In The Alchemist, what does Santiago learn from his sheep?

In Coelho's The Alchemist, at first Santiago believes that his sheep do not consider anything beyond eating and sleeping. He believes that they have no way of understanding that life might have a deeper purpose: after all, they are only animals. However, this is, in many ways, the way Santiago has lived—how most people live. He has had dreams but for some time, he has never acted on them. When he finally decides to set off and sees that there is more to life than working each day in a long progression of repetitious behaviors—through an seemingly meaningless life—that Santiago learns that there is purpose in life if one will only be willing to search it out.

There is foreshadowing in the first few pages to indicate that this may not always be the case:

He arose and, taking up his crook, began to awaken the sheep...He had noticed that, as soon as he awoke, most of animals also began to stir. It was as if some mysterious energy bound his life to that of the sheep...

As Santiago travels and meets the Gypsy woman, Melchizedek, the crystal merchant, the Englishman, the camel driver, and eventually the alchemist, he discovers that there is a world he was never aware of. He learns to search for his Personal Legend. He looks for omens, and is finally able to converse with the desert, the wind and even the sun. Life becomes a much fuller experience, and his rewards are great: for he also learns that things are not as important as people. Fatima becomes the center of his world. Santiago also learns to persevere rather than quitting when things become difficult.

As for his sheep, Santiago looks at them differently as well, and in studying them, he learns something important about how all things in the world are connected:

...the sheep had taught him something even more important: that there was a universal language in the world that everyone understood...It was the language of enthusiasm, of things accomplished with love and purpose, and as part of a search for something believed in and desired.

In coming to this realization, Santiago also believes he can "conquer the world."

Once Santiago understands that everything is connected, he realizes he is connected not just to other people, but also to nature as well, including the sheep—animals that, like Santiago, continue their journey, one step at a time.

In The Alchemist, what does Santiago learn from his sheep?

At the beginning of Coelho's The Alchemist, Santiago has been a shepherd for two years. This is a good amount of time to acquire many experiences and skills with any job. And Santiago is a true shepherd who knows each of his flock by name--unlike a sheepherder who drives his sheep around like dumb animals. This implicitly tells us that Santiago is kind, patient, and talks to his sheep as if they were friends. (Consequently, the relationship with his sheep is also a direct allusion to how Jesus refers to himself and his followers in the Bible.) The sheep represent the boy's safety zone where he is at peace and sustaining a life of his own. He thinks about the sheep often as he searches for his treasure because, if he fails to fulfill his Personal Legend, he could possibly go back to them and that life.

At other times, he sees them as a dead-end job. He describes this as follows:

"If I became a monster today, and decided to kill them, one by one, they would become aware only after most of the flock had been slaughtered. . . They trust me, and they've forgotten how to rely on their own instincts, because I lead them to nourishment"(7).

Later, while facing obstacles and failure on his journey, he sees them as a point of reference to either give up and go back to them, or as a reason to keep going forward rather than go back. He rationalizes his thinking by saying,

"I know why I want to get back to my flock. . . I understand sheep; they're no longer a problem, and they can be good friends. On the other hand, I don't know if the desert can be a friend, and it's in the desert that I have to search for my treasure. If I don't find it, I can always go home"(65).

We all have a safety zone that is scary to leave or a nice place to go back to if we've left it. Remembering his safety zone helps the boy to make weigh the consequences of decisions throughout the journey, and as a result, keeps him moving forward to achieve his dreams.

What are some of Santiago's quotes about sheep in The Alchemist?

The word sheep is used about one hundred times in the text of The Alchemist, so finding a quote about sheep in the book should not be difficult. The second paragraph of the narrative contains a quote that tells readers that Santiago was putting sheep inside of a fenced area for the night. This question does specify that the quotes need to be by Santiago. I am going to assume that Santiago doesn't have to audibly say something about sheep: a thought of his about sheep should work too.

From the beginning of the story, readers see that Santiago has an adventurous spirit. He likes being out in the world and experiencing life and different horizons all of the time. While he does have grand dreams of fulfilling his Personal Legend, being a shepherd is something that gives Santiago the opportunity to travel. He will openly admit it to the King of Salem.

"Why do you tend a flock of sheep?"

"Because I like to travel."

Another good quote to use from Santiago about sheep occurs early in the novel when he is speaking with the merchant's daughter. She is surprised to learn that Santiago knows how to read, and he explains the he learned in school like everybody else. He also says the following about his sheep:

"Well, usually I learn more from my sheep than from books," he answered.

This is a fantastic quote because of how it places an emphasis on experiential learning rather than book learning. This balance of books and experience is important later in the novel when Santiago and the Englishman teach each other about the benefits of each learning style.

Another quote about sheep from Santiago is the following:

Sometimes it's better to be with the sheep, who don't say anything. ... But when you're talking to people, they say some things that are so strange that you don't know how to continue the conversation.

Santiago's sheep don't say anything to him, and he's okay with that. He doesn't always talk to them, and they are okay with that.

What might the habits of Santiago's sheep symbolize in Coelho's The Alchemist?

At the beginning of Coelho's The Alchemist, Santiago is traveling the countryside with his flock of sheep. He muses to himself about his sheep as follows:

"They were content with just food and water, and, in exchange, they generously gave of their wool, their company, and--once in a while--their meat" (7).

The sheep represent most people in the world who do not seek or discover their Personal Legends; and, in fact, daily habits get in the way of finding our personal treasures. Most people go along in life working to supply themselves and their families with the basic necessities of life--and there's nothing wrong with that unless these daily habits distract us from something greater. People may also give generously of what they have and live content lives without any regrets; but, the main theme of the book is that a person can only achieve one's highest potential after fulfilling one's own Personal Legend. Santiago's thoughts even turn a bit darker regarding his sheep as in the following passage:

"If I became a monster today, and decided to kill them, one by one, they would become aware only after most of the flock had been slaughtered" (7).

This is a scary thought because if the sheep represent people in the world, then the parallel could be extended accordingly. How many people have the habit of only focussing on daily responsibilities that they do not notice opportunities to succeed or to improve their quality of life right in front of them? It is sad, but people can become like sheep if they are only focused on living out their daily lives without any more purpose than to find something to eat each day. Coelho stresses throughout the book that we can become more than just sheep in life; in fact, we can discover our highest potential if we seek to discover our Personal Legend.