Analysis Of Herman Hesse's 'Siddhartha'

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Escobar Pg 1 Rivers often serve several purposes, may it be physically or metaphorically they enhance life as a whole. The son of Nazareth being baptized in a river signifies it 's importance of enlightenment, becoming overwhelmed with the Holy Spirit. As our protagonist searches for complete Nirvana in the beautifully illustrated Siddartha, he is ultimately instructed by a river. Going far beyond a physical landmark, Herman Hesse exemplifies the significance of the river. The river provided the lighting path for Siddartha and satisfying his thirst for knowledge. As Siddartha encounters the river several times in his quest for Nirvana, he is lead through various obstacles that act as a catalyst to his enlightenment. As …show more content…

48). He dreams of an encounter with his dear friend Govinda who transforms into a women. This forshadows Siddhartha’s change in realm from a spiritual world to a physical world of lust. As he awakens, he first lays his eyes upon the river which portrays Siddarthas readiness into the new realm. In crossing the river the ferry man mentions to Siddartha, that he’ll come back to the river and forms a friendship between each other. As Siddartha reaches the other side of the river he enters the physical realm and leaves behind the spiritual …show more content…

As he enters a neighboring village, a woman seduces Siddartha into desire. Immediately, the dream he had at the river replays in Siddartha’s head, plunging him deeper into his desires. But Siddarthas spiritual-self detains him from such desires, and he flees to a city. In an attempt to encapture the heart of Kamala, Siddartha shaves his beard and cuts his hair. “Then he bathes in a river,” signifying the death of Siddarthas spiritual self and the rebirth of his new one (Pg. 52). A merchant soon takes Siddartha under his wings and makes him successful. For many years Siddartha lives his life “Amongst the people” (Pg. 63). His love making with Kamala dives Siddartha into gambling, drinking and women, imprisoning him like the bird in the golden cage. “For a long time Siddartha had lived the life of the world without belonging to it,” although he realizes this change, Siddartha is paralyzed to act upon it (Pg. 75). Realizing there is no hope in the life he has attained he runs away from Kamala and the city, fleeing back to the river. As he gazes down towards the green water, he sees a reflection of himself full of emptiness (Pg. 88). Full of despair Siddartha embraces a nearby coconut tree and plunges into the river. As he submerges OM enters his mind and rejuvenates everything that was divine within him.

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