Arranged by: Siti Mawaddah
105026000955
ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF ADAB AND HUMANITIES
STATES ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY
SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH
A MAIN CHARACTER ANALYSIS OF
THE ALCHEMIST
BY PAULO
COELHO USING HIERARCHY OF HUMAN NEEDS OF ABRAHAM H.
MASLOW’S THEORY
A Thesis submitted to Letters and Humanities Faculty
In partial of the Requirements for
Strata 1 (S1) Degree
Arranged by: Siti Mawaddah
105026000955
ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF ADAB AND HUMANITIES
STATES ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY
SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH
JAKARTA
NIM : 105026000955
Title : A Main Character Analysis of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho Using Hierarchy of Human Needs of Abraham H. Maslow’s Theory
The thesis has been defended before the Letters and Humanities
Faculty’s Examination Committee on Thursday, June 24th, 2010. It has already been accepted as a partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Strata 1.
Jakarta, June 24th, 2010
Examination Committee
Signature Date
1. Dr. H. Muhammad Farkhan, M.Pd (Chair Person) __________ _________ NIP: 19650919 200003 1 002
2. Drs. Asep Saefuddin, M.Pd (Secretary) __________ _________ NIP: 1640710 199303 1 006
3. Elve Oktafiyani, M.Hum (Advisor) __________ _________ NIP: 197810032001122002
4. Inayatul Chusna, M.Hum (Examiner I) __________ _________ NIP: 19780126 200312 2 002
ABSTRACT
Siti Mawaddah, A main Character Analysis of The Alchemist By Paulo Coelho Using Hierarchy of Human Needs of Abraham H. Maslow’s Theory. A Thesis : English Letters Department, Faculty of Adab and Humanities, State Islamic University (UIN) Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta, 2010.
In this research, the writer analyzed a novel titled The Alchemist and written by Paulo Coelho. The purpose of this research is to know deeper the character of Santiago and how he try to fulfill the hierarchy of human needs toward his journey toward the treasure. The research focuses on two points are: first, how does a Santiago characteristic describes in the novel The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho? For the second, how does Santiago fulfill the hierarchy of needs views from Abraham H. Maslow’s theory? The novel is carefully and accurately analyzed using the theory of hierarchy of human needs by Abraham H. Maslow. This research uses the qualitative method. The data are analyzed by reading, underlining, understanding, and identifying.
In this research, Hierarchy of human needs’ theory of Abraham H. Maslow is classified into five subsidiary sets of needs. The needs are Physiological needs, safety needs, love and belongingness, esteem needs and self-actualization needs. At the first level, physiological needs, Santiago can fulfill the needs easily. But at the level safety needs, love and belongingness, and esteem needs, he gets the challenge in fulfilling the needs because too many threats he had. The condition gives him spirit to fulfill the needs. That spirit make him pass through the process of life. So, he can fulfill the needs very well. As the conclusion, Santiago can fulfill the needs from the lowest until the highest.
First of all, the writer would be especially grateful to Allah SWT, the Lord
of the Heavens and the Lord of the Earth, there is no God but Allah; and only in
Your mercy we seek succor. Peace and salutation to the Greatest Prophet
Muhammad SAW, the Messenger of God, to His family, His companions and His
adherents.
In this opportunity, the writer wants to express her heartfelt thanks to all
people who have been helped her. The writer really thankful for their help,
supports, suggestions, patience, and prays so that the writer can finish this thesis.
The writer would like to say her appreciation to:
1. Prof. Dr.
Komaruddin Hidayat, MA, The Rector of State Islamic University (UIN)
Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta.
2. Dr. H. Abdul
Wahid Hasyim, MAg, The Dean of Adab and Humanities Faculty.
3. Dr. Muhammad
Farkhan, M.Pd, The Head of English Letters Department.
4. Drs. Asep
5. Elve Oktafiyani,
M.Hum, The Advisor, thank you for her time and suggestion and also her
patience guiding the writer.
6. And for all the
lectures, thank you for the share knowledge.
The writer’s special thank is dedicated to her parents who always
encouraged her to finish this thesis, especially for her beloved tough mother Hj.
Sutinah and her father H. Madinah, Murobbi ruhina Syarifa Ida Farida Aziz
Al-Habsyi, who advise the writer in her confusion. Her beloved sister Melly thanks
for share sis.., her brother Baydhowi. M.Psi ‘Pak Docen’ thanks for the advise
dos.., her nephew M. Maliq ‘Malka’ Deiandra. You always cheerful the writer in
her confused. I love you all...
For her 2bis family, Uwin ‘Rooney’, Dhian ‘Cole’, Prisca, Emma, and
Eiyk , the writer hope this sisterhood will everlasting ever after. I’ll miss you
girls. And also for all her friends in BSI B class. Thank you. Big thanks also
dedicated to Purwo Priyono, Thank you for his support motivation so the writer
can complete this paper.
For her friends. Fitri ‘Donal’, Arien, Hurry, Esha, Dini. Hope you’ll get
the best in your life girls. And for PMII and KM RAYA family. Thanks for
support me guys.
Jakarta, 24 Juni 2010
TABLE OF CONTENT
CHAPTER I- INTRODUCTION... 1
A. Background of the study... 1
B. The Scope and Limitation... 4
C. Research Questions... 4
D. Research Methodology ... 4
a. Research Objective ... 4
b. Research Methods ... 5
c. Data Analysis ... 5
d. Research Instrument ... 5
e. Unit Analysis... 6
CHAPTER II-THEORITICAL FRAMEWORK... 7
A. Character and Characterization ... 7
a. Character ... 7
b. Characterization... 8
B. Maslow’s Theory ... 9
1. Physiological Needs ... 12
2. Safety Needs ... 13
3. Love and Belongingness Needs ... 13
4. Esteem Needs ... 14
5. Self-Actualization Needs ... 15
CHAPTER III-RESEARCH FINDINGS... 17
c. The Third Level ... 33
d.The Fourth Level ... 36
e. The Fifth Level ... 37
CHAPTER IV-CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION ... 40
BIBLIOGRAPHY ... 42
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
The Brazilian author Paulo Coelho was born in 1947 in the city of
Rio de Janeiro. Before dedicating his life completely to literature, he worked as
theatre director and actor, lyricist and journalist.
In 1982 Coelho published his first book, Hell Archives, which was
far from any kind of impact. In 1985 he contributed to the Practical Manual of
Vampirism, although he later tried to take it off the shelves, since he considered
it “of bad quality”. In 1986, Paulo Coelho did the pilgrimage to Saint James of
Compostella, an experience which then to be documented in his book The
Pilgrimage.
In the following years, Coelho published The Alchemist. Slow
initial sales convinced his first publisher to drop the novel, but it went on to
become one of the best selling Brazilian books of all time.
