...Siddhartha is treated differently depending on how wealthy or poor he appears to those that he encounters. The way that he is treated challenges Indian religious culture through the reinforcement of class division and social hierarchy. For example, when Siddhartha is a Brahmin he is treated as someone that is above the common people by those that are around him because of the way that he is dressed and the culture views people in that station. However, when Siddhartha is a Samana he is treated with kindness but the people around him also do not necessarily respect him as they did when he was a Brahmin because he is a beggar in society when he is in this station. When Siddhartha is a merchant and a respected friend of Kamala he is treated in...
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...the field of not only your morality but the morality of others and how they influence you. In Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha, Siddhartha’s voyage to find his Self closely follows Lawrence Kohlberg’s Levels of Moral Development by the different moral stages Siddhartha experiences throughout his journey. Kohlberg’s theory is split into three levels each with two stages. The first level is Pre-conventional morality with stage one: Obedience and punishment orientation, and stage two: Instrumental Orientation. Which basically...
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...the world and his own path in life. Siddhartha has many experiences throughout his life, which affect his path and his views about attaining inner peace. Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse is about Siddhartha a young man living in India who is trying to find happiness within himself. The book describes his spiritual journey and quest to reach happiness with his companion, Govinda. Siddhartha realizes that he should not follow specific directions or teachings of other people to reach enlightenment, as demonstrated by his experience living as a Brahmin, joining the Samanas and learning the teachings of the Buddha, but should rather follow his own unique path...
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...Siddhartha's Journey and Kohlberg’s Moral Development "Morality is the ability to see an issue from points of view other than just your own." In Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha, Siddhartha’s voyage to find his Self closely follows Lawrence Kohlberg’s Levels of Moral Development by the different stages Siddhartha experiences throughout his journey. Kohlberg’s theory is split into three levels each with two stages. The first level is Pre-conventional morality with stage one: Obedience and punishment orientation, and stage two: Instrumental Orientation. Which basically means that children believe the rules of authority figures, such as parents and teachers, but also express the individual's belief that is interested in their own interest. This...
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...purpose helps the soul feel a sense of complacency and one will do anything in it’s power to reach that Nirvana. Herman Hesse exhibits these examples in his novel Siddhartha. He reveals the journey of the protagonist, Siddhartha, in his expedition of his discovery of his very own contentment. Though Siddhartha undergoes many...
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...Pieces of a Puzzle The places we visit and live in affect us in some way, shape, or form; they help mold us into who we are. In Siddhartha, written by Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha tries to find a way to reach enlightenment by trying out different religious practices. He leaves his home with the Brahmins, and travels around with different religious groups to find his enlightenment. In Siddhartha the different environments that he lives in helps shape him and find inner peace. In the story, Siddhartha becomes void of human feelings and temptations due to his life with various cultural practices. “A goal stood before Siddhartha, a single goal: to become empty, empty of thirst, empty of wishing, empty of dreams, empty of joy and sorrow.” (12). Siddhartha...
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...enlightenment there is always one thing that can taint our ambition and easily lead us onto a different path. This one thing that is so great and powerful comes from inside of us. This powerful force is desire. In the novel Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha was on a path to find Nirvana, he showed discipline and ambition by fasting for days and adapting his body to withstand all kinds of weather. He questioned all of his ways of seeking nirvana. Eventually he faced a sudden desire which abruptly paused his search for...
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...1. Throughout Part One of the story, Siddhartha is on a journey to find enlightenment. He has a strong passion and curiosity to find the meaning of Nirvana. I interpreted that Hesse wants us to believe that enlightenment comes from within. He uses several rhetorical devices to develop this theme. On page 11, I found Siddhartha uses hyperboles to show his passion. When the Brahmin asked him if he will fall asleep Siddhartha says, “I will not fall asleep.” For me, this shows that he is so passionate about finding enlightenment, that he is willing to give up anything. This is an exaggeration, because he cannot live without sleep. Eventually, he would die of exhaustion, and not find enlightenment. On page 33, Hesse uses personification to develop the theme. “Opinions mean nothing; they may be beautiful or ugly, clever or foolish, anyone can embrace or reject them.” This uses personification because it gives humanlike qualities to opinions, which is a noun. 2. I can assume that Siddhartha will continue on his path to Nirvana. He has developed more confidence in his decisions. On the last page of Part One, it foreshadows Siddhartha’s future decisions. The last paragraph says “Immediately he moved on again and began to walk quickly and impatiently, no longer homewards, no longer to his father, no longer looking backwards.” I can predict that Siddhartha will...
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...1) Siddhartha- Hermann Hesse A) Archetypal Criticism: Hermann Hesse has incorporated numerous symbols, metaphors and allusions into his work to help the reader understand the story of Siddhartha better. Similarly, Archetypes are also present in this book. The main Archetypal character in the book is Siddhartha. He is a seeker who wants to experience a better, more authentic and more fulfilling life by achieving enlightenment. He fears being trapped and is true to his soul. For example, he leaves the Brahmins, the Samanas and Gotama Buddha in pursuit of more knowledge to fulfill his desire of gaining enlightenment. Similarly, Vasudeva is also another Archetypal character in the story. He serves as a counselor towards Siddhartha and is a role model to him. For example, in the chapter “the ferryman” Siddhartha surrenders to Vasudeva his entire self, even his clothes, in order to follow his example in leading a life of calm fulfillment and wisdom. Along with archetypal characters, archetypal symbols are also present in the book. The River is definitely the most influential archetypal symbol in the book. It represents the flowing of time and transitional phases of the life cycle. For example, whenever a great transition occurred in the book like when Siddhartha left Gotama Buddha and also when he abandoned his wealth he came to the river. When Siddhartha observed the river he learned that the river exists only in the present, it is everywhere at once, upstream...
