Sheep play an important role in Part One of The Alchemist—the novel opens with the shepherd Santiago thinking about his sheep. What does Santiago observe about their existence? How might the sheep symbolize the way some people live their lives?

Sheep play an important role in Part One of The Alchemist—the novel opens with the shepherd Santiago thinking about his sheep. What does Santiago observe about their existence? How might the sheep symbolize the way some people live their lives?