The Alchemist is one of the most important literary phenomena of
the 20th century. It reaches the first place in bestselling lists in 74 countries,
and so far it has sold for 35 million copies. This book also brought the author
in 2008 the Guinness World Record for the most translated book in the world
(67 languages)1
1http://www.paulocoelho.com/engl/bio/shtml., Accessed on 11 October 09
The Alchemist is a story about a dream that was first published in
1997. It tells about Santiago as the main character, a herd of sheep who follows
the sound of his heart taking a travel to get his dream. He often dreams of a
pyramid where there is treasure trove. Traveling to Tangier brings him to the
desert of Egypt, and in there he meets with Alchemist which will lead him to
the treasure, and teaches him about the soul of the world, life, love, patience,
and persistence. The travel also makes him finding his true love; Fatima, a
desert girl who is faithfully waiting for his return.
Before the journeys Santiago got some dreams repeatedly, and he
continues to wonder what it means. Santiago tries to understand his dreams. In
the middle of his search of his identity as a shepherd, he tried to decipher the
reflexions in his dream.
Along his way toward the pyramid, Santiago faces various
obstacles, like when he and Alchemist through the desert. They meet some
tribe members with blue apparel and brought to the tribe’s leader in some
military camp. The tribe leader accused Santiago and Alchemist as enemy spies
and take all their money. Alchemist told the tribe leaders that Santiago can
change him into a wind and can blew the tent away if he wants to. Santiago
was listening without any word came out from his mouth. Scared, Santiago
thinks how come he can change himself into the wind, he didn’t even
understand the language of wind. This thing pushed Santiago’s psyche to learn
how to become a wind so he and Alchemist can continue the journey to the
3
with the wind, sand, and sun. His ability makes the wind surround him and
cover him with blustery winds which also blow away some of the tents. That
thing saved them from death and also gets them under guard as far as they
want.
The main character in The Alchemist has the needs which must be
fulfilled in his life. Maslow argues that human needs are divided into five
clusters in hierarchy. The first level is Physiological Needs; the second level is
Safety Needs; the third level is Love and Belongingness; the fourth level is
Esteem Needs; and the fifth level is Self-actualization Needs as the peak of
hierarchy. At the first level, Physiological Needs such as: hunger, thirst, and
sex, the main character of The Alchemist can fulfill the needs without the
barrier and obstacle. It does not matter for him to fulfill the needs.
Furthermore, at the level Safety Needs, at the level Love and Belongingness,
and at the level Esteem Needs he gets the barrier and obstacle in fulfilling the
needs because his journey towards the Pyramids and he did not met Fatima yet
until he come to the Oases. The condition does not make him give up fulfilling
the needs. Because of his effort and his process of his life, he can fulfill when
he meets his affection, Fatima.
Therefore, the behavior that the main character appears in the
process of searching reveals the needs that he must fulfill. It is mentioned the
earlier that character in stories can be treated like human character. In order to
understand what needs he must fulfill, the writer applied the concept Hierarchy
B. The Scope and Limitation
In this research, the writer would like to focus the research on how
to understand the needs that must be fulfilled by the main character. Through
Abraham H. Maslow’s theory in the Paulo Coelho’s novel The Alchemist. This
discussion is meant to limit the research so that not going too broad in order to
get the target more clearly. The object that will be researched is the main
character named Santiago.
C. Research Questions
In this study the writer formulate the problems that will be appointed:
1. How is a Santiago’s characteristic described in the novel The Alchemist by
Paulo Coelho?
2. How does Santiago effort to fulfilling the hierarchy of needs viewed from
Abraham Harold Maslow’s theory?
D. Research Methodology
a. Research Objectives
Based on the background of the study and the focus of the study above, the
writer would like to classify the objective of the study into two categories
below:
1. To know the characteristic of the main figure in the Paulo Coelho’s
5
2. To describe the main character effort in fulfilling his needs viewed
from Abraham H. Maslow.
b. Research Methods
Method used in this research is qualitative method. By exposing
the figures out based on Hierarchy of Human Needs of Abraham H. Maslow’s
theory.
c. Data Analysis
The writer will explain the data qualitatively. The writer uses
Hierarchy of Human Needs of Abraham H. Maslow’s approach based on
critical study and sharp analysis to the qualitative data. First, the writer reads
the novel carefully for several times. This is aimed to learn the contents of the
novel intensively so it can prevent misunderstanding in the analyzing. Then,
the writer makes underlining, understanding, and identifying The Alchemist’s
novel carefully. Finally, the writer analyzes the related data according to the
human needs theory.
d. Research Instruments
The research instrument of this qualitative research is the writer
herself. The writer analyzes by reading the novel carefully. Then, the writer
marks the characterizations of the main character to find out the evidence of
the fulfillment hierarchy of needs viewed Abraham H. Maslow in The
e. Unit of Analysis
Unit of analysis that is used in this research is the novel The
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
A. Character and Characterization a. Character
Character is the single most important intrinsic element in the
literary works. The things that characters do and say are more obvious than are
the logic and meaning of the pattern in which they say and do them. Character
is showing at perpetrator of presented story or the player of the story, whereas
characterization is portraying of clear picture about someone who present in a
story.
A character, then, is presumably an imagined person who inhabits
a story although that simple definition may admit a few exceptions.2 The major characters are usually Round characters; that is their personalities are
well developed and believable. Moreover, round character is a very complex
individual. Minor characters are often flat character: it can be seen only one
aspect of their personalities, presumably because the author does not need to
reveal more about them for the purposes of the story. Flat characters are
usually static characters. Those characters do not change.3
2
X.J.Kennedy. Literature: An Introduction to fiction, poetry, and Drama (New York: Harper Collins Publisher, 1991), third edition, p.47
3
Gloria mason Henderson, et al., Literature and ourselves: A Thematic Introduction for Readers and Writers (United States: Pearson Education Inc, 2006), fifth edition, pp. 9-10.
b. Characterization
In every single time of our life, we never know that the characters
of someone was growing and changing. It could be seen because it was so tiny.
But it can be felt. The esthetics of character is known as characterization.
The characterization can be depicted through the use of name.
Names are often to provide essential clues that aid in characterization. Names
can also contain literary or historical allusions that aid in characterization by
means of association. Then, characterization can be depicted through
appearance. Although, in real life most of us are aware that appearance are
often deceiving, in the world of fiction details of appearance (what a character
wears and how he looks) often provide essential clues to character.
Characterization also can be depicted through by the author. By so doing the
author assert retains full control over characterization. The author not only
directs our attention to a given character, but also tells us exactly what our
attitude toward the character ought to be. Nothing is left to the reader’s
imagination.4
Characterization can be depicted through the dialogue. Dialogue
can reveal the moods and personalities of the characters. The task of
establishing character through dialogue is not a simple one. Some characters
are careful and guarded in what they saw: they speak only by indirection, and it
must be inferred from their words what they actually mean.5
4
James H. Pickering and Jefrey D.Hoeper.Concise Companion to Literature(New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc, 1981). Pp.28-29
5
9
B. Maslow’s Theory
Abraham Harold Maslow (April 1, 1908- June 8, 1970) was an
American Psychologist. He was a leader in the development of Humanistic
Psychology, proposed an interesting way to classify human needs.6 Maslow constructed a hierarchy of needs.7 Ascending from the basic biological needs to the more complex psychological needs that become important only after the
basic needs have been satisfied.
