Answer:
Gold is the ultimate treasure, motivating Santiago to abandon everything even Fatima.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the novel "The Alchemist," by the Brazilian author Paulo Coelho, gold is a symbol taken from alchemy that reflects the ultimate treasure that every person seeks. In the story, the protagonist, a young shepherd called Santiago, dreamed with a magnificent treasure buried near the Pyramids of Egypt. So, following his dream, he decided to start a journey to Egypt in pursuit of that treasure. The treasure became his greatest goal and the main motif to keep on traveling. During his trip, he found different teachers and advisers who taught him about the signals and to listen to the language of the universe. Once in Egypt, he met an alchemist who became his mentor. In fact, he abandoned everything in the quest for the treasure, including Fatima, the girl that he was in love with.
Actually, Gold is the ultimate treasure for alchemists, who for centuries tried to find the Philosopher's Stone, a mythical artifact that would help them to transform impure metals, such as lead or mercury, into gold. This a symbol that represents the inner transformation of a person who, through philosophy and listening to the signals of the universe, would transform its own impure nature into a more elevated and pure state: a golden soul.