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...In Hesse’s Siddhartha, Siddhartha, the son of a Brahmin, overcomes many obstacles in his journey to Enlightenment. Many people believe that Siddhartha endured his most significant turning point when he achieved Enlightenment. However, this theory does not take into account that the most important turning point comes from the deepest abyss. In Chapter 8: By the River, Siddhartha, whose spiritual journey leads him to the city, faces his most significant turning point when he leaves Kamala and Kamaswami and ascends from his abyss of misery and despair that is caused by a materialistic lifestyle; as a result, he continues on his path to enlightenment by the River and is peaceful and patient again. Before his his turning point, Siddhartha was...
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...In chapter 1 we see Siddhartha engaged in a philosophical struggle--a mental state he seems to thrive in. But he is only beginning to realize why he is dissatisfied and what he really wants. This confusion is apparent by a narrative pacing and diction that show build through questioning. It describes the problem--desire for something--then explores all the avenues of this problem. Does he desire truth? Identity? Oneness with the “primal source” of the Atman that may or may not “flow within his own heart?” These initial questions set up the journey Siddhartha will be taking throughout the rest of the novel. Hesse alludes to the famous banyan tree (p. 9) that was iconic to Siddhartha Gautama’s original development of the Buddhism religion....
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...The first of the Four Noble Truths states that life is suffering. Siddhartha suffered in the first chapter when he decides he wants to leave his home to become a Samana. His father (at first) did not approve. ( Herman Hesse pg 10), “ It is not seemingly for Brahmins to utter forcefully angry words but there is a displeasure in my heart. I should not like to hear you make this request a second time”. 2. The second of the Four Noble Truths states that there is an origin of suffering and that the origin of suffering is attachment. From his suffering Siddhartha has learned “he had never found his self because he wanted to trap it in the net of thoughts (Hesse 47)”. 3. Gotama is who people see as the Illustrious one, the Buddha who has reportedly obtained Nirvana. Govinda chooses to follow him in his teachings but Siddartha feels and doubts that anything new can be learned from this man. "Siddhartha did not reply. He was not very curious about the teachings. He did not think they would teach him anything new" ( Hesse 28) ; Siddhartha is happy for Govinda because Govinda has finally taken a step without following Siddhartha and is beginning to find his salvation. "Now you are a man and have chosen your own path. May you go along it to the end, my friend. May you find salvation!" 4. The last sentence of this chapter signifies Siddartha leaving everything behind and starting a new. The lessons he has learned are clear in his mind, he sees the world in its beauty, and he is energized...
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...The Unity of Appearance The novel Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse exemplifies the idea behind appearance. The novel is able – through dialogue, events, and descriptions – to show how appearance does not exemplify the world as a whole, yet how appearance does not symbolize nothing, but instead how appearance matters in the sense that it changes and tells a story. Appearance matters in a way that all objects of the world portray their story through their appearance. Appearance allows someone or something to see nooks and crannies within objects in order to see that objects past, present and future. For example how the scratches on rocks show weathering while wrinkles on a human show stress. Take that even further and see how deep those scratches are or wrinkles are, what other features can you see, and a story begins to build right in front of you just from appearance. Within the novel we can see this idea of appearance through Siddhartha’s journey to become enlightened. His own appearance changes as he transitions from studious, to gluttonous and to enlightened. With the passage of time appearance evolves and fits the character of the thing it inhabits. Around Siddhartha others also are under the influence of the ideas surrounding appearance. Appearance though different between objects we call the same, as no two rocks are identical, they continue to portray the same image. Parallel to the idea of enlightenment there are multiple paths to the end journey. Appearance allows for these...
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...Plot Summary Siddhartha grows up with his friend Govinda in a small village in India. They are taught to believe in ancient Hindu teachings by Siddhartha's father, yet the young man becomes restless and decides to go out and explore the world to find answers to his questions. The ancient Hindu teachings seem silly to him, and according to Siddhartha, they offer inadequate explanations of the ways of the world. Govinda leaves the village with him for different reasons; he admires Siddhartha's intelligence and hopes that he shall become successful by staying with him, as his "shadow," following him wherever he goes. They both lead lives as wandering Samanas, self-exiles of society living in self-denial. They suppress all bodily desires by fasting, breathing control, and living in poverty; only the natural world is embraced as truth, and meditation is practiced regularly. After three years, Siddhartha grows weary of this life, too, and decides to accompany Govinda to visit the Buddha in Savathi. Govinda becomes a disciple of Buddha while Siddhartha continues his journey alone, still wishing to understand the world for himself since all teachings have failed to accomplish this, including the ancient beliefs of the Hindus and this new religion of Buddha. However, Siddhartha wishes to have the enlightenment that Buddha has attained by listening to the voice of his Self instead of denying it. It is lust that afflicts him first when he meets the beautiful Kamala in the town of Samsara...
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...D. Themes and Symbolism/Archetypes 1. a. When Siddhartha first crosses the river he comes across the ferryman and they become friends which is of importance later on in the book. When this happened the ferryman spoke to Siddhartha, he said, "One can learn much from a river....everything comes back, You, too, Samana, will come back. Now farewell, May your friendship be my payment!"(49). Also, when he crosses the river for the first time he meets this woman named Kamala, who later in the book teaches Siddhartha the secrets of love. b.The second time Siddhartha runs across the river is when he contemplates his suicide the wakes up and sees Govinda. The river is important in this part of the book because it cleanses him and he realizes he must leave his rich life behind him. When Siddhartha falls asleep by the river under the coconut tree he replies by saying, "Never had a sleep so refreshed him, so renewed him, so rejuvenated him! Perhaps he had really died, perhaps he had been drowned and was reborn in another form."(91)....
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