Santiago learns a bit about Personal Legends and omens from the crystal merchant; however, I do not think that is the most valuable thing that Santiago learns from the crystal merchant. I think the most valuable thing that Santiago learns is a lesson about the importance of action and actually seeking out his dreams and Personal Legend. Through the crystal merchant, Santiago gets a very good example of what a person looks like and/or becomes when dreams stay dreams and action is never taken to attain the dream. The crystal merchant has his own dreams, but he is unwilling to actively do anything about them, and it is for a silly reason. He's afraid that if he realizes his dream, he will have no motivating reason to keep on living:

Because it's the thought of Mecca that keeps me alive. That's what helps me face these days that are all the same, these mute crystals on the shelves, and lunch and dinner at that same horrible café. I'm afraid that if my dream is realized, I'll have no reason to go on living.

He would rather have the dream always present instead of actually achieving it; therefore, he is always able to come up with some kind of excuse to not make his pilgrimage. Santiago almost takes this lesson to heart because he considers returning home to watch his sheep; however, Santiago has learned that the crystal merchant is also a fairly unhappy individual because of that attitude. Santiago finishes his time with the crystal merchant motivated to continue on his journey.

Santiago learns two valuable lessons working at the crystal merchant's shop. First and foremost, he learns the importance of doing whatever is necessary to follow your Personal Legend. Santiago wants to go out into the big wide world and travel. He is impatient with life and wants so much more out of it. The crystal merchant also has his dreams. But unlike Santiago, he is not prepared to do anything to make them come true. His Personal Legend will remain unfulfilled. The crystal merchant stands as a warning to Santiago: this is how he will end up if he does not continue the active pursuit of his Personal Legend.

Santiago also learns that a stubborn, unthinking adherence to tradition can hold people back. The crystal merchant lives a passive life--only doing something if "it is written." Santiago, however, understands the importance of taking hold of one's destiny and shaping the future in accordance with your own innermost drives and desires. Santiago learns from his encounter with the crystal merchant that fate is not written, and it is not set in stone; it is something that you yourself can create and change.

One important lesson Santiago learns is through the words (and inaction) of the crystal merchant. The crystal merchant, when asked by Santiago why he never travelled to Mecca, answers that "having the dream of traveling is more important than the actual accomplishing." Santiago witnesses firsthand the results (or lack thereof) of not fulfilling one's personal legend. This helps to motivate Santiago to fulfull his personal legend.

Santiago also learned that he needed to be persistent in fulfilling his personal legend. Santiago had to "put his time in" at the crystal merchant's shop. He had to endure the frustration of working for someone else in order to solidify his desire to realize how important it was for him to move forward.

What are some of the more important lessons Santiago learns in Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist?

One of the first lessons that the boy learns comes after he is robbed in Tangier. As he looks at the people around him the next morning, he realizes the following:

He was learning a lot of new things. Some of them were things that he had already experienced, and weren't really new, but that he had never perceived before. . . He realized: If I can learn to understand this language without words, I can learn to understand the world. (43-44)

Most young people want to understand the world in which they live—the boy isn't much different. Consequently, not only does he want to understand the world, but he wants to carve out a life for himself by realizing his Personal Legend and finding his treasure. Therefore, after being robbed, he examines his choice: to go back to his old life or to continue forward with his journey. It is at this point that he realizes that he must get back up and try again whenever he is knocked down, if he is ever to succeed. As a result, Santiago pays closer attention to omens in an effort to keep learning and heading in the right direction.

As he learns more about omens, he ultimately learns more about the Language of the World. The most important lesson that Santiago learns is that the Language of the World is connected to the Soul of the World, which is God. Once he learns this, he is able to create miracles for himself, as in the following passage:

The boy reached through to the Soul of the World and saw that it was a part of the Soul of God. And he saw that the Soul of God was his own soul. And that he, a boy, could perform miracles. (152)

This is the most vital lesson because once he understands this, he is able to change himself into the wind and escape death for himself and the Alchemist. It is also this understanding that completes his training in preparation for finding his treasure and realizing his Personal Legend. 

