Indirect Characterization In The Alchemist

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In The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho, indirect characterization is used to contribute to the theme of, when following one’s Personal Legend, one’s attitude and behavior may become bitter. While travelling through the desert, Santiago befriends the Englishman. Santiago asks him, “‘Why do they make things so complicated?’... The boy had noticed that the Englishman was irritable, and missed his books” (82). Santiago is curious about alchemy so he asks the Englishman many questions. From the way that the Englishman responds, he assumes that the Englishman gets irritated easily. The Englishman getting easily annoyed indirectly characterizes the Englishman as not patient and easily irritable. The Englishman’s easily irritability contributes to the theme

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