karya sastra. Oleh sebab itu, dengan memakai pendekatan Formalistik, penulis akan dapat menghubungkan hubungan antara setting dengan karakter dari Santiago sebagai tokoh utama dalam novel ini.
Berdasar pada analisis, penulis menyimpulkan jawaban dari ketiga perumusan masalah. Penulis menemukan bahwa ada empat latar tempat dalam novel ini, Andalusia, Tangier, padang pasir dan Piramid. Andalusia adalah tempat dimana Santiago memulai kisahnya, sementara Tangier, padang pasir dan Piramid adalah tempat-tempat dimana perjalanan untuk menemukan harta karunnya dilakukan. Santiago adalah seorang anak muda yang supel sekaligus selalu ingin tahu dan naïf. Dia percaya pada Tuhan walau sudah meninggalkan biara dan dia senang bepergian maka dari itu ia menjadi seorang penggembala. Karakter Santiago terpengaruh oleh latar tempat dimana dia melakukan perjalanan untuk menemukan harta karun. Santiago menjadi teguh dalam pendiriannya seperti ketika dia tinggal bersama pedagang kristal yang selalu mengeluh di Tangier, lebih jauh lagi dia berani mengambil resiko dalam hidupnya seperti saat dia mengakui tentang mimpinya kepada tentara suku yang mencoba merampoknya. Tak hanya itu, perlahan-lahan Santiago berubah menjadi seorang pemuda yang bijaksana, sabar dan pemberani dalam perjalanan dan saat dia tinggal di Al-Fayoum. Dia bertemu dengan wanita yang dicintainya dan seorang alkemis hebat dalam perjalanannya menemukan harta karun tetapi dia tidak menemukan harta tersebut di Piramid seperti mimpinya. Santiago menemukan harta tersebut di Andalusia, tempat asalnya.
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist was originally published in Rio de Janeiro 1988 by Editora Rocco Ltd. The Alchemist is an English version of O Alquimista, the Portuguese original edition. Harper Collins Publisher publishes the English version copyright by on 1998. The Alchemist is a story about a boy, named Santiago who struggles to seek his dreams. Every human life has their way. We, as a human being has to choose our direction and to not surrender to our destiny.
In this subject the writer focuses on character, especially the main character, Santiago, because the writer is curious about self-changes in Santiago’s character. In other words every event that he faces shows the development on his personalities.
Based on Indonesian proverb “dimana bumi dipijak, disitu langit dijunjung”, which mean that wherever we like, we must respect and act based on the situation and condition that exist around us.
The writer interested in analyzing Santiago’s character through the relationship with the setting in the novel. According to Harmon and Holman
Murphy says, “The setting of the novel has a great effect upon the personalities, action, and the way of thinking of the characters” (1972:41).
The theory of Harmon and Holman and Murphy have the same idea with the theory from Rohrberger and Woods, “The setting never exists by itself and it explains the characters and the situation, and it influences the atmosphere” (1971:22).
The character in the novel is determined by certain places believes in interaction with the environment such as a society moral value influences the character development. By knowing those two elements, the character and setting, the writer tries to relate them
B. Problem Formulation
1. How is setting described in the story?
2. How is the Santiago Characteristics described in the story? 3. How does the setting influence Santiago?
C. Objectives of the Study
Related to the problems above, there are three objectives of the study that are going to be discovered. To answer problem number one, the first thing that the writer does is to describe the setting in the novel.
For the last the writer will find the correlation between the setting and the characteristics of the main character. It will be easiest way to know how far the setting influences the main character, Santiago in the novel.
D. Definition of Terms
1. Influence
Influence is the capacity on power of person or things to produce effects on others by intangible or direct means and influence is the action of process of producing such effect. (Marius, 1991:691)
2. Character
In A Glossary of Literary Terms, Abrams defines “character as the person presented in a dramatic or narrative work, which are in interpreted by the readers as being endowed with moral and dispositions qualities that are expressed in what they say (the dialogue) and what they do (the action)” (1981: 20).
3. Setting
The background against action takes place. The elements making up a setting are:
(a) The geographical location, its topography, scenery, and such physical arrangements as the location of the windows and doors in a room;
(c) The time or period in which the action takes place, for example, epoch in history or season of the year;
(d) The general environment of the characters, for example, religious, mental, moral, social, and emotional conditions
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
A. Review of Related Studies
Milorad Pavic, a journalist, on June 23rd 1999, stated that The Alchemist is a great literary work. According to him Paulo Coelho writes this book with so many details which are incredible and so intricate since they are things the readers would not even think would matter but they do. The trial that is carried throughout the story makes all the events flow together. This story links about the faith, power, and courage. He added the descriptions of the faith, power, and courage which were very accurate and through this story the reader gets the feel for that those people must have realize their dreams.
(http://www.123helpme.com/view.asp/id=15619)
Joseph Girzone, author of Joshua stated the book’s success brought the moral message to the general public, causing many ordinary citizens to form their own moral judgments, often critical ones, of the nature of dream, while they previously would have been more apathetic.
(http://www.123helpme.com/view.asp/id=9556)
According to Anthony Robbins the author of Awaken of the Giant Within, The Alchemist is a story that has the comic charm, dramatic tension, and psychological intensity of a fairy tale.
Malcom Boyd, a Modern Maturity columnist stated that the alchemist is an unabashed delight and inspirational wonder. The Fable in the novel is a roseate amalgam of spiritual quest, existential puzzle, lovely sensitivity, and deep strength. (http://www.123helpme.com/view.asp/id=15719)
Author of If you Listen, Charlotte Zolotow said that the mystic quality in the odd adventures of the boy, Santiago, may bring not only him but others to recognizing and reaching their own inner destinies.
(http://www.123helpme.com/view.asp/id=22275)
This study focusing on the setting in the novel and would directly compare with the character of the main character in the novel. The setting related to the character in the novel because the setting in the novel makes effect to changes of character. This research would be different since others study do not fully put their focuses on the setting and character but just take certain experience life to explain certain ideas.
