**
When Santiago asks the Englishman why the books are so complicated,
the man replies that the information in them is the responsibility of
those who can understand and so that not everyone can transform lead into
gold. If anyone could do this, gold would lose its value. The boy still
doesn't understand these books any more than the Englishman understands
the caravan.
This section reinforces the idea that even though we are all part of
the One Thing, we don't always understand each other.
**
Santiago tells the Englishman that what he learned from his books was
that the world has a soul, whoever understands this soul also understands
the language of things, that many alchemists had discovered these things,
and that they are all so simple that they could be written on the surface
of an emerald. The Englishman is disappointed that Santiago has so overwhelmingly
simplified his books and decides that the boy must be too primitive to
understand. As for understanding the caravan, he decides it didn't teach
him any more than his books had taught the boy.
The impact of this small section is summarized in its last lines - Santiago
says that everyone has his or her own way of learning things, but he respects
the Englishman for searching for his own Personal Legend. This is a lesson
we can all learn. If we respected everyone's differences, we might all
be able to live together in peace.
**
The journey across the desert becomes more and more frightening as they
all come to realize that the slightest sound could land them in danger.
The camel driver tells Santiago one night that he's not concerned about
war, because he doesn't live in either his past or his future. He lives
only for the present and life is a grand festival since it is only the
moment being lived now.
The lesson of this section is obvious - the past is over and the future
has yet to occur, so live for the present, because it is a gift.
Thinking about not making the desert crossing and avoiding the war
is stupid, because it's too late and thinking about being attacked by
the tribes is ridiculous, because it has yet to happen. Think instead
about the life in the desert and the stars in the heavens.
**
The next morning Santiago approaches their arrival at the oasis the
way the camel driver approaches life. He just stares at the line of date
palms. He knows that someday this will only be a memory, but he wants
to live it as he did the lessons of his past and his dreams of the future.
He thinks that it's true that the world speaks many languages, because
yesterday the groan of a camel signified a possible attack while today
the date palms herald a miracle.
In this section, Santiago comes to realize the reality of the present
as a festival. He learns to savor the moment, because it is over too soon.
**
This section is devoted to the thoughts of the Alchemist who lives on the oasis. He enjoys watching the caravans arrive, because he thinks that the desert makes man appreciate the date trees. He also knows that within this caravan is a man to whom he is to teach some of his secrets. The omens have told him this and he hopes that the man will be as capable as his previous apprentice.
The things he will teach this man have to be transmitted by word of
mouth, in spite of the fact that God easily reveals his secrets to all
his creatures. He knows that these facts are made up from the pure life
and this kind of life cannot be captured in pictures or words of a book.
People become too fascinated by the pictures and words and forget the
Language of the World.
The Alchemist is very wise and transmits to the reader some basic truths: adversity can make you appreciate the little things in life like a tree and people often fail to learn God's secrets, because they can't see beyond the complex to the simple aspects of life.
Clapsaddle, Diane. "TheBestNotes on A Long Way Gone".
TheBestNotes.com.
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