The Alchemist

by

Paulo Coelho

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on The Alchemist makes teaching easy.
When Santiago and the alchemist are taken prisoner by a hostile tribe, the alchemist barters for their release and uses as leverage the opportunity to see Santiago turn himself into the wind. Santiago then listens to his heart, which allows him to speak to the desert, the wind, and the sun, as he tries to learn how to transform himself. Santiago speaks to the desert about love, and the desert offers its sands to help the wind blow, but it cannot transform Santiago into the wind.
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The Desert Character Timeline in The Alchemist

The timeline below shows where the character The Desert appears in The Alchemist. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part Two
The Interconnectedness of All Things Theme Icon
...He tells the chieftain that the process will take a while. Santiago gazes out at the desert . The desert asks him why he is back, after spending all of the previous... (full context)
Maktub and What is Meant to Be Theme Icon
The Interconnectedness of All Things Theme Icon
Alchemy and the Value of Simplicity Theme Icon
Santiago explains love as the falcons’ flight over the desert sands. The falcon knows the desert intimately, but the desert says that the falcons steal... (full context)
Maktub and What is Meant to Be Theme Icon
The Interconnectedness of All Things Theme Icon
...its help. The wind wants to know who taught Santiago to speak the language of the desert and of the wind. Santiago says that it was his heart. The wind is stronger... (full context)
The Pursuit of Your Personal Legend Theme Icon
Maktub and What is Meant to Be Theme Icon
The Interconnectedness of All Things Theme Icon
Alchemy and the Value of Simplicity Theme Icon
...everyone that when improvement is sought, everything becomes better, and love is the transformative force. The desert is static, the wind is always moving, and the sun sees everything from a remove.... (full context)
The Pursuit of Your Personal Legend Theme Icon
Maktub and What is Meant to Be Theme Icon
The Interconnectedness of All Things Theme Icon
Alchemy and the Value of Simplicity Theme Icon
The Unimportance of Death and Fear Theme Icon
...to pray. It is a prayer from his heart filled with love. Santiago understands that the desert , the wind, and the sun are seeking the same thing as he is, which... (full context)