The comerstone of Abraham Maslow’s understanding of
motivation is the proposition that human being posses urges or basic needs at
the organismic level. These basic needs, however, are weak needs, quiet
biological urges that are often confused and easily overlooked in day-to-day
affairs.8 It means that the individual seem to satisfy successively the higher needs that occupy a set of hierarchy.
Maslow had little interest in compiling a list of how many needs
human beings possessed. Rather, Maslow side-stepped the numbers issue and
proposed that one master need, the tendency toward growth, governs and
organizes all other needs. The growth/ actualizing need organizes all others
into a hierarchy featuring five clusters based needs. The arrangement of these
needs, Maslow felt, was best represented visually by a hierarchy. The first need
6
Ernest R. Hilgard, et al., Introduction to Psychology (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc., 1981), p. 317.
7
Hierarchy of needs is a motivational theory in psychology that argues that while people aim to meet basic needs, they seek to meet successively higher needs in the form of a hierarchy. 8
in Maslow’s hierarchy contains the set of physiological needs necessary for
bodily homeostasis, quiescence, and survival. All the other needs in the
hierarchy (safety and security, love and belongingness, esteem, and
self-actualization) are psychological in nature of human needs.9
Maslow argued that any comprehensive theory of Human
motivation must take into account the individual as a whole. One cannot hope
to understand the complexities of the human condition by reducing behavior to
specific responses in specific situations. The wholeness of behavior can also
serve several motive states at once.10 For example, the sexual behavior may serve physiological as well as psychological needs of belongingness and
esteem.
Maslow argued that one must seek to understand the ultimate goals
of behavior rather than the superficial or apparent goals, because the apparent
goals for any observed behavior may be quite different from the ultimate
goal.11 This implies, in fashion similar to Freudian theory that motivations occur at an unconscious level. Unlike Freud, however, Maslow saw the
unconscious in positive terms. Like Rogers, Maslow also regarded the striving
for the protection self-actualization as the ultimate purpose of behavior.
Maslow argued that human motivation can best be studied by
observing human rather than animal behavior. His observations led him to the
conclusion that human needs can be understood in terms of a hierarchy of
9
Ibid 10
Herbert L. Petri. Motivation : Theory and Research (California: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 2003), p. 289.
11
needs. Needs lower on the hierarchy are proponent (i.e., stronger) and must be
satisfied before needs higher on the hierarchy will be triggered. Maslow did
not, however, regard the hierarchy as totally rigid: one can partially satisfy
lower needs, thus allowing higher needs to become partially active. Maslow
regarded the satisfaction of needs on the hierarchy in a probabilistic manner. If
a lower need is being satisfied most of the time (e.g., 85%), that need will have
little influence on behavior, while other, higher needs that are less satisfied will
have a larger influence on behavior.12 The following diagram shows Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, represented as a pyramid below:
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is often depicted as a pyramid
consisting of five levels: the four levels are grouped together as deficiency
needs associate with physiological needs, while the top level is termed growth
needs associated with physiological needs. While deficiency needs be met,
growth needs are continually shaping behavior. The basic concept is that the
higher needs in this hierarchy only come into focus once all the needs that are
lower down in the pyramid are mainly or entirely satisfied. Growth forces
create upward movement in the hierarchy, whereas regressive forces push
needs further down the hierarchy. Maslow’s basic needs are as follow:
1. Physiological Needs
The first level of the hierarchy consists of physiological needs.
These are biological needs. They consist of needs for oxygen, food,
water, and a relatively constant body temperature. They are the
strongest needs because if a person were deprived of all needs, the
physiological ones would come first in the person's search for
satisfaction.13 If needs such as hunger or thirst are not adequately being met, the needs above them on the hierarchy are pushed into the
background in terms of controlling behavior. The individual is in an
emergency situation and his or her whole being is dominated by the
need.14
Maslow felt that physiological needs are adequately met for
most people in our society. When these are met, the next need on the
hierarchy emerges as a dominant force in controlling and directing
13
2. Safety Needs
When all physiological needs are satisfied and are no longer
controlling thoughts and behaviors, the needs for security can become
active. Adults have little awareness of their security needs except in
times of emergency or periods of disorganization in the social structure
(such as widespread rioting). Children often display the signs of
insecurity and the need to be safe.16 These needs represent a need for safety or security in our environment. Like the physiological needs,
safety needs are primarily triggered in emergency situation. Higher
needs become unimportant when one’s life is daggered, and our
behavior reflects our attempts to remain secure.
Safety needs dominate our behavior primarily in times of
emergency. Maslow, however, felt that working of the safety needs can
also be seen in people’s preference for familiar surroundings, secure
jobs, saving accounts, and insurance. Safety needs are most evident in
or children, as shown when an infant cries it is dropped suddenly, are
startled by a loud sound, or a stranger enters the room.17
3. Love and Belongingness Needs
When the needs for safety and for physiological well-being are
satisfied, the next class of needs for love, affection and belongingness
can emerge. Maslow states that people seek to overcome feelings of
16
http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/maslow.htm. March 23th 2010
17
loneliness and alienation. This involves both giving and receiving love,
affection and the sense of belonging.18
These needs involve a hunger for affectionate relationship with
others, a need to feel part of a group, or a feeling that one “belong.” The
love needs are not equivalent to sexual needs (which are physiological),
though sexual intimacy can serve to satisfy ones need to belong.19 Maslow argues that individuals seek to overcome feelings of loneliness
and alienation. This involves both giving and receiving love, affection
and sense of belonging.
4. Esteem Needs
If the love need have been adequately met, they too slip into the
background in relation to guiding behavior, and the esteem needs
become dominant. These are need for a positive, high evaluation of
oneself. This evaluation can be broken down into two subcategories a
need for self esteem and a need for esteem from other.20
The need for self-esteem motivates the individual to strive for
achievement, strength, confidence, independence, and freedom. The
need for self-esteem seems to have at its core the desire to feel
worthwhile and appears highly similar to Roger’s concept of positive
regard. The related need of esteem from others involves desire for
18
http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/maslow.htm. March 23th 2010
19
Herbert L. Petri (2003), loc. cit. 20
15
reputation, status, recognition, appreciation by others of one’s abilities,
and a feeling of importance.21
When the first three classes of needs are satisfied, the needs for
esteem can become dominant. These involve needs for both self-esteem
and for the esteem a person gets from others. Humans have a need for a
stable, firmly based, high level of self-respect, and respect from others.