B. Review of Related Theories
1. Theory of Setting
Holman and Harmon also include spiritual background as part of setting. There are four elements that help to create a setting in a story, namely:
a. The real geographical location that includes the topography and scenery; the setting may also be indoor location like the physical arrangements of the furniture or the position of windows and door of the room.
b. The character’s occupation and daily attitudes or activities of living.
c. The time or era in which the action happens, for examples: the year, the season, or it might be an epoch in history, etc.
d. The general environment through which the characters act or move; which may include the character’s religious background, mental or emotional conditions, as well as the social and moral condition (1986:465).
According to van de Laar and Schoonderwood, setting refers to the place where and the time at which the story happens. That is say the writer should prepare the scene of the plot of the story. Similar with the characters, the setting can be drawn from the real but is not taken straightly from the reality which means there should be a kind of distortion to suit the purpose of the novel. (1958:172)
2. Theory of Character
E. M. Forster categorizes character into simple or flat character and complex character or round character.
a. Simple or flat character
Simple or flat which is defined as a single idea or quality, is presented in outline without individualizing detail. Therefore, it can be described as a single phrase or sentence. A flat character is generally possessed just one dominant trait, or at most very few traits in clear and simple relationship to one another. Forster calls this kind of character flat because we only see one side of him. Thus, there are two advantages of flat character. The first is that the reader can recognize the character in the story easily. It means that by seeing only a part of a person’s character, the readers can get the description of the whole character. The second advantage is that the character does not have many changes from the beginning until the end of the story. Therefore, the flat character remains the readers’ mind unalterable for the reason that he is not change by the circumstances.
b. Complex or round character
In order to clarify more about the characteristic or round character, Forster also add that…we remember him in connection with the great scenes. It indicates that we do not remember him so easily for he waxes and waned and has many facets like human beings. Therefore, he is as difficult to describe with any adequacy
As person in real life, and like most people, he is capable of surprising is (1974:48)
According to Roger B. Henkle, character can be described as major and secondary one or minor.
a. Major character
Major characters are the most significant characters in a novel. They deserve the readers’ fullest attention. The role of major character is to build the reader’s expectation and desires, which in modification, shift or establish their values. They are created to give the amplitude and attention to present convincing dramatization of human issues of the book.
b. Secondary characters or minor character
3. Theory of Characterization
Rohrberger and Woods state that characterization is the process by which an author creates the characters. The characterization has a big role since it is a process in which a character is presented as a real person who lives in a real life. Literary works are not jus a piece of writing, but they are pieces of writing that involve the descriptions of each character’s appearance of physique and personalities. (1971: 83)
According to Murphy in his book Understanding Unseen there are nine ways to see characters in a story (1972:161). They are:
a. Personal description
It refers to the physical appearance of the characters. The author can describe the characters’ physical appearance such as the face, body, and clothes of the characters. In general the physical appearance of the characters determines what kind of people they are. This description almost always helps the readers both to visualize the person and to understand his characteristics. Even such obvious physical attribute, as young and old age, beauty and ugliness, should be taken in this way.
b. Characters as seen by another
c. Speech
The author can give the reader some clues through what the character says, whenever he is in conversation with another, and whenever he gives his opinion, he gives us some clues to his personality.
d. Past life
The past life of the character determines the present character. It can be seen through the direct comment produced by the author, through the character’s thoughts, through his conversation or through the medium of another person.
e. Conversation of Others
To draw a judgment only by what the character says is not enough since the character himself might be hypocritical. To help us to obtain more information to support our judgment of the character, we need to pay attention to the conversation of other characters, and the things they say about him. It I useful to go through speech, to determine exactly what is meat or implied by each of them.
f. Reactions
situations and events. Next, we discover the way in which these motives combine with what they actually do to make up his description.
g. Direct comment
The characterization in this way is done by giving the readers a straightforward description about or comment on the character. It helps us find out information about the character easily. Sometimes, the description is provided at the beginning of the story when we have not been quite familiar with the personality accurately as the writer intends to. It also means that the possibility of misinterpretation can be decreased.
h. Thoughts
Whenever the author gives a direct description of the characters’ mind; and what he is thinking about, we are led to a more profound analysis of the mental process of the character. We follow the inner life of the mind and then make the association of the ideas within it as one breed. In brief, we are facilitated to disclose the thought inside the characters’ mid: we trace the “invisible act” rather than solely referring to his visible action.
i. Mannerism
C. Review of Relation between Setting and Character
There is a clear relation between society and characters. The society as one of the elements of setting on the story is important in affecting the action and characters. It can even be said that the characteristic pattern of a person will be formed by the condition of his environment. The setting of place, time, and the people may influence the character’s style of life, the way they speak, the way they act, and the way they think.
According to Murphy in his Understanding Unseen, setting divides into three points; they are time, place, and atmosphere. Atmosphere of the people is part of the novel also. It means that the general feeling that conveyed to the reader. Therefore, people can talk of the atmosphere of a novel or a part of it as being gloomy, somber, terrifying, evil, and optimistic and so on.
D. Theoretical Frameworks
Since the thesis discusses about the influence of the setting toward the characterization of the main character, therefore the writer tries to apply theory of character and characterization to find out how the character in the novel is really depicted by the author.
It will be much easier for us to examine the main character’s life thought his habits, action and his interaction to his surrounding in the novel. In this case, the writer uses the theory of Murphy, in the book Understanding Unseen where there are ways in which an author tries to make the character understandable. The second theory that the writer used is theory of setting. The writer thinks that this theory is valuable to help the writer to learn deeper about the setting. It seems there is a very close relationship between the setting and the changes of the character.
CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
The Alchemist was written by Paulo Coelho in 1988, but, the writer use the novel which published in 2002 consists of 167 pages and is divided in 2 parts. The novel that the writer chooses is published by HarperToarch, New York.
