Melchizedek Known as The Old Man

commission for every selling that he makes. This reaction shows that the crystal merchant is a generous person. The readers can find it in the story. Even though the merchant is an old grouch, he treats Santiago fairly by giving him a good commission for each piece he sells Coelho 51. The author lets the readers recognize the crystal merchant’s generosity from his reactions. The crystal merchant offers Santiago a high commission rate after realizing that his business shows improvement since he works for him. He does it because he knows that Santiago wants to get back to his country and buy some sheep Coelho 53. The readers can also find that the crystal merchant is a religious person from his speech. When he decides to treat Santiago after he cleans his crystal glassware, the crystal merchant says he does it because Koran requires him to do so. He tells Santiago that actually he does not need to clean the crystal to get some food because the Koran requires all Muslims to feed a hungry person Coelho 46. As a Muslim, the crystal merchant wants to go to Mecca. This pilgrimage is the fifth obligation for every Muslim. The crystal merchant always dreams of it since he is very young. In fact he has not done it yet although he has already had the money that he needs. The merchant was silent for a few moments. Then he said, “The Prophet gave us the Koran, and left us five obligations to satisfy during our lives. The most important is to believe only in true God. The others are to pray five times a day, fast during Ramadan, and be charitable to the poor.” He stopped there. His eyes filled with tears as he spoke of the Prophet. He was a devout man, and, even with all his impatience, he wanted to live his life in accordance with Muslim law. “What is the fifth obligation?” the boy asked. “Two days ago, you said that I had never dreamed of travel,” the merchant answered. “The fifth obligation of every Muslim is pilgrimage. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI We are obliged, at least once in our lives, to visit the holy city of Mecca.” Coelho 54 The crystal merchant is a selective person. As a merchant for thirty years, he has to think about profit and loss. Realizing that there are two customers come in his shop while Santiago is cleaning the crystal, the crystal merchant then decides to hire him in his shop Coelho 46. The way of the crystal merchant thinking shows how selective he is. He shows it when Santiago wants to build a crystal display to attract people in the downhill. The crystal merchant does not agree directly. “’I’ve never had one before, the merchant answered. ‘People will pass by and bump into it, and pieces will be broken.’” Coelho 52 He thinks that it is too risky for his business. Even Santiago tells his experience about his sheep in fields, which may be killed by snake, the crystal merchant keeps in his opinion. He argues that he is not like Hassan, the rich man. If he makes a buying mistake, it will affect him much, so he chooses to be more selective Coelho 53. After having a quite long conversation with Santiago, the crystal merchant knows that the boy wants to make his dream happen, going back to his country and buying sheep. Thinking that Santiago has already made improvement in his business, then the crystal merchant permits him to build the crystal display. “That day, the merchant gave the boy permission to build the display. Not everyone can see his dreams come true in the same way.” Coelho 56 Two months after building the display, another improvement is suggested by Santiago. Then, the crystal merchant has to think again about the idea. He does not want to lose his business he has. “Let’s sell tea to the people who climb the hill.” “Lots of places sell tea around here,” the merchant said. “But we could sell tea in crystal glasses. The people will enjoy the tea and want to buy the glasses. I have been told that beauty is the great seducer of men.” Coelho 57 He converses with Santiago as he thinks about the idea. Then he understands that what happens to him and his business is a real blessing. Since Santiago works in his shop, he gets a big profit that he never imagines in his life before. The crystal merchant thinks that he does not want to get a curse if he ignores the blessing brought by Santiago. Therefore, he lets Santiago begin selling tea in the crystal glasses. By saying “Sometimes, there’s just no way to hold back the river.”, the crystal merchant lets Santiago begin selling tea in the crystal glasses Coelho 59. The crystal merchant is also a dreamer. The readers can understand it from his speech to Santiago. The crystal merchant knows that the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca is an obligation for all Muslims. In fact, he just likes to dream his pilgrimage. He keeps it as his dream since he was very young. Even he has already had enough money to go to Mecca; he keeps his pilgrimage as his dream. He is afraid if he realizes his dream, he has no more reason to live in the world. He tells Santiago that they are different because Santiago wants to make his dream comes true. Even the crystal merchant has imagined his trip to the holly city of Mecca as his pilgrimage in detail since he is a young, he is still afraid that it will be just a disappointment for him Coelho 55. The crystal merchant gives his blessing to Santiago the day before he leaves the crystal shop. As he gives his blessing, he says to Santiago that he will not go to Mecca. “Will you give me your blessing?” asked the boy. “You have help me.” The man continued to prepare his tea, saying nothing. Then he returned to the boy. “I’m proud of you,” he said. “You brought a new feeling into my crystal shop. But you know that I’m not going to go to Mecca. Just as you know that you’re not going to buy your sheep.” Coelho 61 The readers may find that the crystal merchant is a conservative person through his speech, reactions, and direct knowledge from the author. In addition, through his reactions too, the readers can understand that he is a generous and a selective man. Moreover, from his speech to another character, Santiago, the readers can find that he is a dreamer.