When these needs are satisfied, the person feels self-confident and
valuable as a person in the world. When these needs are frustrated, the
person feels inferior, weak, helpless and worthless.22
5. Self-Actualization Needs
When one has satisfied the first four level of need, the final level
of development, which Maslow termed self-actualization, can be
reached. At the self-actualization level, the person’s behavior is
motivated by different conditions than at the lower levels.23 It means, at this level, the individual differences are greatest.
The self-actualized individual has satisfied all the deprivation
needs of the first four levels of the hierarchy. The behavior of the
self-actualized person is, as a result, motivates by new set of needs, which
Maslow termed the being needs (B-motivation, or metamotivation).
These B-motives are values such as truth, honesty, beauty, and
goodness, and they provide meaning to the life of the self-actualized
individual.24 The clear emerge of these needs usually rest upon some prior satisfaction of the physiological, safety, love, and esteem needs.25
The picture Maslow gives us of the self-actualized person is a
very positive one. The self-actualized individual is no longer motivated
by deficiencies but is motivated to grow and become all that he or she is
capable of becoming. Self-actualization constantly stimulates people to
test their abilities and expand their horizons.26
When all of the foregoing needs are satisfied, then and only then
are the needs for actualization activated. Maslow describes
self-actualization as a person's need to be and do that which the person was
"born to do." "A musician must make music, an artist must paint, and a
poet must write." These needs make themselves felt in signs of
restlessness. The person feels on edge, tense, lacking something, in
short, restless. If a person is hungry, unsafe, not loved or accepted, or
lacking self-esteem, it is very easy to know what the person is restless
about. It is not always clear what a person wants when there is a need
for self-actualization.27
24 Ibid 25
C. George Boeree, Personality Theories. http://ship.edu/~cgboeree/maslow.html Accessed on March 23th 2010
26 Ibid 27
CHAPTER III RESEARCH FINDINGS A.Analysis
1. Analysis of Santiago’s characteristics
Santiago is a shepherd. As a shepherd he lived by keep moving
from place to place. He spent the night in a field, savanna or even more in the
ruined church. To protect himself from the extremely weather which is so hot
in the afternoon and very cold in the night, he always brings his jacket. To
cover himself from the sun light in the afternoon and to protect him from the
cold at the night. It also can be his pillow when he sleeps.
The heat lasted until nightfall, and all that time he had to carry his jacket. But when he thought to complain about the burden of its weight, he remembered that, because he had the jacket, he had withstood the cold of the dawn. (Coelho 1997, 10)
He was grateful for having the jacket’s weight and warmth that can
protect him from the cold at night.
Before he became a shepherd he just a boy who lived in Andalusia,
his parents is a farmer and he live in modest family. His father wanted him to
be a priest, it cause if he become a priest it can makes his parents proud of him
and also can makes their social status higher than before. But Santiago refuses
him. Santiago has a dream to travel around the world. He wants to be a
shepherd. He tries to advise his father. He fights for keeps his dream. His
struggle to advise his parents makes his father agree with him. They let him to
follow his dream to travel around the world as a shepherd.
His parents had wanted him to become a priest, and thereby a source of pride for a simple farm family...
One afternoon, on a visit to his family, he had summoned up the courage to tell his father that he didn’t want to become a priest. That he wanted to travel. (Coelho 1997, 10)
By the blessing his father also gives him a pouch, which held three
ancient Spanish gold coins inside. It can be his financial capital. He will buy
some sheep by its gold.
“Well, then I’ll be a shepherds.”
His father said no more. The next day, he gave his son a pouch that held three ancient Spanish gold coins. (Coelho 1997, 11)
By his effort to tell his father about his dream, Santiago gets the
permission from his father. He knows that Santiago can reach his dream, and
he do not want Santiago to be like him, who buried his is dream to be a
shepherd. But it is still alive in his mind. Whether Santiago knows that his
parents really want him to become a priest, he keeps determined enough to
endure his dream.
And he gave the boy his blessing. The boy could see in his father’s gaze to be able, himself, to travel the world. A desire that was still alive, despite his father’s having had to bury it, over dozens of years, under the burden of struggling for water to drink, food to eat, and the same place to sleep every night of his life. (Coelho 1997, 12)
Along way his journey as a shepherd, when he slept at the night he
ever dream about when he was in the field with his sheep, when a child
appeared and began to play with the animals. He does not like people do that,
because he do really know about his sheep are afraid of strangers. But children
always seem to be able to play with them without frightening them. He does
not know why. Santiago is following his heart. He will try to understand what
19
following my Personal Legend. It’s not something you would understand.”
(Coelho 1997, 13)
His curiosity makes Santiago try to find the meaning of dream he
had. He tries to understand his dream. He has been dreaming it for twice. He
wants to know what the meaning of his dream is. He tries to figure it by seeing
the gypsy. He knows from the people that gypsies can interpret the dream.
“You came so that you could about your dreams,” The old woman. “And dreams are the language of God. When He speaks in our language, I can interpret what He has said. But if He speaks in the language of the soul, it is only you who can understand. But, whichever it is, I’m going to charge you for the consultation.” (Coelho 1997, 14-15)
“I have had the same dream twice,” he said. (Coelho 1997, 15)
Santiago tells his dream to a gypsy woman. He tells her the whole
story about his dream. Santiago wants her to interpret his dream that makes
him easier to understand the meaning of it.
“I dream that I was in a field with my sheep, when a child appeared and began to play with the animals. I don’t like people to do that, because the sheep are afraid of strangers. But children always seem to be able to play with them without frightening them. I don’t know why. I don’t know how animals know the age of human beings.” (Coelho 1997, 15)
“The child went in playing with my sheep for quite a while,”... “And suddenly, the child took me by both hands and transported me to the Egyptian Pyramids.” (Coelho 1997, 15)
“Then, at the Egyptian pyramids,”... “The child said to me, ‘If you come here, you will find a hidden location, I woke up. Both times.” (Coelho 1997, 15)
Every sign makes Santiago’s curiosity want to know about the
meaning of anything. When he is in the desert, he saw the sign that desert gave
to him. No matter how sleepy he is, he keeps learning about the meaning of the
He felt sleepy. In his heart, he wanted to remain awake, but he also wanted to sleep. “I am learning the Language of the World, and everything in the world is beginning to make sense to me... even the flight of the hawks,” he said to himself. (Coelho 1997, 101)
Sleepy is not the reason can makes Santiago stop to learn about the
world. Even though just the hawk. His curiosity makes him cannot abandoned
anything. Santiago is the brave person also. It is shown by his struggle to attack
his fear when he gets the sign from the world about what might happen in the
oasis. He tries to tell the chieftain about it. Even though he does really know
the risk if the sign is false, he still lets the message to be known by the
chieftain. It is narrated bellow:
“Who is this 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. (Coelho 1997, 107)
He was alarmed by why had happens. He had succeeded in reaching through of the Soul of the World. And now the price for having done so might be his life; it was a frightening bet, but he had been making risky bets ever since the day he had sold his sheep to pursue his Personal Legend. (Coelho 1997, 110)
After telling that message to the chieftains he was not afraid about
what might happen. He thought that he has been saved oasis from the enemy.