The object of this research was Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist. The novel tells about portrait of a boy, named Santiago. He is an Andalusia shepherd boy, has a dream about finding a treasure in the Pyramids of Egypt. This research would specifically put more attention to the setting in the story that is influence the character of Santiago.
B. Approach of the Study
In this thesis, the writer will apply the Formalistic approach in order to support the analysis. The writer uses this approach because it is appropriate to the topic of the analysis that is to study the life of a character in a novel and the correlation with the setting. The source for this approach will be taken from Wilfred L Guerin in A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature.
relative unimportance of extra considerations such as the author’s life, his times, sociological, political, economic, or psychological implication.”
The formalistic approach only focuses on the novel, which is going to be analyzed the intrinsic element is the base on this approach. Therefore, the external element is unimportant for formalistic criticism.
C. Method of the Study
This thesis applied the library research. There were four steps to do it. The first step in analyzing the novel was to read and understand the novel itself. After reading the novel, the writer tried to look for the problems appeared, and to understand what the novel talks about. Therefore, the writer read the novel many times for getting the point. In this process, the writer needed a specific dictionary to define some words or terms which were perhaps different from the ones used today.
The second step was to look for more useful data to the study. Here, the writer also needed theory about character. In other words, there were some references needed to know and understand about character, and characteristics.
CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
In this chapter, the writer will analyze the problem formulation one by one. The first problem discusses the setting of the story. The second problem deals with the characteristics of the main character of the story, Santiago while he is at the origin place, Andalusia. Meanwhile the last problem discusses the character development of the main character as influence by the setting of the story. All these discussions are aimed to see how the setting of place may give contribution to the change of one’s character.
A. The Setting of the Story
There are several places used as the setting in the novel, they are Andalusia, Tangier (Africa), the desert (on the way to Fayoum and to the Pyramids, Al-Fayoum - the oasis, and a military camp) and a small part of the Pyramids. The time of the setting is during the late 18th century. The writer is trying to describe the settings one by one, in order to help the reader to understand the thesis.
1. Andalusia
journey for his dream. It is slightly mentioned by Santiago when he first meets Melchizedek at the plaza in Tarifa, Andalusia.
The boy noticed that the man’s clothing was strange. He looked like an Arab, which was not unusual in those parts. Africa was only a few hours from Tarifa; one had only to cross the narrow straits by boat. Arabs often appeared in the city, shopping and chanting their strange prayer several times a day. (P.18)
It is usual for Santiago to see people dressed up like Arabs because Tarifa is only two hours by boat from Tangier, Africa. Arab merchants are usually gone to shop in the plaza of Tarifa. In Tarifa the goods are more varieties. That is not the only reason, the Arabs are so used to the city that they are easily chants their prayer there.
The hills of Andalusia were only two hours away, but there was an entire desert between him and the Pyramids. (P. 64)
Santiago remembers Andalusia by its hills where he uses to herd his sheep because Andalusia is an area with many green hills which is perfect for it. The boy has had wander in these hills within two years of his time as a shepherd. They are one of his “friends” during his life in the “past”.
The girl was typical of the region of Andalusia, with flowing black hair, and eyes that vaguely recalled the Moorish conquerors. (P. 5)
described to have black hair and eyes which are alike to the Moors who were the conqueror of Spain coming from Africa.
…he went to the market for something to eat, he traded his book for one that was thicker, and he found a bench in the plaza where he could sample the new wine he had bought. (P. 15)
We can see Tarifa in the quotation above since it describes the situation of Tarifa when Santiago visits the city. Tarifa is quite a big city. It has a market where people can get anything to eat and even buy some wine. People can also buy or trade books it also has a plaza where people can gather, or even just to sit down and enjoy the day as Santiago does.
As he walked past the city’s castle, he interrupted his return, and climbed the stone ramp that led to the top of the wall. From there he could see Africa in the distance. He could see the entire city from where he sat, including the plaza…(P. 26-27)
At the highest point in Tarifa, there is an old fort, built by the Moors. From atop its walls, one can catch a glimpse of Africa. (P. 33)
2. Tangier, Africa
Tangier is a port city in Africa and easily reach from Andalusia by boat. Since it is a port, the city is very busy and crowded. Santiago arrives at the port after he sells his sheep to a friend in Andalusia.
How strange Africa is, thought the boy.
He was sitting in a bar very much like the other bars he had seen along the narrow streets of Tangier. Some men were smoking from a gigantic pipe that they passed from one to the other. In just a few hours he had seen men walking hand in hand, women with their faces covered, and priests that climbed to the tops of towers and chanted—as everyone about him went to their knees and placed their foreheads on the ground. (P.33-34)
The quotation above is Tangier in the eyes of Santiago, a port-city with so many people, men and women. He learns that as the priests climbs to the tops of the towers and chants, everyone around him will be on their knees and places their forehead to the ground. These people are praying in the way of Moslem which is the majority population of Tangier. The city is populated by very different people if compared to Tarifa, Andalusia. Here, the women cover their faces and some men are smoking from gigantic pipe. This is very different compared to Tarifa.
“Sit down and let me treat you to something,” said the boy. “And ask for a glass of wine for me. I hate this tea.”
“There is no wine in this country,” the young man said. “The religion here forbids it.” (P.35)
comes from, where wine is commonly served. The point is that Tangier has bars but they do not serve wine only tea.
“Tangier is not like the rest of Africa. This is a port, and every port has its thieves,” said the young man. (P. 37)
The quotation above is taken from a young man Santiago meets in a bar, he warns Santiago to be very careful in Tangier because the city is a port and it is known that every port has various kinds of thieves. Here, the reader may see that Tangier is different from any other town in Africa.
