What does the crystal shopkeeper symbolize?

The crystal merchant serves as an important friend to Santiago during Santiago's time in Tangier, but he also functions as a cautionary case of someone who has become complacent and given up the pursuit of his Personal Legend.

Why does the crystal merchant help Santiago?

In desperate need of money, Santiago is hired by a crystal merchant, who tells him that even a year's wages would not pay his way to Egypt, which is thousands of kilometers distant. The crystal merchant offers to give Santiago enough money to return to Andalusia.

Why is the crystal merchant Santiago's foil?

He decides to forge onward in pursuit of his Personal Legend. In literary terms, the crystal merchant is considered to be Santiago's foil, a character who demonstrates by contrast everything that another character is and isn't.

What does the crystal symbolize in The Alchemist?

Crystal Glassware: Fragility and clarity are the characteristics represented by the crystal merchant's crystal glassware. Desert: The desert is symbolic of all the obstacles and hardships that stand between people and their dreams. In The Alchemist, characters learn to accept the desert, even listen to it.

Why is the crystal merchant afraid of change?

The crystal merchant resists these changes, because he is content with his small business, just as he fears realizing his dream of traveling to Mecca, because he worries that he won't have anything to live for if his dream is realized.

Why I Stopped Collecting Crystals (honest advice you should hear)

Why is the crystal merchant afraid to sell tea in his shop?

Again, the merchant is hesitant because he doesn't like change. He says, ''If we serve tea in crystal, the shop is going to expand. And then I'll have to change my way of life. '' Despite his reservations, the merchant gives Santiago permission to sell tea.

What is the crystal merchant's Dilemma The Alchemist?

The crystal merchant is one of those people you want to pick up and shake into taking some action to make their lives better. The problem is that he doesn't want his life to be any better; he'd rather it always be the same than have to deal with change to make it better.

What is the crystal merchant dream?

Crystal Merchant A middle-aged resident of Tangier, he hires Santiago to work in his shop. The crystal merchant's Personal Legend is to make a pilgrimage (or haj) to Mecca, but he knows he will never fulfill this dream. He is Santiago's foil, a character who characterizes another by contrast.

Why doesnt the crystal seller want to expand his shop?

However, despite the success Santiago has brought to the crystal shop, he states he doesn't want the shop to grow too much. He feels more comfortable with circumstances staying relatively the same. Being much younger and more ambitious, Santiago feels confused by the merchant's attitude.

What effect does Santiago have on business at the Crystal Shop?

List all the different ways, Santiago has an effect on the merchant. He has expanded the shop by convincing him to sell tea, he has taught him about omens, and the merchant tells him that he wants to live imagining about going to Mecca.

How would you describe the crystal merchant?

The crystal merchant serves as an important friend to Santiago during Santiago's time in Tangier, but he also functions as a cautionary case of someone who has become complacent and given up the pursuit of his Personal Legend.

What does the crystal merchant sell?

After hearing a man complain about the lack of places to drink on the hill, Santiago suggests that the crystal merchant also sell tea in crystal glasses.

How does the crystal merchant influence the boy's actions?

How does the crystal merchant influence the boy's actions? By sharing his story and his regrets, the crystal merchant teaches the boy that some people would rather fantasize about their dreams than live them.

Why does the author include the merchant in the story?

Why does the author include the merchant in the story? He represents an everyday man, good, and hardworking and it shows the way he works. Give an example of Santiago's lively approach to business and the crystal merchant's caution.

What fear does the crystal merchant have about Santiago's second suggestion of how do you improve his business?

What fear does the crystal merchant have about Santiago's second suggestion of how to improve his business? He will have to expand his business.

What does Santiago suggest to the crystal merchant as a strategy to make more money?

What does Santiago suggest to the crystal merchant as a strategy to make more money? To actually use the crystal cups to sell tea to display their value.

What lessons does Santiago learn by working at the Crystal Shop quizlet?

The lessons that Santiago learns is he needs to be persistent in fulfilling his personal legend and he also learners through the words and inaction of the crystal merchant. Coelho chose the crystal merchant because he wants to showcase the different paths a person may choose in life.

In what way was it necessary for Santiago to clean some of the merchants crystal In what way was it necessary?

Santiago replies that they both needed to cleanse their minds of bad thoughts. The crystal merchant says it was a good omen that customers entered while Santiago cleaned and offers Santiago a job. Santiago says he will clean all the merchant's crystal overnight in exchange for money to get to Egypt.

How is Santiago different from the shops owner?

How is Santiago different from the shop owner? The main difference is that Santiago wants to find his personal legend, and the crystal merchant doesn't.

What do Santiago's sheep symbolize?

Santiago's sheep symbolize the sort of existence lived by those who are completely blind to their Personal Legends. Santiago loves his sheep, but he also expresses thinly veiled disrespect for them because of their animal desires for mere food and water.

Why does the merchant claim to feel worse than he did before the boy arrived to work for him?

Why does the merchant claim to feel worse than he did before the boy arrived to work for him? The merchant feels worse because the boy has shown him that every opportunity is a blessing and that he could accomplish a lot with the blessings he has but he does not want to make change and accomplish them.

Why does the crystal merchant say Maktub?

Maktub. Many of the characters that Santiago meets during his journey use the word maktub, which as the crystal merchant explains, means “it is written.” The word typically appears just as Santiago is about to turn to a new chapter in his quest, usually by taking a big risk or abandoning a comfortable situation.

Is selling crystals a good business?

Yes: the market for healing crystals has never been bigger!

Today, it's a $1 billion+ industry, and continues to grow. Natural crystals and stones are in high demand and there's lots of money to be made in selling them.

What is the primary effect of the crystal merchant's words?

What is the primary effect of the crystal merchants words? The crystal merchant's words are used to help Santiago on his trip, even though the crystal merchant did not complete his dream of going to Mecca.