Thursday, April 21, 2011

In Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist, what is the list of places that Santiago visits on his journey? I know the story, so i don't need it explained to me i...

Yours is
actually an interesting question.  In fact, I am wondering if it is a "trick"
question.  Why?  Because even though the final part of the novel's journey is in Santiago
finding the pyramids, theof the book reveals his return to Spain! 

First, it
is important to note that Santiago's journey outside of his hometown does,
indeed, end with finding the pyramids.  Unfortunately, he is mugged at that very moment. 
Santiago tells the thieves of his dream of finding treasure and the thieves (or at least one of
them) shares their dreams of finding treasure as well.  Theof the dream is that the dream of
treasure is about a little church in Spain and the treasure buried there.  Santiago promptly
interprets this dream as meaning the treasure he seeks is actually in his own hometown
church!

THUS, the actual end of Santiago's journey comes in the Epilogue when
Santiago is no longer in Egypt, but has traveled back to Spain and finds the treasure.  It is
here, of course, that Santiago utters his famous line:

I'm
coming, Fatima.

Truly, and in this way, not only have
Santiago's dreams become reality, but they have become a reality in his own hometown.  It is
this journey back to his hometown that ends Santiago's quest.

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