They walked together through the narrow streets of Tangier. Everywhere there were stalls with items for sale. They reached the center of the plaza where the market was held. There were thousands of people there, arguing, selling, and buying; vegetables for sale amongst daggers, and carpets displayed alongside tobacco. (P. 37)
Tangier is such a busy city, although it is full of narrow streets but there are so many stalls selling many items. It also has a plaza where the market is opened. The hectic of the market is described at the quotation above. It is mentioned that thousands of people are in the market, arguing, buying and selling many kinds of items, from vegetables until daggers, from carpets to tobacco. It seems everything a man needs in his life is available in the market in Tangier.
Tangier is a city with Moslem as its inhabitants and the people go with the custom willingly. It is shown when they close their stalls after the evening chant, right before the sun sets. They do this as if reminded by the chant of the priest and they dismantle their stalls automatically without argument or hesitation, as Santiago calls them a colony of worker ants.
But, as time passed, Tangier had changed. The nearby city of Ceuta had grown faster than Tangier, and business had fallen off. Neighbors moved away, and there remained only a few small shops on the hill. (P.44-45)
From the quotation above, we can see Tangier in the eyes of the crystal merchant. The merchant has had been in the city for thirty years by selling and buying crystal pieces and he sees Tangier is no longer a crowded city as it uses to be. Business in Tangier is no longer as good as it used to be for him because a nearby city called Ceuta has developed better than Tangier has. In fact, many of his neighbors’ shops leave the city and only a few small shops stay on the hill where the crystal merchant is located.
3. The desert
The desert in here is not only the desert but also the oasis (Al-Fayoum) and a military camp where Santiago and the alchemist are once taken as captives. First, the desert to Al-Fayoum will be discussed, secondly, Al-Fayoum itself, lastly, the desert to the Pyramids and a military camp on the way.
“I’ve crossed these sands many times,” said one of the camel drivers one night. “But the desert is so huge, and the horizons so distant, that they make a person feel small, and as if he should remain silent.”(P. 73)
The desert in here is the desert on the way to Al-Fayoum, it is the first desert Santiago ever face and he realizes that it is a very quiet place, even people is afraid to disturb its quietness. People seem to enjoy the silent and respect it, they speak very little to absorb the existence of the wind and the silent.
To reach the Pyramids in Egypt, Santiago has to go to Al-Fayoum first. It is an oasis in the desert between Tangier and Egypt. He reaches this place by joining a caravan of merchants.
The boy couldn’t believe what he was seeing: the oasis, rather than being just a well surrounded by a few palm trees—as he had seen once in a geography book—was much larger than many towns back in Spain. There were three hundred wells, fifty thousands date trees, and innumerable colored tents spread among them. (P. 87)
The quotation above shows that Al-Fayoum is an oasis beyond Santiago’s imagination, the boy has seen oasis in a book but what he sees at the time is so much better and bigger than he has expected. It is even bigger than towns in Spain and has many inhabitants as seen from the colored tents.
Santiago learns that men at the desert tend to prefer fight rather than talk of peace. It is why the oasis is created because they bring their women and children to the desert and leave them to fight for the honor of the tribe. This way, they can return to oasis to take refuge during their fight.
They were surrounded by children, curious to look at the animals and people that were arriving. The men at the oasis wanted to know if they had seen any fighting, and the women competed with one another for access to the cloth and precious stones brought by the merchants. (P. 88)
The quotation above gives us a small hint about the people who live at Al-Fayoum. As mentioned, the children are curious not only about the people coming to the oasis but also about the animals. That is why they surround the people from the caravan coming to the oasis. Can also be seen how the men of the oasis are curious about the war tribe happens in the desert while the women of the oasis are anxious about the clothes and precious stones being brought by the merchants in the caravan. These people living in the oasis are isolated people because they are located in the middle of the desert which is far from everything, and new people are their only entertainment.
They search everywhere, and found that the oasis was much larger they could have imagined; there were hundreds of tents. (P. 90)
He wandered for a while, keeping the date palms of the oasis within sight. He listened to the wind, and felt the stones beneath his feet. Here and there, he found a shell, and realized that the desert, in remote times, had been a sea. (P. 99)
The desert is once a sea. Santiago understands this when he finds a shell in the sand of the desert. He gets this when he wanders at the edge of the oasis, seeing the date palms at the oasis. Feeling relax by the breeze of the desert wind and the stones beneath his feet, Santiago is able to see the desert as it used to be in centuries before which is a sea.
…there in the middle of the desert, there existed a tent like this one. The ground was covered with the most beautiful carpets he had ever walked upon, and from the top of the structure hung lamps of hand wrought gold, each with a lighted candle. The tribal chieftains were seated at the back of the tent in a semicircle, resting upon richly embroidered silk cushions.
(P. 105)
The oasis has its own chieftains. They are the leaders of the people living in the oasis. They are usually gathered in the most respected chieftain’s tent. Here, the tent is described as the most luxurious tent in the oasis because the ground is covered by the most beautiful carpets and has hung lamps of hand wrought gold. Moreover, the tribal chieftains are seated while resting on embroidered silk cushions. Not all tents are able to use carpets, especially using hung lamps of hand wrought gold. From the quotation above, can be seen the tribal chieftains are definitely the rich people within the oasis.
The situation described in the quotation above is the night situation of the oasis. Despite the fact that the war is going on, the men are coming back to the oasis to rest. Not only them but merchants also stop their trade activity. They all enter the tent where the chieftains are gathered. The tent is huge because it is meant to hold so many people when the representatives of the people in the oasis are having a meeting with the chieftains. The campfires are extinguished, so that the oasis falls into the silent as the desert is. In here, the oasis is seen the same as the desert, the only difference is that it is the place where people are gathered to survive in the wilderness of the desert.
The desert to be discussed now is the desert to the Pyramids of Egypt where Santiago and the alchemist have a short journey.
At night, they spread their sleeping gear and kept their fires hidden. The desert nights were cold, and were becoming darker and darker as the phases of the moon passed. (P. 124)
Santiago and the alchemist experience the desert night only the two of them. The boy has had an experience with the caravan earlier but at the time, he was with a lot of people. He understands the desert to be a very cold place during the night and it is getting darker as the phases of the moon pass.
