offers Santiago’s money to the tribesmen. Santiago is surprised because he saves it for his entire life. The Alchemist tells him that everything can happen in the
desert and money will have no value if they die. In fact, the money saves them for three days in the military camp Coelho 141.
The Alchemist is a brave man. When the tribesmen stop them, the Alchemist bravely looks into the eyes of the tribesmen. He does not show any fear
to the tribesmen. Moreover, Santiago realizes that the Alchemist dominates them. “You can’t go ay father,” one of them said. “You’re in the area where the
tribes are at war.” “I’m not going very far,” the alchemist answered, looking straight into the eyes of the horsemen. They were silent for a
moment, and then agreed that the boy and the alchemist could move along. The boy watched the exchange with fascination. “You dominated those
horsemen with the way you looked at them,” he said. “Your eyes show the strength of your soul,” answered the alchemist. Coelho 136
The author describes the Alchemist’s personal description as a mysterious desert man. The readers may find that the Alchemist is a wise man through his
thoughts, speech, and actions. In addition, through his reaction and direct comment from the author, the readers can understand that he is a cautious person.
Moreover, from his speech to other characters, the readers will find his brave side. Using six out of nine ways proposed by Murphy, the readers will be able to
understand more about the Alchemist’s characteristics.
4.3 The Influence of the Minor Characters on Santiago’s Motivation in
Realizing His Dream
In this section, theories by Mischel and Rotter as cited by Schultz and Mischel are applied. Mischel 530 states that there is a mutual influence between
person and condition. He also says that people have the ability to control their environment Mischel 455. Some aspects that can be influenced by others are
self-control and personal responsibility. As cited by Mischel 479, Rotter states that such perceptions involve a dimension of “perceived locus of control.” Internal
and external loci of control are the types of locus of control proposed by Rotter as cited by Schultz 423.
The major character of The Alchemist is Santiago. He is a shepherd who wants to make his dream come true. He decides to have a journey to the Pyramids
in Egypt in order to search the treasure just like in his dream. At first, Santiago’s motivation is intrinsic motivation. All he wants is just to travel around the world.
Santiago meets many people in his journey to realize his dream to find the treasure in Egypt. Sometimes during the journey, Santiago faces some moments
which make him unsure about his decision. Thus, his motivation about travelling changes. Five minor characters in the story influence his motivation in searching
the treasure in the Pyramids, Egypt.
4.3.1 The Influence of The Old Man Known as Melchizedek
In the beginning of the novel, it is described that Santiago has just visited a gipsy woman to interpret his dream about the treasure in the Pyramids
but the woman cannot tell any information he needs about his dream. Because of that, Santiago decides that he will not believe in dreams anymore Coelho 15.
At the time when Santiago is unsure about his dream, whether he has
to realize it or just leave it, he meets Melchizedek. They have a conversation at
the marketplace. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
Melchizedek, who is intelligent and is able to read people’s mind, knows a lot about Santiago’s life even though they have not meet each other. Melchizedek
also tells him a story about a baker that they see during their conversation Coelho 22-23. The baker leaves his Personal Legend; all he wants is travelling, just like a
shepherd. As time goes by, people think bakers are more important than shepherds, because they have homes and shepherds do not. In addition, for the
baker him self it becomes more important than his Personal Legend. Melchizedek tells it to Santiago because Santiago is trying to realize his Personal Legend.
Nevertheless, he is also at the point where he is about to give it all up. While they are conversing, Santiago reminds Melchizedek of something about treasure.
The boy reminded the old man that he had said something about hidden treasure. “Treasure is uncovered by the force of flowing water, and it is
buried by the same currents,” said the old man. “If you want to learn about your own treasure, you will have to give me one-tenth of your flock.”
Coelho 24
Santiago has a Personal Legend. It is travelling around the world. He is determined about his Personal Legend. It can be seen when Santiago refuses to
become a priest and chooses to travel and when he decides to be a shepherd because his family cannot afford his travelling. It is clear that Santiago is intent in
pursuing his dream to travel around the world. Jung 4 says that motivation includes terms that refer to such diverse states as desires, wishes, goals, intents,
impulses, and purposes. Thus, Personal Legend in this story means motivation. Santiago’s motivation occurs because of his needs. He likes to travel
because he can feel the freedom. Conversely, he cannot feel it when he has to stay at the seminary. This is the reason why he refuses to become a priest.
But ever since he had been a child, he had wanted to know the world, and this was much more important to him than knowing God and learning
about man’s sins. One afternoon, on a visit to his family, he had summoned up the courage to tell his father that he didn’t want to become
priest. That he wanted to travel. Coelho 8
Reflecting hierarchy of needs by Maslow as cited by Baron 378-389, Santiago’s motivation is included to esteem needs. Since Santiago looks for
freedom in his travelling, his motivation is categorized to self-esteem. Before leaving, Melchizedek says that he will wait for Santiago the next
day to give him one-tenth of his flock. After saying so, Melchizedek leaves him. Melchizedek is an intelligent person and is able to read people’s mind. He knows
what exactly Santiago thinks about, so he lets him go. Santiago begins to read his book again, but he is not able to concentrate. He is upset because he knows that
Melchizedek is right about Personal Legend Coelho 25. It influences Santiago’s mind. On the way to his friend’s stable, he interrupts his return and climbs the
stone ramp of the city’s castle Coelho 26-27. There he starts to think about his flock and his treasure. It indicates that Santiago is influenced by what
Melchizedek has said to him. Once, he is unsure about his treasure but after having a conversation with Melchizedek, Santiago realizes that actually he wants
it. Here I am, between my flock and my treasure, the boy thought. He had to
choose between something he had become accustomed to and something he wanted to have. There was also the merchant’s daughter, but she wasn’t
as important as his flock, because she didn’t depend on him. Maybe she didn’t even remember him. Coelho 27
He also thinks about his family and his hometown that he leaves behind. “I left my father, my mother, and the town castle behind. They have
gotten to my being away, and so have I. The sheep will get used to my not being there, too, the boy thought.” Coelho 28 It shows that Santiago decides to
find his treasure in the Pyramids. He wants to pursue his Personal Legend, just as what Melchizedek has said to him. He understands that everything he leaves
is only the steps toward his Personal Legend Coelho 28. Here, we can see that Melchizedek really influences Santiago’s
motivation. Santiago interacts with Melchizedek. Within this interpersonal interaction, Melchizedek influences Santiago through his wise advice. According
to Young 164, people have actions, reactions, and interactions. It means that their acts in turn further affect one’s behaviour within their interaction. Referring
to Schultz 423, Santiago is a person with external locus of control because Melchizedek controls his reinforcement. In this situation, Santiago is a pawn
person. Finally, in the next day Santiago gives Melchizedek one-tenth of his flock.
Then Melchizedek gives his advice to Santiago about the treasure. This advice is always remembered by Santiago during his journey: “In order to find the treasure,
you will have to follow the omens. God has prepared a path for everyone to follow. You just have to read the omens that he left for you.” Coelho 29
Then Santiago crosses the strait to go to Egypt. In the new continent, Santiago sees that everything is very different. “How strange Africa is, thought
the boy” Coelho 33. However, Santiago does not seem worry to what happens around him. He keeps his motivation as influenced by Melchizedek to come to the
Pyramids and to find the treasure. Santiago thinks about the omens during his time PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