What are some of the more important lessons Santiago learns in Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist?

There are many lessons that Santiago learns in Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist. Truthfully, I find something new each time I pick the book up again. One of the beautiful things about this short novel is that the simplistic story is overflowing with meaningful pieces of wisdom (life-lessons).

Santiago learns that things are not always as they appear. For instance, he thinks his recurring dream is a promise of money; actually it is a promise of personal achievement, and hopes and dreams realized. He believes that the young man who befriends him in the market place is actually trying to help him, but Santiago learns that the man was only interested in stealing his money.

Santiago learns that the world around him is speaking to him through omens all the time. One of the most impressive omens that Santiago recognizes is that of the hawks fighting: the vision that comes to him reveals that the oasis will be attacked, and he is able (through his warning) to save lives.

Santiago learns that sometimes a negative thing can really be a blessing in disguise. When he is robbed, he is tempted to give up the pursuit of his Personal Legend. When he is forced to work for the crystal merchant, he must learn patience. He finds satisfaction in what he does, but helps the merchant as well. The "boy" also learns important lessons from the life experiences of the crystal merchant—things that convince him to continue.

From the Englishman, Santiago discovers that he cannot be what he is not: this includes trying to think like the Englishman. Santiago's companion (while crossing the desert) believes that knowledge comes from books. Santiago considers this and even tries to learn this way, but he soon finds that books do not speak to him: the world does, through omens and the Language of the Universe.

There are many other things Santiago learns, but perhaps the most important lesson is that life's rewards sometimes present themselves in surprising or unexpected ways. Some of the things that become the most valuable to Santiago are finding love with Fatima, becoming one with the universe and connecting with the Soul of the World. He finds surprising riches on his journey to find himself.

What lessons does Santiago learn by working for the crystal merchant?

1. The power of action. It's not enough to have dreams; you have to be prepared to take action to make those dreams come true. The Crystal Merchant is a Muslim and yet has never been on the Haj to Mecca. Yet, Santiago sold his sheep and quit his job as a shepherd to follow his Personal Legend.
2. Change is both inevitable and desirable. Once again, the Crystal Merchant provides an example of what Santiago is reacting against. The Merchant is stuck in his ways, terminally resistant to change. He doesn't seem to understand why his business is failing. Santiago suggests they build an outdoor display to attract more customers. The Merchant eventually relents and Santiago's idea pays off.
3. You must live in the present. The present moment is the only field of possibility: the past is over, and the future has yet to happen. That's the trouble with the Merchant—he doesn't embrace the present and instead allows himself to be defined by his past and a desired future that he has no intention of fulfilling. He wants to have something to look forward to in life. Ironically, this attitude guarantees that he will never have anything real to look forward to.
4. We have nothing to fear but fear itself. Fear holds us back and stops us from taking risks. The Merchant won't go to Mecca, nor will he do anything to improve business unless prompted by Santiago. But in order to achieve our Personal Legend it is necessary to realize that the fear of suffering is always worse than the suffering itself.

What did Santiago learn at the end of the book The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho?

Santiago learns a lot of different things in the closing pages of the book and all throughout the story. I think the one ongoing lesson throughout the book is a lesson in perseverance. Santiago is continually met with obstacles that force him to consider whether or not to go on in pursuit of his Personal Legend. Over and over again, Santiago chooses to continue; however, he doesn't learn until the end of the book that the actual journey was far more important than any supposed monetary treasure. This is what the wind tells him at the end of the book.

"No," he heard a voice on the wind say. "If I had told you, you wouldn't have seen the Pyramids. They're beautiful, aren't they?"

Santiago also learns that love is a far more important and beautiful treasure than any monetary and materialistic treasure could be. It's why the book ends with him seeking out Fatima.

Finally, I also think that an important lesson that Santiago learns in the final third of the book is about the value of possessing great treasures within. I think that treasure relates to both perseverance and love, and the alchemist makes a point of telling Santiago how valuable those internal treasures can be.