Before the boy and the alchemist reach the Pyramids, they are being held as captives in a military camp. They spend several days at the camp.
A military camp is existed within the desert because of the tribal war, it is the same as any military camp in any other part of the world, and it has a chief to be the leader. This is the part when the boy and the alchemist meet with the chief in order to explain they are being present at the desert nearby.
…there was a major battle nearby, and a number of wounded were brought back to the camp. The dead soldiers were replaced by others, and life went on. (P. 142)
The quotation above gives a quick glimpse on the situation within the military camp. Near the camp a battle is being held and wounded soldiers are being taken back to the camp to get treated while the dead are being replaced by others. It seems that it is the way as life is supposes to go.
On the second day, the boy climbed to the top of the cliff near the camp. (P.143)
There were mountains in the distance. And there were dunes, rocks, and plants that insisted on living where survival seemed impossible. (P. 144)
4. Pyramids
The pyramids are located in Egypt. It is possible to be reach within few days from Al-Fayoum the oasis. It is the place where Santiago believes his treasure is located.
“I don’t know around here who would want to cross the desert just to se the Pyramids,” said the crystal merchant. “They’re just a pile of stones. You could build one in your backyard.” (P. 53)
In the eyes of the crystal merchant as the representation of the people in Tangier, Pyramids are only seen as a pile of stones that can be built at the backyard of everyone’s houses.
The boy climbed the dune slowly. A full moon rose again in the starry sky: it had been a month since he had set forth from the oasis. The moonlight cast shadows through the dunes, creating the appearance of a rolling sea. When he reached the top of the dune, his heart leapt. There, illuminated by the light of the moon and the brightness of the desert, stood the solemn and majestic Pyramids of Egypt. (P. 159-160)
B. Santiago’s Characterization as Described in the Story
To reach the main point of the discussion the writer would like to explore the characteristics Santiago as the main character of the story. The novel tells the tale of Santiago, a boy from Andalusia (Spain) who has a dream and the courage to follow it. After listening to "the omens" the boy ventures in his personal journey of exploration and self-discovery, symbolically searching for a hidden treasure located near the pyramids in Egypt.
In this part, the writer will show Santiago’s characteristics in Andalusia because at this moments Santiago’s character is not yet developed.
1. Friendly
Being a shepherd, Santiago is sociable. It is seen from the fact that he has travel to so many cities and he gets to meet so many people from merchants, fellow shepherds until stable owners.
The boy knew a lot of people in the city. That was what made traveling appeal to him—he always made new friends, and he didn’t need to spend all of his time with them. (P.15)
meeting as many people is fun but spending more time with them is no fun because it will affect his character.
Santiago is sociable because he attracts people to get to him, to talk to him. It is shown when he meets an old man, Melchizedek, who later on claims himself as the King of Salem, in a bench in the plaza. By this time, Santiago will also learn about something called Personal Legends which he will find out the meaning later on.
…the old man persisted in his attempt to strike up a conversation. He said that he was tired and asked if he might have a sip of the boy’s wine. The boy offered his bottle, hoping that the old man would leave him alone. But the old man wanted to talk, and he asked the boy what book he was reading. (P.17)
The shepherd is smoothly forced to accept the company of Melchizedek while he wishes to be alone and read his thick book. And because his father has taught Santiago to respect older people, he does not move to another bench despite the fact that he does not enjoy being accompanied by Melchizedek. This has shown that Santiago always attract other people to come near him, however he may feels. And it also shows Santiago’s capability to respect others, whoever they are. Santiago being sociable is seen when he replies Melchizedek’s every questions and they start the conversation.
This is Santiago’s feeling towards people, even though he is sociable but sometimes he feels distracted by the existence of people. The boy enjoys silence, if possible, he feels the excitement of reading where he can get as many knowledge and entertainment with no conversations. It is because Santiago gets trouble in finding the appropriate words to maintain the conversations.
Actually Santiago is a sociable young man, but sometimes he wants to stay by his own. He understands that people are not all the same and he thinks it is better to be with sheep rather than with people who makes him uncomfortable because sheep give him more fascinating stories rather than people of the kind. It can be seen that actually Santiago tries hard to socialize with as many people as he can but some of them give him a hard time by asking him things that he cannot answer.
2. Curious
Santiago’s curiosity is shown when he has a conversation with Melchizedek on a bench in the plaza. The old man comments on the book the boy is reading and it arises Santiago’s curiosity.
“It’s a book that says the same thing almost all the other books in the world say,” continued the old man. “It describes people’s inability to choose their own Personal Legends and ends up with everyone believe the world’s greatest lie.”
Santiago’s curiosity arises when he hears about ‘the world’s greatest lie’ and Personal Legends since they are something new for him. He has never heard of these and wishes to know better of them for himself. Later he understands the world’s greatest lie is a certain point people’s lives where people lose control of his/her own life and become controlled by fate. This condition is not happening to him since he decides to be a shepherd instead of priest as his family expects him to be. Santiago understands that the world’s greatest lie is not happening to him because he is willing to follow his dream, not what he is supposed to do. His curiosity leads him to be a boy different from any other people. He likes to know things that he has never understood before. And when Melchizedek mention about “the world’s greatest lie”, his feeling of curiosity is triggered to understand it in order to satisfy it.
There is another part during his conversation with Melchizedek that shows Santiago’s curiosity.
“Where are you from?” the boy asked.
“Well then, we could say that I was born in Salem.”
The boy didn’t know where Salem was, but he didn’t want to ask, fearing that he would appear ignorant. “So, what’s Salem like?” he asked, trying to get some sort of a clue.
“It’s like it always has been.”
No clue yet. But he knew Salem wasn’t in Andalusia. If it were, he would already have heard of it. “And what do you do in Salem?”
“What do I do in Salem?” The old man laughed. “Well, I’m the king of Salem!” (P.19)
the old man thinks he is impolite for not knowing the location of the place mentioned. That is why he uses indirect questions to get more information on Salem without asking it directly. He is also curious about Melchizedek. He wants to know about him more. It is the reason why he asks the old man about his profession in Salem.