4.2.3 Fatima

Fatima is a typical Arab woman. She is single because a woman who has already married in this story must be dressed in black. Yet, Fatima is not dressed in black. “Finally, a young woman approached who was not dressed in black. She had vessel on her shoulder, and her head was covered by veil, but her face was uncovered. The boy approached her to ask about the alchemist. ” Coelho 92 She is a beautiful desert woman who has dark eyes. At the first sight, Santiago is mesmerized by Fatima’s beauty. Because of her beauty, Santiago directly falls in love with her at that time, too. When he looked into her dark eyes, and saw that her lips were poised between a laugh and silence, he learned the most important part of the language that all the world spoke ─the language that everyone on earth was capable of understanding in their heart. It was love. Coelho 92 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI The author of the novel also gives his direct comment about how Fatima looks like. It can be seen when Fatima introduces herself to Santiago. She tells him that her name is the name of the Prophet’s daughter. The invaders carry the name everywhere. Fatima is a supportive girl. At the first time, she shows this personality when Santiago tells her that he thinks the war is a curse for him because he cannot find the treasure near the Pyramids. Now he thinks that the war is a blessing because he can meet her. Moreover, he will wait her every day in the well where she takes water. Fatima does not show her enthusiasm directly. She knows that Santiago loves her much, but she does not try to detain him from searching the treasure. By saying, “The tribesmen are always in search of treasure,” the girl said, as if knowing what he was thinking. “And the women of the desert are proud of their tribesmen.” Coelho 96, Fatima shows her support for Santiago to keep searching his treasure. Fatima tells Santiago why she wants him to continue toward his goal, searching the treasure. She encourages him that she does not need to fear about anything when he has to go because she is part of him, part of his dream. “That’s why I want you to continue toward your goal. If you have to wait until the war is over, then wait. But if you have to go before then, go on pursuit of your dream. The dunes are changed by the wind, but the desert never changes. That’s the way it will be our love for each other. Maktub,” she said. “If I’m really part of your dream, you’ll come back one day.” Coelho 97 In the next meeting, Fatima and Santiago still talk about the same topic; Santiago’s searching of treasure in the Pyramids. Fatima’s supportive side is seen when she encourages Santiago to realize his dream. Since many desert men leave their wives, Fatima knows how a woman’s feeling about being left by her husband, even though she has not married yet. Since she is a desert woman, watching other desert women wait for their coming men is a part of her life. She becomes accustomed with it. Now, she is one of the desert women who wait for their coming men. She is proud of it because she knows that her man is a great man Coelho 98. On the day before Santiago leaves, Fatima still supports him. She wants Santiago to go for searching the treasure because it is what he wants. In addition, she wants to make him believes that she will always wait for him. She promises to him that she will wait with hope. She has an experience which happens to her parents. One day, her father goes away but he comes back. Since then, whenever and wherever her father goes, he always comes back to her mother. Because of this, she has a strong belief that Santiago will come back for her Coelho 122. Fatima is a sincere girl. She likes to tell the truth about what she really feels and believes about something. Since she is a child, she dreams that the desert will bring her a present. She wants it for years. Now, her present is here. It is Santiago Coelho 97. She believes that Santiago really loves her. She tells him that she loves him too. Fatima does not afraid if one day Santiago has to leave her to search his treasure. She believes that they meet because of destiny. All the omens in his life bring him to her Coelho 97. When Fatima and Santiago talk about his leaving, she tells him that she is used to of being left by her father. She lives in the desert. And desert men usually leave their wives. When the men do not come back, the women know that their PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI men become part of everything in the world. They become part of the Soul of the World. Even Fatima has not married yet, she is accustomed to it Coelho 98. Fatima also tells him that she is proud of being a desert woman. And she says that if one day Santiago becomes her husband, she wants him to be like other desert men. She will accept the fact if one day her husband will be the part of the world like other men who do not return. “I’m a desert woman, and I’m proud of that. I want my husband to wander as free as the wind that shapes the dunes. And, if I have to, I will accept the fact that he has become a part of the clouds, and the animals, and the water of the desert.” Coelho 98 On the day before Santiago leaves, Fatima shows her sincerity. When Santiago tries to tell Fatima that he loves her because of something, Fatima interrupts his talk. She believes that there is no reason for someone to be loved or to love Coelho 122. After having some talks, Fatima cries. She cries because she loves Santiago. Now, the man who she loves will go for pursuing his dream. In addition, Fatima has to accept the risk if something bad will happen to Santiago. “He saw that Fatima’s eyes were filled with tears. ‘You’re crying?’ ‘I’m a woman of the desert,’ she said, averting her face. ‘But above all, I’m a woman’.” Coelho 122 The personal description of Fatima shows that she is a beautiful Arab girl with dark eyes. The author’s direct comment also shows that her beauty makes Santiago falls in love with her at his first sight. From her speeches and reactions, the readers may find that she is a supportive girl. Even loves Santiago, she keeps supporting and encouraging him to pursue his dream in finding the treasure near