Urim and Thummim

            In The Alchemist, written by Paulo Coelho, there are many objects that relate to the plot and character development; one of which is the pouch and two stones, Urim and Thummim, which Santiago received from the King of Salem. Santiago trusts these two strange stones, and puts his faith in them. At various times in the book, Santiago has turned to them for advice, and they have calmed and even guided him. Urim and Thummim are capable of indirectly changing the plot by helping the protagonist make key decisions, and answering his questions. Perhaps, without these stones, Santiago may have simply given up and went home after he lost his money while being pre-occupied by a beautiful sword. Urim and Thummim’s response of simply falling out of the pouch also left the reader wondering after Santiago asked about finding his treasure. This entices the reader and makes us want to find out whether or not he actually does find his treasure. As far as character development goes, these mysterious stones not only guide him, but comfort him when he feels uneasy. The stones help make him who he is, and at times they make him feel “less desperate”. When he was alone in the plaza, the stones helped him to realize that “this wasn’t a strange place; it was a new one“. Urim and Thummim are now part of Santiago’s personality, and give him the courage to keep on going, even when he feels that he has lost all hope.