Santiago’s curiosity is always requested to be satisfied. He wants to know more and more. This is why he questions Melchizedek about his life and identity. Santiago wants to now as much as he can about others. Moreover, he hears a new place from the old man. Salem is a new place for him. The boy’s curiosity suddenly arises when he heard about Salem because he is fully understood that it is not located in Andalusia. He wants to know where the location and the condition of Salem are.
3. Religious
Though Santiago is no longer in the seminary and not being a priest but he still believes in God, through and through. We can see this when he decides to sell his sheep to his friend the stable owner and gives one tenth of his sheep to Melchizedek.
“In order to find the treasure, you will have to follow the omens. God has prepared a path for everyone to follow. You just have to read the omens that he left for you.”
Melchizedek reminds Santiago of omens, signs which are left by God for people to read. The old man opens the boy’s mind to see his surroundings and understands the happenings about him. The omens can be anything and anywhere, they can be in the form of animals, plants and even weather. Santiago has always believed in God but he never sees his surroundings in the way the old man advised him. By this situation he can understand that it is worth to believe in God because God will always help those who believe in Him. The boy can see that God will never fail him, as his parents and family has had always teach him.
If God leads the sheep so well, he will also lead a man, he thought, and that made him feel better. The tea seemed less bitter. (P.35)
4. Naïve
Santiago is naïve because of his lack of experience, he has always believed that people are all nice and money will help him in every part of the world.
…he had to be concerned about his treasure, and how he was getting it. The sale of his sheep had left him with enough money in his pouch, and the boy knew that in money there was magic; whoever has money is never really alone. (P. 34)
It is seen that Santiago believes money will solve every problem in the world but he is unaware that money can be the most dangerous thing in the world. Having a pouch of money gets Santiago to believe that he will be at the Pyramids in Egypt within few days. It has never occurred in his mind that the money cam also means the he will never be at the Pyramids. He believes that the money has magic but he has no idea that money can also be curse.
5. Adventure
Santiago is a young man who loves to travel. This is mentioned at the beginning of the story when he plans to tell the merchant’s daughter in Tarifa (Andalusia) about himself.
…he had attended a seminary until he was sixteen. His parents had wanted him to become a priest,…a source of pride for a simple farm family. But ever since he had been a child, he had wanted to know the world, and this was much more important to him than knowing God and learning about man’s sins. He wanted to travel. (P.8)
As mentioned in the quotation above, Santiago is seen as a young man with big desire to travel. He wishes to know the world and travel by putting aside his education in seminary where he should learn about the sins of men and God and later become a priest. Moreover, he does not care with his parents and family’s dream about him becoming a priest, a pride in a simple farm family where he comes from.
“People from all over the world have passed through this village, son,” said his father. “They come in search of new things, but when they leave they are basically the same people when they arrived.”
“But I’d like to see the castles in the towns where they live,” the boy explained.
“Those people, when they see our land, say they would like to live here forever,” his father continued.
“Well, I’d like to see their land, and see how they live,” said his son, “I’ll be a shepherd!” (P.9)
father tries to hold back his son by showing that by traveling not much experience will be gain and traveling does not mean people will become a new personality afterwards. But his words mean nothing for Santiago who at once decides to be a shepherd who can travel around the country, Andalusia.
In Tarifa, after meeting the old woman and Melchizedek, Santiago becomes indecisive whether to stay being a shepherd or leaves Andalusia to go to the Pyramids and finds his treasure as he sees in his dreams.
Here I am, between my flock and my treasure, the boy thought. He had to choose between something he had become accustomed and something he wanted to have. There was also the merchant’s daughter, but she wasn’t important as his flock because she didn’t depend on him. For her, every day was the same, and when each day is the same as the next, it’s because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day that the sun rises. (P.27)
The quotation above shows Santiago at the crossroad of his life, which way to choose will decide his future. He is to choose to travel and learn new things or to stay and deal with the daily routines as a shepherd. He remembers the merchant’s daughter because she is used to be the reason for him to stay in one place and not traveling anymore. But then Santiago realizes that she might not remember him and she might be the type of people that fail to recognize the good things happen every day in her life. By this decision, Santiago leaves Andalusia to pursuit his treasure.
because he wants to see the world outside Andalusia. Santiago does not want to be a man who only stays in one place and believes he stays in the best place in the world. The boy wants to be a man who sees as many as possible and decides where the greatest place of all is.
C. The main character as influence by the setting of the story
This is the last part to be discussed in this thesis, the part will discussed about Santiago’s character development as the main character as influence by the setting of the story. The influence begins after Santiago gets in Tangier. The settings of the story are Andalusia, Tangier, desert (whether on the way to Al-Fayoum and to the Pyramids, includes the military camp) and a small part of the Pyramids.
1. Survive
This is one of Santiago’s new characters in the novel. The boy has changed into a boy who is strong at will, he is determined into something despite the consequences he might received. We can see this when he decides to work with the crystal merchant in Tangier.
From the quotation above, Santiago is seen as a determined boy because he is able to put aside the fact that the job does not make him happy and the crystal merchant is quite short-tempered by keep telling Santiago to be careful with the pieces he holds so that they will not break. Despite those facts, the boy is able to enjoy the job he has, he even gets to save some of the commission he receives so that he can return to Andalusia and becomes a shepherd again. This is an interesting fact, knowing Santiago only does job that he like.
If we look back to Santiago’s past, the first reason for him to be a shepherd is because a shepherd gets to travel and he likes to travel. Now, he is unable to travel, moreover he gets to work for someone who keeps complaining but Santiago has put aside
Whatever it is that makes him does not like the job and takes the joy of his job which is saving his commission.
Santiago has become a determine boy ever since he is in Tangier but this character is also shown while he is at the Pyramids.
