Key Themes:

Fate and Free Will: The novel explores how fate and choices interact, showing that one must take active steps to fulfill one's destiny.

The Journey over the Destination: The story illustrates that the lessons learned during the journey are often more valuable than the goal itself.

Ultimately, Santiago finds that the treasure he sought was closer to home than he imagined. The journey allowed him to discover the wealth of wisdom, love, and understanding of life.