In the novel Paulo Coelho writes, "Looking around, he sought his sheep, and then realized that he was in a new world. But instead of being saddened, he was happy. He no longer had to seek out food and water for the sheep; he could go in search of his treasure, instead. He had not a cent in his pocket, but he had faith. He had decided, the night before, that he would be as much an adventurer as the ones he had admired in books." (Coelho, 42) The boy, Santiago, had to sell of his sheep to travel to the great pyramids in search of his treasure, yet the sheep were like his family, and needed lots of care. He couldn't bring them with him, it would be a dangerous journey and the sheep would slow him down. Yet he was happy his sheep would get care from the shepherd he sold them too. With the coin he got from selling his sheep he was robbed by a theif and was left alone in the middle of a closed market place that night, crying himself to sleep.
Though for when he wakes in this market place, it seems cheery and filed with morning sun. All the fear and sadness is gone. He has faith he will find his treasure, a boost of confidence from somthing unseen. Though since he is so happy now I'm guessing further in the book he will come across a big problem or conflict that will test is confidence and he will wish to return to his old life as a shepherd with his sheep. He will give up his dream of becoming a great adventurer and finding his treasure. But he will have to carry on past that point to get to his treasure in the end.
A small article about some parts and over all view of the novel The Alchemist by Pauko Coelho The Alchemist Article
In The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern suggests that when people have a deep and passionate longing for something, whether self gain or for someone else's they will try with everything in them to achieve it by all means necessary. Without this longing to drive people along in their life, their lives will become dull and meaningless. Celia and Marco help to develop this theme throughout the book. In the beginning Celia Brown the daughter of a great magician would obey her father without complaint. Then she longed for freedom to live her own life without her father ruling her. "After months of it she was exhausted from the travel and the strain and the fact that her father barely lets her eat, as he claims looking like a waif makes her seem more convincing, closer to the other side." (Morgenstern, 48) Celia does not fight her father on the fact, she just goes with what he says. Later she keeps going forward with her life even though her father still follows her around and tells her what to do. She longs to be free from him and make her own decisions. "Celia turns back to Marco's flat, pressing her hand against the door. "Stop behaving as though you love that boy," Hector says. "You are above such mundane things."" (Morgenstern, 397) Celia's father, Hector, does not want his daughter to be in love with Marco, even though Celia longs to be with him. They quarrel for a while until Celia just walks away, following her own path. When her father was controlling her her life was meaningless going from day to day to follow his commands, when she followed her own longings she found a life she wanted.
Marco also had a father, that commanded him when he was young. "The man in the gray suit visits him in his rooms every day, most often accompanied by a new pile of books, spending exactly one hour lecturing about things the boys I'm sure he will ever truly understand. Only one does the boy inquire as to when he'll actually be able to do something, The kinds of things that the man in the gray suit demonstrates very rarely himself during a strictly scheduled lesson.... He was not deemed ready for some time." (Morgenstern, 30) Marco's father does not let him expand on his magic ability, and as a young boy Marco really wanted to. But was a good boy and listen going from day today without a true longing to drive him. When he aged and matured he moved out and refused to see his father. And he falls in love with Celia though his father does not approve. Yet he still longs for her. Both of these characters had a longing for something else and for each other. These actions with each other and against their own parents as well as the competition moved the story line along, making it more exciting. Longing was a theme and they both possessed it, and followed it.
A summary and small explanation of the real world allusions in the book, The Night Circus. Written by New York Times author Stacey D'erasmo.