Throughout the night, the boy dug at the place he had chosen, but found nothing. He felt weighted down by the centuries of time since the Pyramids had been built. But he didn’t stop. He struggled to continue digging as he fought the wind, which often blew the sand back into the excavation. His hands were abraded and exhausted, but he listened to his heart. (P. 161)
located. He is willing to find the treasure no matter what, and that is what he is doing at the site. Santiago keeps on digging and digging, not giving any care about the wind, his hands or even the condition of the site. Not everyone has this character in their life, usually people give up after trying for a while, and some others give up even before the battle is begin.
2. Brave
Here is another character of Santiago shows up in Tangier. Santiago is willing to take risk.
“I’d like to build a display case for the crystal,” the boy said to the merchant. “We could place it outside, and attract those people who pass at the bottom of the hill.”
“I’ve never had one before,” the merchant answered. “People will pass by and bump into it, and pieces will be broken.”
“Well, when I took my sheep through the fields some of them might have died if we had come upon a snake. But that’s the way life is with sheep and with shepherd.” (P. 52)
to explain it. He actually believes that it is natural if the sheep dies because a snake bites it. He is trying to say that it is natural to face any difficulties in life because they will bring good things into life.
“Let’s sell tea to the people who climb the hill.”
“Lots of places sell tea around here,” the merchant said.
“But we could sell tea in crystal glasses. The people will enjoy the tea and want to buy the glasses.”
“If we serve tea in crystal, the shop will expand and I’ll have to change my way of life. I am used to be the way I am.”
“Well, isn’t that good?’ the boy said. (P. 57-58)
Once again, Santiago is seen as a boy who is willing to take risk. He gives the idea to sell tea in crystal glasses because he once sees a man, climbing the hill where the shop is located, complains that there is no decent place to have a drink after such a climb. The crystal merchant disagrees with the idea because that means he has to change his way of life. At this time, the boy gives a simple comment on the crystal merchant’s disagreement, saying that having to change the way of life into a better way of life is good. By that quotation we can see Santiago is willing to take risk to have a better life, he sees that change in life is a good thing and it is natural to happen. It is the same with age, people will grow older whether they like it or not.
There is another quotation that shows Santiago is a boy who is willing to take risk. It is a quotation taken after he gets to the Pyramids and in the middle of digging process to find his treasure.
and swollen, he told his attackers that he had twice dreamed of a treasure hidden near the Pyramids of Egypt.
“Leave him. He doesn’t have anything,” said the leader of the men. (P. 162)
Santiago is in the middle of his treasure digging when a group of men come and take his gold. Because Santiago is digging, they think that there are more gold in the sand but until the sun rises, nothing comes out of the sand. Santiago is being beat and almost dies when he remembers the alchemist’s words. The boy tells the men that he is digging for treasure. At the time, the boy is risking his life and believed treasure.
The alchemist’s words have driven the boy to take risk but his life is saved because of it. The men are stop beating at him and they leave him alive. Furthermore, the leader of the men tells Santiago about his dream that he will get a hidden treasure at the roots of the sycamore if he goes to a ruined church where a shepherd and his sheep sleep. Because Santiago risks his chance to get the treasure by telling the men about it, he really gets his treasure and its actual location which is in the fields of Andalusia.
3. Wise
When he had gone only a short distance, he realized that, while they were erecting the stall, one of them had spoken Arabic and the other Spanish. And they had understood each other perfectly well.
There must be a language that doesn’t depend on words, the boy thought. I’ve already had that experience with my sheep, and now it’s happening with people. (P. 43)
The quotation above happens when Santiago finishes in helping a candy seller to assemble the stall, after he leaves the seller he realized that the two of them are not talking using the same language while working. Once again he sees that language does not mean using words only. He has had once the experience of speaking in the same “language” with his sheep when he is still a shepherd and he gets along pretty well with them. Now, in Tangier, Africa where the people speak in Arabic, Santiago feels the same experience and he is amused by the wonder of the world where “a language does not depend on words”.
Santiago has begun to be wise during his stay in Tangier but he has become wiser after he gets to Al-Fayoum and continues his journey to the Pyramids. These quotations show he is being wise in during his journey in the desert, Al-Fayoum and the military camp.
It was the pure Language of the World. What the boy felt at that moment was that he was in the presence of the only woman in his life, and that, with no need for words, she recognized the same thing. He had been told by his parents and grandparents that he must fall in love and really know a person before becoming committed. But maybe people who felt that way had never learned the universal language. Because, when you know that language, it’s easy to understand that someone in the world awaits you. (P. 93)
Santiago has become wiser as he is able to understand the Language of the World. He has understood that love can be spoken in the Language of the World, where no explicit words are needed to be said. The boy has been told by his parents and grandparents that he has to know someone deep and long before making a commitment but Santiago has find an easier way of knowing who he can have a commitment with which using his consciousness of the Language of the World.
God placed them along my path. He had surprised himself with the thought. Until then, he had considered the omens to be things of this world. Like eating or sleeping, or like seeking love or finding a job. He had never thought of them in terms of a language used by God to indicate what he should do. (P. 89)
In the quotation above, Santiago has reached another consciousness about the world. He understands that omens are not merely something that automatically exists in the world, they are the language from God which gives people, like him, indications of they should do within their lives. The boy understands that these omens are already in his path, waiting for him to recognize them. Omens are beyond the daily life activities, beyond many other things in the world.
Santiago sees the omens as a natural thing happens in one’s life because it is the way God speaks to His people and creations. It is natural to find omens in the journey of one’s life. Santiago understands this as he experiences them. Omens are like things naturally happen in one’s life, something one cannot predict consciously. For Santiago, omens are the words from God to help him in his journey of life.
