Signpost #2 - Pages 51-90

Signpost: Again and Again/ Contrasts and Contradictions - Pages 54-55, 59
   Throughout his whole time in Africa, Santiago gets closer and closer to deciding to go home. The more money he gained throughout the chapter, the more convinced Santiago seems to go home. At the last minute, he changes his mind and decides to cross the desert with a caravan. The crystal merchant tells Santiago what has happened in his life since he never followed his dream, which eventually changed Santiago's mind about giving up and going home. The crystal merchant's story brings Santiago back to everything Melchizedek told him, and inspires him to continue on. 
Signpost: Aha Moment - Page 60
   Santiago realized how much he has learned in his time away from home from the crystal merchant and even the young thief. As he reflects on everything he has learned throughout his time in Africa, he realizes that, despite the massive amount he learned from being free and traveling around with his sheep, he knows he cannot learn everything from a flock of sheep. There is only a limited number of things he can learn that way, and now it is time for Santiago to move on and learn something new. 

Reflection:

   I was amazed by how much Santiago learned about dreams and goals from someone who never followed theirs (the crystal merchant). I was also amazed that after a year in a foreign land, and learning a new language for the sake of his dream, he seemed totally willing  to just give up and go home, and forget that he ever had a dream. The message seems to be that learning anything is pointless if we are not going to put it to good use in attaining our goals and dreams. The Englishman confuses me a lot. He has little patience for a simple child, but any time he has any opportunity to teach Santiago, he attempts to do so. Going back to the metaphor made by Melchizedek, he seems to be completely focused on the drop of oil in his spoon, and is forgetting to look around and enjoy life a little. He and Santiago are opposites in the metaphor; Santiago focuses more on the beauty of what is around him than on what is truly important to him. This allows him to get close to abandoning his dreams for what he sees as a simpler life of beauty with his sheep. The Englishman and Santiago learn from each other that they need to strengthen their weaker sides, and that those around you are often willing to help with your weaknesses, especially when your weaknesses are their strengths. 

Questions:

• Why do you think Santiago chose to tell the crystal merchant what he refused to tell the baker? 

• Would his life have been different if he had chosen to go back home after a year in Africa?

• Is Melchizedek still with Santiago in a way? 

• What does the wind symbolize, and what does it equate to in our lives?

• Would it have been smarter for Santiago to go home with his new found knowledge, rather than continuing on to learn more?

• Does Santiago have a deeper understanding of alchemy than the Englishman, or is his simplifying it, as the Englishman suggests?