He just wanted it to be happened or he would be killed by the chieftains if the
message not true.
Beside his bravery, Santiago also is a fearful person. It is shown
along his journey; he always faces many things that threaten his life. But with
21
The men fell into an animated discussion. They spoke in an Arabic dialect that the boy didn’t understand, but, when he made to leave, the guard told him to stay. The boy become fearful; the omens told him that something was wrong. He regretted having spoken to the camel driver about what he had seen in the desert. (Coelho 1997, 107-108)
Santiago has been afraid about something that can make he will be
killed. A long way toward the treasure he gets a lot of threatened from many
person. When the alchemist said to the chieftain that Santiago can change
himself into the wind, he felt afraid. It cause he did not know how to do that
thing. When they passed a number of armed tribesmen, Santiago feel afraid.
Santiago’s hearts surrounding about his fear. It is narrated below:
... The boy’s heart began to speak of fear. It told him stories it had heard from the Soul of the World, stories of men who sought to find their treasure and never succeeded. Sometimes is frightened the boy with the idea that he might to find his treasure, or that he might die there in the desert. At other times, it told the boy that it was satisfied: it had found love and riches. (Coelho 1997, 130)
In the middle of his fear, alchemist said to Santiago. That if he
cannot change himself into the wind, not only he will be killed by the
chieftains, but also he would not be able to understand the soul of the world to
know the sign from the world to get the treasure that he searching for.“Don’t
give in to your fear,” said the alchemist, in a strangely gentle voice. “If you do,
you won’t be able to talk to your heart.” (Coelho 1997, 143)
Not all of the shepherds are fools. Is shown through Santiago’s
character, even though he is a shepherd, it’s not making him to be lazy to learn
know shepherds knew how to read,” said a girl’s voice behind him. (Coelho
1997, 7)
The desert does not make stop Santiago to learn. He keeps learning
as long as it is useful for his life and his travel to his treasure. He realized: If I
can learn to understand this language without words, I can learn to understand
the world. (Coelho 1997, 45).
Even though he has knowledge about many things, it doesn’t make
him stop to learn. Santiago still learns about the Soul of the World. I’ve learn
things from the sheep, and I’ve learn things from crystal, he thought. I can
learn something from the desert, too. It seems old and wise. (Coelho 1997, 75).
Santiago knew that his knowledge not enough if he just read a
book. He learns from many things. Not only from his sheep, but also from the
crystal and the desert. It can be enriching his knowledge. That is the reason
why makes Santiago different with other shepherd.
Santiago knows that the Soul of the World exists. And he knows it
can help him. He will learn about it until he understands the Language of
things. He realizes that his Personal Legend will teach him to understand the
Soul of the World it can make him to meet Alchemist.
23
Even though he is sleepy he will not stop to learn about every sign
in the World. He tries to fight whatever it is. He wants to understand about the
Soul of the World. It makes him smart and he does many efforts in order to
understand about the Soul of the World.
He felt sleepy, in his heart, he wanted to remain awake, but he wanted to sleep. “I am learning the Language of the World, and everything in the world is beginning to make sense to me... even the flight of the hawks,” he said to himself. (Coelho 1997, 101)
Feel sleepy cannot make Santiago stop learning. He tries to kill his
feel, he remains to awake. Until he know the meaning of the sign. Santiago has
a lot of vision about what might he face. He always gets the sign from
anything. He knows that the world needs him to translate the sign. In his
journey, he finds that the hawks give him the sign about what will happen in
the oasis. He tries to understand the meaning of it. He learns about the sign
until he really understands about it.
Suddenly, one of the hawks made a flashing dive through the sky, attacking the other. As it did so, a sudden, fleeting image came to the boy: an army, with its sword at the ready, riding into the oasis. (Coelho 1997, 101)
After knowing the meaning of the sign, He tries to tell the
chieftains about what will happen in their territory that and it is not save
anymore. And war will happen there. It is really dangerous.
He rose, and made his way back toward the palm trees. Once again, he perceived the many languages in the things about him: this time, the desert was safe, and it was the oasis that had become dangerous. (Coelho 1997, 102)
After meeting the guard of chieftains, he tries to tell the chieftains
by himself. And he wants them to listen what he wants to say. He wants to tell
what desert gives the omen to him. “I want to see the chieftain. I’ve brought
omens from the desert.” (Coelho 1997, 106). Santiago tries to makes the guard
believe him that he just wants to tell the sign from the desert. He does not want
it happen in there.
He tries to convince the chieftains about what he saw in his vision.
He translates the omen to them. Fortunately, they understand what Santiago
said. And they will do something in there. They said they will protect the oasis
from the enemy. The chieftains really know about what Santiago said. Desert
cannot lie. It will tell the truth. About what might happen in the desert.
“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.”
....
And also because I know about the Soul of the World, he said a third chieftain.
....
“I can only tell you what I saw. If you don’t want to believe me, you don’t have to do anything about it.” (Coelho 1997, 107)
After telling the truth to the chieftains, he meets with the man
riding the horse, and he asks him who is the man who dares to read the
meaning of the sign in the desert with the curved his into Santiago.“Who dares
to read the meaning of the flight of the hawks?” “It is I who dares to do so,”
said the boy. (Coelho 1997, 111). Deepest in his heart Santiago feels afraid.
The man pointing his sword into Santiago’s chin, but Santiago trying to be
brave. He is proud that he can interpret the flight of the hawks. He tries to save
25
Santiago’s vision is Personal Legend will bring him to die. But he
realized that his destiny would bring him to face his enemy, meeting with
Fatima and all of the omens are going to be true.
... He felt strange sense of joy he was about to die in pursuit of his Personal Legend. And for Fatima. The omens had been true, after all here he was, face to face with his enemy, but there was no need to be concerned about dying - the Soul of the World awaited him, and he would soon be a part of it and tomorrow, his enemy would also be a part of that soul. (Coelho 1997, 112)
Santiago does not know why he should follow his heart. But
Alchemist tells him that if he wants to get the treasure, he has to follow his
heart. It makes him understand about Soul of the World. By knowing the Soul
of the Word, can makes his search easier. It because he can understands more
about the sign from the desert. And he can get the treasure as soon as possible.
“Why do we have to listen to our hearts?” the boy asked, when they had made that day.
