StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Nobody downloaded yet

Explore the theme of the search for identity in Hesse's Siddhartha - Essay Example

Summary
Unlike many novels, which treat the development of self as incidental to the novel’s central events, in Siddhartha the quest for self-knowledge is the explicit subject of…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER96.9% of users find it useful
Explore the theme of the search for identity in Hesses Siddhartha
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Explore the theme of the search for identity in Hesse's Siddhartha"

Download file to see previous pages

In this essay, we’ll consider the ways in which Siddhartha develops his sense of self over the course of the novel. When the novel begins, Siddhartha, tellingly, is described in terms of how other characters in the novel see him: his father sees him “growing up to become a great wise man;” his mother views him as “strong and handsome;” the eligible girls of the town note his “luminous forehead with the eye of a king.” (3) In a sense, his identity has been shaped for him, written by the eyes of the people around him.

Even when his heart is pulled in another direction and he yearns to find himself by following a local tribe of ascetics (called the Samanas), he is unwilling to do so without his father’s permission. “Siddhartha has always obeyed his father,” he says (4), waiting for his father’s leave to go, indicating that Siddhartha’s father, not Siddhartha, is the author of Siddhartha’s story. Siddhartha’s next step is an attempt to deny the physical aspects of his self in an effort to uncover his spiritual self.

We know that this is problematic: the self is an intersection of spiritual, intellectual and physical elements. Siddhartha learns this as he tries to deny his body, practicing the ascetic rites of fasting and suffering, denying the body its needs in the hopes of escaping it completely. Instead, he finds himself returned to his physical being again and again, unable to deny its existence — and therefore importance — in his search for self: When Siddhartha leaves the Samanas to follow Gotama, a man who has achieved enlightenment and radiates self-knowledge, Siddhartha is convinced that if anyone can show him the way to self-knowledge, it’s someone who has achieved it.

What Siddhartha comes to realize, however, is that there is no formula for enlightenment. Gotama had no teacher because true enlightenment is not something that can be taught; self-knowledge is not gained

...Download file to see next pages Read More

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Explore the theme of the search for identity in Hesse's Siddhartha

Siddhartha is by Herman Hesse

The book siddhartha is by Herman Hesse, and it tells the story of the main character siddhartha who is on a journey to spiritual understanding.... In his quest, siddhartha has to engage in many activities to self discovery.... siddhartha The book siddhartha is by Herman Hesse, and it tells the story of the main character siddhartha who is on a journey to spiritual understanding.... In his quest, siddhartha has to engage in many activities to self discovery....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

A Soul Searcher's Handbook - Hesse's Siddhartha

n Hesse's Siddhartha, the theme of soul-searching and Dhamma, even when set against the backdrop of Buddhism, can be read by people of all races.... The essay 'A Soul Searcher's Handbook - hesse's siddhartha' explores male friendship is a metaphor of self-development, the awareness that both extremes - luxury and asceticism - prevent a human from achieving enlightenment, that love for a son means that he must allow him to go to Big world.... A Soul Searcher's Handbook: hesse's siddhartha Searching for the meaning of life and love seems to be a popular theme of philosophical novels....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Siddhartha by Hermann Hermann Hesse

The paper "siddhartha by Hermann Hermann Hesse" discusses that siddhartha, a well-written book by Hermann Hesse, follows a classic tale of man's spiritual quest for enlightenment.... It significantly shows how siddhartha, the protagonist in the story, is captivated by lust, greed, and selfishness.... Calvin (1996) asserted that siddhartha is the best of Hermann Hesse's outstanding collection of work.... De Rossi (1999) described siddhartha as poetic, vibrant, and extremely captivating resulting in a work of pure and inconceivable art....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Siddharta by Hermann Hesse

The major theme of the novel is enlightenment.... His search for his inner life comes to an end finally; he comes to a complete self –realization.... hus, the novel siddhartha is the story of an ordinary man who becomes an enlightened saint by perusing his inner voice.... But there is an essential difference between the ways followed by siddhartha and Buddha to reach the state of enlightenment, the envious state of Nirvana, the eternal bliss....
9 Pages (2250 words) Book Report/Review

Comparing Siddhartha and the Temple of the Golden Pavilion

In Siddhartha's case, his search for his inner life comes to an end finally; he comes to a complete self –realization.... The paper "Comparing siddhartha and the Temple of the Golden Pavilion" highlights that both Mizoguchi and siddhartha, the central characters in both novels, are moved by strong personal motifs.... While Mizoguchi, a young man who aspires to be a Zen Buddhist monk at the Kinkakuji temple in Kyoto becomes the main character in Mishima's The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, Hesse's central character siddhartha seeks to embrace enlightenment in his own unique way....
7 Pages (1750 words) Admission/Application Essay

Trace Siddhartha's Changes in the Novel Siddhartha

The author of the essay examines the major Trace siddhartha's changes which took place in the novel such as a decision to leave the village and a peaceful life and to settle by the river, a join and leaving the Samanas and an introduction of Buddha.... The introduction of Buddha is another major change which takes place in the novel, Govinda and siddhartha were intrigued upon hearing about this great man and wanted to meet him so they set out on an expedition to meet this great man which also meant that they part company with the Samanas after a gap of three long years siddhartha is arguably the most inspiring novel to have ever been written, the novel presents contradictions and how they have ramifications on the life of siddhartha....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Siddhartha: Search for Truth

The essay "Siddhartha: search for Truth" focuses on the critical, and thorough analysis of the major issues in Siddhartha's search for truth.... Siddhartha's search for Truth The of the Siddhartha's search for Truth Who am I?... As we can see, the main theme of “Siddhartha” is search for truth, as that source and effect, which gives reason for being and fills it with deep meaning.... In this respect, a bright example of the same experience is the life of Brahman's son Siddhartha from homonymic allegorical novel of Hermann Hesse, who has dedicated his life to the search of life truth, as the way of enlightenment and awakening....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Siddharthas Growth through Prostitution

in hesse's novel Siddhartha, experience is shown as the best way to approach understanding of reality and attain enlightenment” (“Siddhartha” 2008).... "siddhartha's Growth through Prostitution" paper examines Hesse's novel siddhartha in which experience is shown as the best way to approach an understanding of reality and attain enlightenment.... One of the more in-depth experiences siddhartha has is his experience in the large town....
6 Pages (1500 words) Coursework
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us