Analysis_of_Siddhartha_by_Herman_Hesse

Siddhartha Analysis I think it was interesting how Siddhartha and Buddha were completely different people in this story. I have always learned that Siddhartha had achieved enlightenment and then became Buddha; however this story puts a different perspective onto this. I think the reason behind this may be that it is trying to show the reader the actual battle of a person trying to become enlightened, and they needed someone to exemplify that enlightenment (Buddha) one was trying to achieve. The irony of this book was what really made it an excellent read, because it wasn’t a simple book but a life lesson. It taught the reader that the typical mindset isn’t always the right one; just as Siddhartha’s views of Hinduism. It was also interesting to see that Siddhartha had almost everything he wanted: looks, wealth, respect, and a noble family. His Brahmin family had always implemented idealistic views onto him, yet he refused those clichés of idealism. He enjoys a near-idyllic existence with his best friend, Govinda, but is secretly dissatisfied. He continues to follow all the rituals that his family and religion says will bring happiness and peace. Nevertheless, he still feels like something is missing from his life, he doesn’t know what is missing though. His father and all the elders in his family and caste all act as if they are religious, yet have flaws and have not attained enlightenment; this was the predominant reason he left his family and religion behind. Siddhartha thinks his father and the fellow Brahmins have tried to pass all their knowledge and wisdom, but he still feels as if something is lacking. So one day, a group of Samanas come through his town. They are so starved he can see their rib cages, and they come begging for food. They believe that enlightenment can be achieved by becoming a sanyassi and through asceticism. His father had never taught him anything close to what the Ascetics believed, they rejected all physical and material things. So he and his best friend, Govinda, decide to go along with the Samanas. However, his father didn’t agree with their decision – however Siddhartha protests by standing in the window all night long. In the morning, his father tells Siddhartha that he may join the Samanas. His father also says that if “you find bliss n the forest, you should come back and teach me. If you find disillusionment, come back and we shall again offer sacrifices to the gods together”. So Govinda and Siddhartha begin their journey to become enlightened: to see the meaning of life and how to live. I thought it was quite intriguing to see how a man who was born in a high-caste family could disregard his family’s religious views in such older times. Indian culture evolved, and still evolves, around family life – so to see someone “disobey” their religion and family was quite astonishing and one of a kind. As Siddhartha and Govinda stay with the Ascetics, they quickly learn the way of the Samanas. The reason behind this was due to their Brahmin origins of patience and discipline. They both learn how to free themselves from the traditional trappings of life, and so lose their desire for all material things: property, clothing, sexuality, and everything else except for basic necessities to live. Siddhartha thought he could attain enlightenment by eliminating himself. However Siddhartha is still dissatisfied – after living the way of the Samanas he still doesn’t see the meaning of life. The goal of a Samanas was to become empty, to shut out joys of life, and just wallow in the sorrow and pain that remains. Siddhartha successfully lived this way, yet still had an “empty bucket”. The path of self-denial didn’t provide a permanent solution for Siddhartha, he says that the oldest Samanas have lived half-starved and rejecting of all material things, yet they still don’t seem to know the meaning of life, nor have they been enlightened. However, Govinda notices that they have gained considerable moral and spiritual improvement since they have been under the feet of the Samanas. Around this time, Buddha’s name comes apparent through the plot. The Samanas hear from other priests and holy men about a man named Gotama, who was believed to be a holy man who had successfully achieved enlightenment. He called his total spiritual enlightenment Nirvana. Govinda convinces Siddhartha that living with the Samanas hasn’t really changed their spiritual perspectives on life, so they agree to leave the shelter. The leader of the Samanas isn’t happy about Govinda and Siddhartha’s decision, but Siddhartha gives him such a magical look, that he cannot argue back with the two. As the two friends being another journey, they eventually land at Gotama’s camp and are taken in – just like the Samanas had taken them in. Siddhartha begins to see what he had wanted to see in Gotama. He and Govinda learn the eightfold path, the four main points, and other aspects of Buddhism. Govinda is quick to learn these and follows them with very strict disciplines. However, Siddhartha, as usual, doubts the teachings of Gotama. He doesn’t think he can gain the enlightenment he had always wanted to attain since childhood. He sees imperfections and finds a contradiction in Gotama’s teachings. He realizes that Buddhism will not answer his quest, so he leaves. However, Govinda feel contempt with his new monk-lifestyle and feel as if his