“Because, wherever your heart is, that is where you’ll find your treasure.” “But my heart is agitated,” the boy said. “It has its dreams, it gets emotional, and it’s become passionate over a woman of the desert. It asks things of me, and it keeps me from sleeping many nights, when I’m thinking about her.” (Coelho 1997, 129-130)
By following his vision he has no longer fear about what might
happen in his life, in his journey. He just does what his heart said to himself.
Santiago follows the omen as his destiny.
Santiago has to understand what his heart says to himself. And
whatever his heart feeling, he represent it as the message from the World to his
destiny.
From then on, the boy understood his heart; he asked it, please, never to stop speaking to him. He asked that, when he wandered far from his dream, his heart press him and sound the alarm. The boy swore that, every time he heard the alarm, he would need its message. (Coelho 1997, 133)
Santiago’s vision set him to know what will happen. Until one day,
he had a vision but Alchemist did not. It shows that his heart has understood
about the Soul of the World. He knows that the world wants him to understand
what they gave to him. Santiago tries to understand his vision. He also tries to
interpret it and tell the alchemist about the meaning of the vision he had.
The sun was setting when the boy’s heart sounded a danger signal. They were surrounded by gigantic dunes, and the boy looked at the alchemist to see whether he had sensed anything. (Coelho 1997, 140)
Toward his journey, Santiago has been met with many people. He
is the friendly person. He tries to make a friend with people he met. By having
a lot of friend makes his life more cheerful. Santiago knows that he will not
stay in one place for a long time. It cause he is a shepherd. Shepherd live is
moving from place to place. But it is makes Santiago have a lot of friend.
The sheep were at the gates of the city, in a stable that belonged to a friend. The boy knew a lot of people in the city. That was what made traveling appeal to him- he always made new friend. (Coelho 1997, 17)
But sometimes he wants to be alone. He does not want to disturbed
when he was read his book. It cause he really love to read. He thought by
27
to be respect the eldest person. He try to do not makes the old man feels
uncomforted with his read.
The boy was tempted to be rude, and move to another bench, but his father had taught him to be respectful of the elderly. So he held out the book to the man- for two reasons: first, that he, himself, wasn’t sure how to pronounce the title; and the second, that if the old man didn’t know how to read, he would probably feel ashamed and decide of his own accord to change benches. (Coelho 1997, 19)
When he was following the caravan, he makes a friend with an
Englishman. Even though he does not like it, Santiago thought that he will be
his friend latter. Even though they are friend, Santiago just curious about what
the Englishman wants to do. He brought a lot of book which is Santiago know
it is so hard to understand the books. It makes he wants to talk with the
Englishman. He wants to know more about the chemical. Furthermore at the
first time the Englishman does not want to disturbed. But at least he makes a
friend with Santiago also.
Nearby was the Englishman, reading a book. He seemed unfriendly, and had looked irritated when the boy had entered. They might even have become friends, but the Englishman closed off the conversation. (Coelho 1997, 70)
From the analysis above, the writer can conclude that Santiago is
the brave person. Beside his bravery, Santiago just an ordinary people who can
afraid of the threatening by the other people that he do not really know. Not
only brave, but also Santiago is the determined person. It is shown when his
father wants him to become a priest, and he refuses it. He wants to be a
gets the sign from the world. And he can interpret all of the sign that help
himself from the treat from the other people if it is not true.
According by Santiago’s characterization above, he wanted to
become a shepherd. His characteristics can help himself to become a shepherd.
Becoming a shepherd was not easy, it cause the shepherd must be tough
person. He has to fulfilling the hierarchy of human needs by himself. That’s
why the writer wants to explain more about the process of Santiago in fulfilling
the needs as a shepherd according Abraham Maslow’s theory. The writer will
use Hierarchy of Human Needs of Abraham H. Maslow’s Theory. It will be
explain in the next analyze.
2. The Hierarchy of Needs in the Main Character
The Alchemist tells about Santiago as the main character that tries
to reach his dream, the treasure and woman that he loved. Furthermore,
Santiago believes to reach his dream; he must follow the sign and understand
Language of The World. Of course in his travel, Santiago has the needs which
must be fulfilled in hierarchy viewed to Maslow’s theory.
Therefore, the writer uses Hierarchy of Human Needs of Abraham
H. Maslow to analyze Santiago needs to reach his dream, analyzing the process
of Santiago in fulfilling the needs. The writer will also identify some of
Santiago’s behaviors, thought or feeling and some descriptions about him that
represent his needs.
As it has been explained previously at chapter II, Hierarchy of
29
Physiological Needs, Safety Needs, Love and Belongingness Needs, and the
highest Self-Actualization Needs.
a. The First Level : Physiological Needs of Main Character
In The Alchemist, Santiago was a rebellious person, who came
from the farmer family. His parents wanted him to become a priest, but he
wanted to travel an entire world. And he decided to become a shepherd. In his
family he gets a lot of education, he ever attended a seminary until he was
sixteen. He also had studied Latin, Spanish and theology. But ever since he had
been a child, he had wanted to know the world. In his travel being shepherds he
gets some education from the place that he ever been stayed. By his sheep he
gets it too. He gets some trouble toward his dream to get the treasure and the
girl that he ever dreamed of. He gets some problem to fulfill his physiological
needs.
It can be seen from how the main character fulfills physiological
needs such as: hunger, drink, and sleep which reflected in The Alchemist. In
the novel, Santiago get meal from the market that he met as a shepherds to
satisfy his hunger.
.... He went to a 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. (Coelho 1997, 17)
In the journey to his treasure he got some trouble to get some
drink. It cause in that area drinking wine is forbid. He decided to try tea in that
bar. But the taste is too bitter for him. Fortunately he still has some wine that
pointed to drink that had been served at the next table. It turned out to be a
bitter tea. The boy preferred wine. (Coelho 1997, 36)
Santiago’s gold has been robbed by the robber. He thinks how to
fulfill his physiological needs with an empty pocket. He try to searching a job,
fortunately he never neglect the sign that he ever get.
“I can clean up those glasses in the window, if you want,” said the boy. “The way they look now, nobody is going to want to buy them.”
The man looked at him without responding
“In exchange, you could give me something to eat.” (Coelho 1997, 47)
To fulfill his physiological needs, Santiago, when he was a
shepherd, he always sleeps with his sheep. To keep the sheep saved. Santiago
can fulfill the needs, wherever he wants.
He decided to spend the night there. He saw to it that all the sheep entered through the ruined gate, and then laid some planks across it to prevent the flock from wandering away during the night. (Coelho 1997, 5)
Santiago decided to sleep with his sheep in an abandoned church.
No matter it is he always can fulfill his needs to sleep.
Sometimes Santiago does not want to fulfill is needs, such as when
in the oasis Santiago felt very sleepy, he wanted to still awake. He wants to
fulfill his curiosity to know the sign that desert give to him.
