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 universal language. Based on the conversation between Santiago and the Englishman (page 77-79 Gold Cover; pages 80-82 Red Cover), does it appear that the two have anything to learn from each other?