"To show you one of life's simple lessons," the alchemist answered. "When you possess great treasures within you, and try to tell others of them, seldom are you believed."

What did Santiago learn at the end of the book The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho?

On the last page of the book, and before the Epilogue, Coelho writes that Santiago's heart burst with joy "because now he knew where his treasure was" (163). Outside of the deep, personal lessons that Santiago learns on his journey to finding his treasure, the question is always persistent as to whether or not he will actually find a real treasure of gold and jewels in the end; happily, he does. He discovers that his treasure was buried in the old, abandoned church where the story began where he and his sheep slept for the night. It was also there that Santiago had his dream about finding the treasure at the Pyramids in Egypt. Without the 2-3 year journey through the desert, though, he wouldn't have discovered how to listen to his heart, to the earth, to the wind, and all of the other elements associated with the Language of the World. Without these and many other experiences, he never would have learned about love, alchemy, or himself, either.

What might be the symbolism in that Santiago ends up working in a crystal shop in Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist?

In Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist, the crystal shop may be symbolic of where Santiago finds himself in the pursuit of his Personal Legend. In one interpretation, we might see that the crystal acts like a window, allowing Santiago to see what might lie ahead of him. It is here that he learns from the crystal merchant what can happen when one does not "seize the time." The merchant also had a dream, his own Personal Legend to travel to Mecca. However, he puts it off, builds a business (which he cannot leave) and by the time he can afford to go, he is too old. This disappointment can be Santiago's if he loses faith, so the crystal could be showing him what life might look like for him. However, it would be important also to remember that when looking through crystal, the image on the other side is distorted, so this would suggest that Santiago would have to decide with his heart, and not by what he sees…or hears, for the crystal merchant does not encourage the boy in his quest.

The crystal shop might also be symbolic of "all that glitters is not gold." Crystal has long represented "wealth" because it was so hard to make and only the very rich could afford it. From a distance, the crystal shop stands out, and the light that reflects off of the clean and sparkling crystal draws passersby to shop, and later to drink tea. The merchant says to Santiago:

Business has really improved…I'm doing much better, and soon you'll be able to return to your sheep. Why ask more out of life?

The boy responds that he must follow the omens. The merchant understands this concept, but does not understand Santiago's desire to visit the Pyramids. He says:

I don't know anyone around here who would want to cross the desert just to see the Pyramids…They're just a pile of stones. You could build one in your backyard.

In some respects, the crystal merchant is telling Santiago that "this is as good as it gets." He tries to dissuade the boy from pursuing his dream. If Santiago allowed himself to be taken in by the merchant' perceptions (a theme in the book), along with the lure of the commission (a good one as the merchant had not expected Santiago to be successful), he would have stopped his journey there. However, the attraction of selling crystal has been missing since the boy's first day on the job…

…it wasn't exactly the kind of job that could make him happy.

And ultimately, Santiago knows himself well: he wants to be on the move. He still believes in his Personal Legend, even though he does, at times, have his doubts. However, when the time comes to make his decision to move on or return home, he thanks the crystal merchant, asks for his blessing, and—receiving it—moves forward toward realizing his dream.

What are some of the things Santiago has learned through action in Coehlo's The Alchemist?

In Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist, Santiago learns a great deal by action. He learns quite a bit about the land and his sheep by being a shepherd and paying attention to the world around him, though he doesn't yet know that he is learning the Universal Language.

After Santiago has spoken to Melchizedek (the King of Salem), he is reminded of the omens his grandfather had mentioned to him. By traveling, watching and paying attention, the world will speak to Santiago to help him find his Personal Legend. Melchizedek notes:

God has prepared a path for everyone to follow. You just have to read the omens that he left for you.

Through action, Santiago learns how easy it sometimes seems to give up searching for one's Personal Legend. When the boy is robbed, he takes a job working for the crystal merchant. It is his intent to save money, buy sheep and return to his old life. In doing this, he is able to learn about his boss who did give up his Personal Legend and now has regrets. The merchant admits he is afraid to go to Mecca now, as he did not when he was younger...

...it's the thought of Mecca that keeps me alive.