He felt sleepy, in his heart he wanted remain to awake, but he also wanted to sleep. “I am learning the Language of the World, and everything in the world is beginning to make sense to me... even the flight of the hawks,” he said to himself. (Coelho 1997, 101)
From the explanation above, it is clear that hunger, thirst, and sleep
31
or without the barriers and obstacles. So he does not feel the lack in fulfilling
the needs. Therefore, physiological needs of Santiago are fulfilled.
b. The Second Level : Safety Needs
When all physiological needs are satisfied an no longer controlling
thoughts and behaviors, then appearing new set of needs, safety needs, such
as: security of body, freedom from fear, stability, tendency, protection,
decency, from anxiety and chaos; need for structure, order, law, limits; strength
in the protector; and so on. All that has been said to the physiological needs is
equally true, although in less degree, of these desires. Moreover, the safety
need is often revealed specially in searching for protector, or someone who can
give the security.
In The Alchemist, Santiago always gets the threat of danger. Such
as when he was stay in oasis, he try to tell the chieftain of the oasis that war
will be happen in there. After tell his interpretation of the sign of the hawk he
get a treat from the chieftain, if war is not happen in there he will be killed.
“But arms cannot be drawn unless they also go into battle. Arms are as capricious as the dessert, and, if they are not used, the next time they might not function. If at least one of them hasn’t been used by the end of the day tomorrow, one will be used on you” (Coelho 1997, 109)
Santiago gets a lot of threat from the people. Not only from the
chieftain, but also from the man who he did not know he get the threat by his
interpretation from the hawk. He tries to not be frightened of the threat. Even
stranger withdrew the sword from the boy’s forehead, and the boy felt
immensely relieved. But he still couldn’t flee. (Coelho 1997, 112)
Santiago tries to fulfill his safety needs, his heart try to pursuing
his mind. Santiago afraid of losing something what he has. He thought that the
trouble still following him. And he afraid to be fails to reach his dream.
“That makes sense,” the alchemist answered. “Naturally it’s afraid that, in pursuing your dream, you might lose everything you’ve won.” (Coelho 1997, 130)
My heart is afraid that it will have to suffer,” the boy told the alchemist one night as they looked up at the moonless sky. (Coelho 1997, 131)
Santiago still gets the threat, even the alchemist with him. Santiago
tries to fulfill his safety needs by keep strong. But the threat still follows him.
Until in one day he and the alchemist were taken a nearby military camp. The
alchemist tells the chieftain that the main character can changed him being the
wind. And they trusted it. But the chieftain needs the authentication from him.
It makes the main character afraid. Because he do not know how to change
himself into the wind. If he cannot change himself he will be killed by the
chieftain. His frightened was narrated below:
The boy was shaking with fear, but the alchemist helped him out of the tent.
“Don’t let them see that you’re afraid,” the alchemist said. “They are brave men, and they despise cowards.” (Coelho 1997, 142)
Santiago tries to fulfill his safety needs everywhere. After the
alchemist left him, because the treasure was nearer he got another threat from
some men in the desert. Because he was terrified, the boy didn’t answer. He
33
(Coelho 1997, 163). Santiago can fulfill his safety needs by himself. He
continues his way until he gets the treasure. It is reflecting that he keeps
struggling to fulfill his safety to the treasure.
According to the explanation above, it can be concluded that
Santiago can fulfill his safety needs. It can be seen when he said that he
realized what he has done in his journey to the treasure. Therefore, the safety
need of main character is fulfilled.
c. The Third Level : Love and Belongingness Needs
If both physiological needs and safety needs are fairly well
fulfilled, there will appear the new needs, love and belongingness needs. If
love and belongingness needs are not fulfilled, then human being will feel
keenly, because of the absence of friends, or a sweetheart, or a wife, or
children. Human being will hunger for affectionate relations with people in
general, namely, for a place in his group or family, and he strives with great
intensity to achieve the goal. Human being will want to attain such a place
more than anything else in the world and even though forget that once, when
he is hungry, he belittles at love as unreal or necessary or unimportant.
As human being in general, Santiago, needs friends, and
sweetheart. He realized that being a shepherd can pass and through different
place. It makes him know different person and makes a different friendship in
different place. It makes he get a lot of friends. It was narrated below:
Santiago made new friend in new place. It cause when he stayed in
one place, he have to fulfill his basic needs, physiological needs. He fulfills it
by selling his sheep’s wool. It makes he met some shepherd and another person
that interested to buy his wool.
Beside friendship, Santiago needs to fulfill his sexual intimacy. He
ever dreamed about the girl that will be his wife. When he wants to sell his
wool, he met the merchant’s daughter. He feels something with her. He
recognized that he was feeling something he had never experienced before: the
desire to live in one place forever. With the girl with the raven hair, his would
never be the same again. It was narrated below:
He had already imagined the scene many times; every time, the girl became fascinated when he explained that the sheep had to be sheared from back to front. (Coelho 1997, 18-19)
Actually they like each other, but his though that he’s father would
not allow him to marry her. It cause he is a shepherd. No one can allow his
daughter to marry a shepherd. It makes he leave that place and continues his
way as a shepherd.
But, one thing that should be emphasized, as it is explained
previously in the physiological needs, Maslow argued that love is not a
synonymous of sex. Sex may be studied as a purely physiological need.
Ordinarily sexual behavior is multi determined, that is to say, determined not
only by sexual needs. But also not to be overlooked is the fact that the love
35
Therefore Santiago still search for his affectionate. Until one day
he met the girl in oasis that he knew she is the girl that he searching for. In one
sight he knows that she will be his wife.
....
At that moment, it seemed to him that time stood still, and the Soul of the World surged within him. When he looked into her dark eyes, and saw that her lips were poised between a laugh and silence, he learned the most important part of the language that all the world spoke-the language that everyone on earth was capable of understanding in their heart. It was love. (Coelho 1997, 94)
Santiago love her even he does not know her name. And he does
not know that she even exists. He just knew what desert give to him. That is his
destiny to find her. He just follows his heart to fulfill his affectionate. He
believes that she will give him happiness and discover every treasure that he
dreams of with her. It is narrated below:
.... Remembering that one day in Tarifa the levanter had brought to him the perfume of that woman, and realizing that he had loved her before he even knew she existed. He knew that his love for her would enable him to discover every treasure in the world. (Coelho 1997, 96)
Santiago tries to fulfill his sexual intimacy. He came to her and
purposes her to be his wife. He did it at the first time he met her. It is narrated:
“I came to tell you just one thing,” the boy said. “I want you to be my wife. I
love you.” (Coelho 1997, 96). Santiago has been fulfilling his love and
belonging needs.
