As the caravan travels, the Englishman spends his days poring over his books to learn the secrets of alchemy; Santiago, meanwhile, throws his book away, instead opting to observe the desert and listen to the wind. The Englishman represents the type of character who has book knowledge, but not practical knowledge. He tries to learn alchemy through the intellect. The Englishman’s character is a foil, or contrasting character, to Santiago's character: Santiago has rejected the life of the mind for a life of interaction and a journey of purpose. Action, personal experience, and observation, Santiago believes, will bring him closer to understanding the language without words…the universal language. Based on the conversation between Santiago and the Englishman on page 79, does it appear that the two have anything to learn from each other?

In Paulo Coelho's "The Alchemist," Santiago's experiences and observation teach the Englishman that he should see the reality around him and examine the world. On the other hand, the englishman teaches Santiago to read more about the world. In fact, he tells Santiago a story about a boy who must travel with a spoon with oil, which he must not drop. Thus he advices Santiago to see the world but not to miss his goals and dreams on the journey.