Santiago does not want to have regrets by passing up his chance at achieving his Personal Legend.

Santiago also learns by action that "book learning" is not the way in which he best understands the world or pursues his Personal Legend. He tries to read, but this action does not "speak" to him.

"That's strange," said the boy..."I've tried for two years to read this book, and I never get past these first few pages."

The boy decides that perhaps he could try reading the Englishman's books, while the Englishman will try to read the signs of the desert.

The Englishman said, "I'd better pay more attention to the caravan."

"And I'd better read your books," said the boy.

The boy learns nothing from the books, and the Englishman learns nothing from watching the caravan. He takes back his books and packs them away again in their bag.

"Go back to watching the caravan," [the Englishman] said. "That didn't teach me anything either."

Santiago has a moment of enlightenment:

"Everyone has his or her own way of learning things," [Santiago] said to himself."

Santiago realizes that his path is uniquely his own, as is the case with the course the Englishman follows. This is something the boy learns by action—in this case, trying to read books.

Toward the end of the story, when the soldiers of the desert are ready to kill Santiago if he cannot turn himself into the wind, the boy learns to speak to the desert, the wind—and the sun...that admits that he never knew that man could understand "that all things are one." Santiago believes he can accomplish his goal because he believes...

We are all made by the same hand, and we have the same soul.

The sun sends Santiago to...

Speak to the hand that wrote all...

Love springs from the boy's heart and he prays. He understands...

...that only the hand could perform miracles, transform the sea into a desert...or a man into the wind....The boy reached through to the Soul of the World, and saw that it was a part of the Soul of God. And he saw that the Soul of God was his own soul. And that he, a boy, could perform miracles.

Only by doing, searching and asking—all actions—is the nature of the world made clear to Santiago so that he can turn himself into the wind, which will lead ultimately to his ability to achieve his Personal Legend.

What are some of the life lessons Santiago has learned through action in Paulo Coelho's novel, The Alchemist?

I think the biggest lesson that Santiago learns is a lesson about perseverance. His journey to find his treasure and Personal Legend is not easy. He has to deal with the harsh environmental dangers that are found in that region of the world, and he also has to deal with the human dangers. More than once Santiago is forced to deal with bandits that threaten to stop his journey. Santiago even debates giving up and returning home, yet he keeps pushing himself. He patiently perseveres despite constantly being impeded from obtaining his goal, because his goal is worth it, and that is an important lesson for Santiago and readers. Good things can come to those people who are patient and persevere through adversity.

Santiago also learns a great deal about spirituality and the natural world. He may have started his journey as a journey for wealth, but along the way he learns to search for and work toward a pure soul. If he wants to achieve his Personal Legend, Santiago has to learn to listen to and use the Soul of the World. Santiago achieves this harmony, and he learns that all of the world around him is different forms of the same spirit. This kind of knowledge helps Santiago learn and understand that he gained so much more from his journey than only material wealth.

Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.

What are some of the life lessons Santiago has learned through action in Paulo Coelho's novel, The Alchemist?

In the novel, The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho, Santiago learns a great many lessons. Santiago, a young shepherd, leaves his sheep to pursue his Personal Legend—the course of his destiny. He also learns to listen to the Language of the World.

The young boy, with the guidance of an old king, learns that there are omens everywhere, and that by paying attention to these omens, he will be able to learn what he is meant to accomplish during his life. This is his Personal Legend. When he goes on his dangerous trip across the desert, he finds more than one kind of treasure.

She smiled, and that was certainly an omen—the omen he had been awaiting, without even knowing he was, for all his life.

Santiago also learns to listen to nature, and watch for signs (omens) there: that in every aspect of the natural world, the earth is attempting to communicate its secrets if people will only listen.

The stranger continued to hold the sword at the boy's forehead. 'Why did you read the flight of the birds?'

'I read only what the birds wanted to tell me. They wanted to save the oasis.'

This novel is one that resonates with a great many people. It encourages the reader, through Santiago's story, to search for a meaning to one's own life. Santiago's life lessons can speak to people regardless of their "journey."