“We don’t know when the war will end, so we can’t continue our journey,” he said. “The battles may last for a long time, perhaps even years. There are powerful forces on both side, and the war is important to both armies. It’s not a battle of good against evil. It’s a war between forces that are fighting for the balance of power, and, when that type of battle begins, it lasts longer than others-because Allah is on both sides.” (P. 96)
war beyond the surface where people fight other people. He is able to see that Allah is on both sides because the war is not about the good and the evil of the world. Santiago sees the war further than it looks on the outside. This is not an ability all people can have because usually people are too concern with the casualties of war and unable to see what is laid behind the war itself.
War is always seen as a rude way to solve a problem, but Santiago understands that the tribal war which occurs at the present time is not of the kind of war. He fully understands that this is a war in which to make the world more balanced. And as can be seen from the quotation, Santiago sees that Allah is on both sides if the war is to balance the world’s existence. This is a natural thing to happen because none of the parties are bad or good side, they are merely fighting for the sake of balance.
The sword remained where it was. “Who are you to change what Allah has willed?”
“Allah created the armies, and he also created the hawks. Allah taught me the language of the birds. Everything has been written by the same hands,” the boy said, remembering the camel driver’s words. (P. 110)
creates the languages for them to understand other creations. Santiago has reach the understanding that everything are created by the same hand and that means people can understand whatever they may be as long as people are able to see it beyond the surface.
“What is love?” the desert asked.
“Love is the falcon’s flight over your sands. Because for him, you are a green field, from which he always returns with game. He knows your rocks, your dunes, and your mountains, and you are generous to him.” (P. 144)
“…We were all made of the same hand, and we have the same soul.” (P. 146)
Santiago’s wise thought can be seen as he is able to see that everyone and everything are all the same because they are created by the same hand. This is something minor that people sometimes difficult to understand. The boy has found the other side of himself that is willing to see everything and everyone as one, despite the fact that everything and everyone are not of the same shape.
These quotations show Santiago as a wise boy in many aspects of life including love, life and the meaning of the world. Santiago has understood love without having to speak it up. He can understand the Language of the World without anyone to teach him. Not only that but he also understand omen as the fruits of life and the meaning of human as they are created by the same hand and having the same soul.
4. Courageous
Courage is not only being brave to face any bad and evil things might happen but also being brave to admit one’s feeling. This also happens in Santiago’s character while he is in Al-Fayoum.
“I came to tell you just one thing,” the boy said. “I want you to be my wife. I love you.”
The girl dropped the container, and the water spilled.
Santiago confesses his feeling toward Fatima, a girl he meets on the second day he arrived at Al-Fayoum. It is courageous because it is not easy to admit one’s feeling towards others on their second meeting. This is the situation happens to Santiago, not only admits his feeling but the boy also proposes the girl to marry him. Moreover, he tells the girl the reason of his existence at the oasis which is being halt on the way to get the treasure near the pyramids because of the war.
Santiago is being courageous because he dares to admit his feeling towards a woman he recently just met. This is a very difficult thing because it means one’s not yet familiar with other’s personality and behavior. One will delay his or her confession of feeling if one has not yet understood and known the other’s personality. But the situation does not happen to Santiago because he directly confesses and proposes the girl to be his wife on the second meeting. He does this because he believes that they fully understand each other during the first meeting. Furthermore, Santiago is courageous to confess because she comes from a different culture with him.
“Who is the stranger who speaks of omens?” asked one of the chieftains, eyeing the boy.
“It is I,” the boy answered. And he told what he had seen.
“Why would the desert reveal such things to a stranger, when it knows that we have been here for generations?” said another of the chieftains.
“Because my eyes are not yet accustomed to the desert,” the boy said. “I can see things that eyes habituated to the desert might not see.” (P.105)
Being a stranger in a foreign place is already depressing but Santiago dares to face the chieftains and proclaim himself as the one speaking of the omens concerning Al-Fayoum’s future. The boy bravely meets the chieftains and gives reason for him knowing the vision concerning the oasis. He, though he knows very little and short of the desert, is able to hear the desert’s language. Bravely he admits that, despite the fact that the chieftains have stayed at the oasis for generations.
Santiago is being courageous because he dares to face the challenge set up for him to admit who gives the omens. One of the chieftains is indirectly challenge the boy to confess because sometimes one is afraid to admit his opinion when one has to face many other people. But the boy does not afraid, he confesses it and explains why the desert gives him the sight of something very important. Santiago is courageous by telling the chieftains that he is being a stranger is an advantage because he is not yet accustomed with the desert so that he can understand what the desert tells him unlike those who are used to with the desert.
“Who dares to read the meaning of the flight of the hawks?” he demanded, so loudly that his words seemed to echo through the fifty thousands palm trees of Al-Fayoum.
“It is I who dared to do so,” said the boy.
Although a sword is ready to cut his head, the boy bravely admits himself as one to read the omens. The man with the sword is the alchemist who is upset because someone has the courage to read the omens. Santiago faces the alchemist and repeats the words, he even confident that by doing so he is able to save many lives at the oasis. In this situation, Santiago admits to be the one giving the omens while others will flea because their life is in peril. Meeting a man with a sword in his hand does not make Santiago’s heart turn into a coward. He is standing still and repeating the fact that he is the one who gives the omen. He just lowers his head to avoid the sword while explaining about the reason he confesses about the omens to the chieftains.
CHAPTER V
CONCLUSION
The last part of this thesis is a summing part of all the problems discussed in the analysis and the result of the research. An author may put his or her experience, feeling, dream, emotion, etc in his or her literary work.
The settings in The Alchemist have given great influence toward Santiago’s character in the story. The settings of the story are Andalusia in Spain, Tangier in Africa, and the desert on the way to Al-Fayoum and to the Pyramids, Al-Fayoum is the oasis, and a military camp, and also the last is a small part of the Pyramids. They influence Santiago’s character within the story.
Santiago is the major character in the story and he travels from one place to another. He comes from Andalusia, Spain. He works as a shepherd. The boy gets to travel all over Andalusia with his job as a shepherd, as it is his dream to travel to many different places. Santiago’s character in Andalusia is the character before he travels to other places, means the original character of Santiago since the boy originally comes from Andalusia.