answers to life have been questioned. Siddhartha, on the other hand, embarks on a life from meditation and the spiritual quests to the materialistic world. Siddhartha decides to go back to the city; on his way to the city he has to cross a river. At the river he meets a ferryman, who seems fully content with his simple life. As Siddhartha reaches the other side of the river, he sees a beautiful woman by the name of Kamala. He wanted to learn about love, and he thought she could teach the meaning of love to him. However, she tells him that he needs to be fit into the material world. He takes up a job as a merchant with a man named Kamaswami. Siddhartha hones his skills at business and Kamala eventually falls into love with him. She teaches him all there is about love. Time passes and Siddhartha’s profession of being a merchant brings in riches. He starts living an affluent life of gambling, drinking, dancing, sex, and other materialistic things. The more he seems to earn in the material world, the more dissatisfied he is. At the peak of his “bad” living, he dreams of Kamala’s rare songbird, dead in its cage. This represents how the world is slowly killing him; he was on a path of enlightenment and slowly degraded himself to the material world. So one night, he departs everything, without telling Kamala or Kamaswami. He wanders to a river and decides to commit suicide by drowning himself. Instead he falls asleep, as he is asleep Govinda – who is a Buddhist monk – passes by. Not recognizing Siddhartha, he watches over him to protect him from snakes. Siddhartha wakes up and recognizes Govinda, but Govinda notes that Siddhartha has changed significantly from his days with the Samanas and now appears to be a rich man. Siddhartha responds that he is currently neither a Samana nor a rich man. Siddhartha wishes to become someone new, away from his sinful life of the material world. Govinda leaves to continue his journey and Siddhartha sit by the river and consider where his life has taken him. I think it was ironic and symbolic how Siddhartha came from a Rich family, went off to the jungles to discover the meaning of life, and ended up back to the material world of physical attachment. It foreshadowed how he completed a circle and was wound to find his path. Ironically, the same ferrymen that had helped Siddhartha cross the river to the city meets Siddhartha again, he introduces himself as Vasudeva. Siddhartha sees inner peace in his eyes and wants to know how he can attain that. Vasudeva simply says he has attained it by studying the river – I think the river was symbolic of the path and flow of life. Life never stops moving, just like river; instead we need to learn the ups and downs the learn its meaning. Siddhartha wants to learn everything Vasudeva has to teach, so he starts working alongside him. Siddhartha studies the river and begins to take from it a spiritual enlightenment unlike any he has ever known. While sitting by the river, he contemplates the unity of all life, and in the river’s voice he hears the word Om. One day Kama approaches the ferry along with her son on a pilgrimage to visit Gotama, who is said to be dying. Before they can cross, a snake bites Kamala. Siddhartha and Vasudeva tend to Kamala, but the bite kills her. Before she dies, she tell Siddhartha that he is the father of her 11-year-old son. Siddhartha tries to provide for the son, but he is spoiled and cynical. Siddhartha’s son dislikes the lifestyle Siddhartha has chosen to live and tries to leave, but Siddhartha doesn’t allow him. So he eventually runs away with all Vasudeva and Siddhartha’s money. Siddhartha tries chasing him, but he realizes it is pointless. Vasudeva follows Siddhartha and bring him back to their home by the river, instructing him to sooth the pain of losing his son by listening to the river. Siddhartha continues to study the river for year, and Vasudeva teaches Siddhartha how to learn secrets from the river, once again symbolizing life. Siddhartha finally has a revelation by learning the river with a true intent. He sees how the river is connected to other bodies of water and is returned by rain, just like the cycle of life and death. By the time Siddhartha is enlightened, Vasudeva tells Siddhartha he is leaving to retire into the forest. I thought it showed how Vasudeva was meant to meet Siddhartha, teach him the ways of life after he had seen it all, and once he had succeeded he had completed his life’s goal. The metaphor of him returning to the forest meant the end of his life. Now Siddhartha had gained all the knowledge Vasudeva had, and all through experience, through hard life lessons – just as every man is going to be. In the end, Govinda returns to the river to seek enlightenment to meet a wise man he had heard of. To his astonishment, the enlightened man was Siddhartha – however Govinda doesn’t recognize him. Govinda was still a Buddhist but has not attained the enlightenment he thought he would. He asks Siddhartha to teach him the ways of life and to become enlightened. Just as Siddhartha had learned, wisdom cannot be taught, because words aren’t powerful enough. Instead, he asks Govinda to kiss him on the head, and when he does that, the vision of unity that Siddhartha has experienced is communicated instantly to Govinda. Govinda and Siddhartha have both finally achieved the enlightenment they set out to find in the days of their youth.