From the analysis above, Santiago has strong effort to fulfill his
need. Namely, he wants to find the girl that he ever dreams of. At the first he
thought that the merchant’s daughter that he dreamed. But, he is wrong. He
thinking that she always waiting for his came. So, it can be concluded that love
and belongingness needs of Santiago are fulfilled.
d. The fourth Level : Self-Esteem Needs
All people in our society have a need or desire for a stable, firmly
based, usually high evaluation of themselves, for self- respect, or self-esteem,
and for the esteem of others. These needs will be classified into two subsidiary
sets. These are, first, the desire for strength, for achievement, for adequacy, for
mastery and competence, for confidence in the face of the world, and for
independence and freedom. Second, the desire for reputation and prestige
(defining it as respect or esteem from other people), status, fame, and glory,
dominance, recognition, attention, importance, dignity, or appreciation.
Satisfaction of the self-esteem need leads to the feelings of self
confidence, worth, strength, capability, and adequacy, of being useful and
necessary in the world. Human being who fulfilled their self-esteem needs, it
does depend on other people and they always ready to continue to develop
further to reach the higher needs. But when it is obstructed, this fulfillment can
cause feelings inferiority, weakness and helplessness.
As a human being, Santiago also has the desire for a stable and
firmly based, and it is usually high evaluation of him-self, for self-respect, or
self-esteem, and for the esteem of others.
Self-respect, in this case, Santiago has an education from his father
that he has to respect with the eldest person. Santiago tries to make it real. It
37
The boy was tempted to be rude, and move to another bench, but his father had taught him to be respectful of the elderly. So he held out the book to the man- for two reasons: first, that he, himself, wasn’t sure how to pronounce the title; and the second, that if the old man didn’t know how to read, he would probably feel ashamed and decide of his own accord to change benches. (Coelho 1997, 19)
When an old man waited for his term to shear his sheep to sell, he
read his book. And at that time the old man came to him and tries to make a
conversation with him.
Next story told that he was is in the oasis, after he get a sign from
the desert he try to interpret it. But it is has a consequences, if it not happen he
will be killed by the chieftain. But if it happens, for every ten dead men among
the enemies, he will receive a piece of gold. Suddenly it happens in there. And
for his interpretation he gets an appreciation from the chieftain. It narrated
below:
The tribal chieftain called for the boy, and presented him with fifty pieces of gold. He repeated his, the story about Joseph of Egypt, and asked the boy to become the counselor of the oasis. (Coelho 1997, 115)
Santiago refuses the chieftain that wants him to become a
counselor of the oasis. He wants to continue his travel to the pyramid and find
the treasure that he searching for. But by the story above, Santiago has been
fulfilling his need to get appreciation and respect as an aspect of the
self-esteem.
e. The Fifth Level : Self-Actualization
Even if all these needs are satisfied, it may still often expect that a
new discontent and restlessness will soon develop, unless the individual is
and understand it, if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself. What a man
can be, he must be. He must be true to his own nature. This need we may call
self-actualization, namely, to the tendency for him to become actualized in what he is potentially. This tendency may be phrased as the desire to become
more and more what one idiosyncrasy is, to become everything that one is
capable of becoming. The clear appearance of these needs usually rests upon
prior satisfaction of the physiological, safety, love and belonging, and
esteem-needs.
It had been explained above; Santiago could actualize himself. Moreover,
becoming a shepherd was not easy. He passes the process until he met the
alchemist. He has been fulfilling his self-actualization by founding the treasure
he searches of. The women he dreams and the treasure that he dreams of.
The boy smiled, and continued digging. Half an hour later, his shovels hit something solid. An hour later, he had before him a chest of Spanish gold coins. There were also precious stones, gold masks adorned with red and White feathers, and stone statues embedded with Jewel. The spoils of a conquest that the country had long ago forgotten, and that some conquistador had failed to tell his Children about.
The boy took Urim and Tumim from his bag. He had used the two stones only once, one morning when he was at a marketplace. His life and his path had always provided him with enough omens. (Coelho 1997, epilogue)
Maslow argued the appearance of need usually based on a
fulfillment of physiological needs, safety needs, love and belonging needs, and
self-esteem need that has fulfilled previously. Such as Santiago, he needs the
39
and self-esteem has been fulfilled. The higher need is self-actualization. This
need will be fulfilled at the first time he decides to become a shepherd.
From the analysis above, it can be seen that the main principle of
the motivation of Santiago life is basic needs in Hierarchy superiority or less of
potential or greater. The principle which motivates the process is the weak
needs that arrived after the strong needs have been satisfied. Moreover,
physiological needs, if it has not been satisfied, it will be dominating in
Santiago that aroused all of effort to fulfill and arrange the capacities until it
can work more efficient. The satisfaction will press the previous needs to the
lower level. Then the condition will enable the higher needs appears to the
The Alchemist is the novel that written by Paulo Coelho which is
tell about the dream and human needs. Every human need can be fulfill. It
depends how hard the person try to fulfilling his needs. In this research the
writer can conclude the analysis that the main character is the taught person.
He tries to fulfilling his needs. From his physiological needs, safety needs, love
and belongingness needs, self-esteem, and self actualization. No matter hard,
he keep follow his way to reach his dream. Toward his way he tries to fulfilling
his needs.
From the physiological needs, Santiago has been successful in
fulfilling his needs. When he was robbed, he tries to fulfill his hunger by
cleaning the crystal shop. In the second level, Santiago tried to fulfill his safety
needs. It is too difficult for him. It causes too many threats chasing at him.
From the beginning of his journey until the end of his journey, he always gets
threatened by the other people who want to kill him. Fortunately he had a lot of
knowledge that help him to pass the threat. It can be concluded that Santiago
can fulfill his safety needs. In the third level, Santiago has been successful to
satisfy his love and belonging, he has met Fatima, the woman he ever dreams
of. He also had a lot of friends. It because he is a shepherd, who lived by keep
moving place to place. It makes he get some of friend in each place he ever
41
love and belongingness needs. In the fourth level, Santiago has been fulfilling
his self-esteem needs. It causes his parents has taught him to respect the eldest
people he ever met. He shows it when he met the King of Salem. Santiago gets
the appreciation also from the chieftain when Santiago saved the Oasis by his
interpretation of the desert. The chieftain wanted him to become a counselor.
But, he refuses it. Santiago wanted to continue his journey to the treasure.
Therefore, Santiago has been fulfilling his self-esteem need. In the last level,
Santiago has been fulfilling his self-actualization to become a shepherd as his
destiny. The writer can concluded that Santiago has been successful to
fulfilling his needs.
B. SUGGESTION
From the analysis and the conclusion above, the writer would like
to propose the follow suggestion. In The Alchemist novel, the writer found that
the main character can fulfill his needs. By his struggle he tries to pass the
barriers and obstacle. In this paper, the writer suggest to other researcher who
is interested to analyze this novel to use the setting and plot theory to analyze
the novel to know about the novel deeper. It because the setting of this novel is
very interesting to be analyzes. The researcher should be more carefully about
the theory and the subject of analysis that is can be explored more to get the
best analysis. It is not only by using theory of Maslow, but also another
intrinsic of the novel can be analyzed. May this research will motivate the
