What Does "Sheep: Mean?

In the book, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, Santiago’s sheep represent people relying on others to support them throughout life. In life people can’t do everything by themselves, you need someone to lean on. The sheep are just like that but they lean more heavily on Santiago because they are not as smart he is: “As long as the boy knew how to find the best pastures in Andalusia, they would be his friends“(7). This quote shows that the sheep know who they can lean on to show them the way to what they need in life. Whether he knows it or not Santiago leans on the sheep as much as they do. The sheep give him their wool; he sells the wool and gets money that keeps him alive: “’I need to sell some wool,’ the boy said to the Merchant” (5). It’s the same with human to human friendships. People support each other and help show each other the way to fulfilling your life.