Siddhartha is by Herman Hesse - Essay Example

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. The novel shows how in the quest to find oneself, conforming to the standards and rules that have been imposed on the individuals by the society hinders the process of self discovery. It is only when one chooses to follow their unique path in life that they are able to find themselves. The novel is told in a style that is simple and the plot is linear which makes it easier to understand. Through the various literary devices that are used, one is able to understand that it is better for a person to follow his own path to self discovery as opposed to conforming to the standards and the expectations that others have set for him. As it is said in the book, for one to truly discover himself, ‘One must find the source within one's own self, one must possess it. Everything else was seeking - a detour, error’ (Hesse). This goes to show that unless one seeks within himself, self discovery will be impossible. This is the case where people choose to conform. The story is written in an abstract and distant form. The author, Hesse, uses what has been referred to as ‘conscious craftsmanship’. This means that the author has consciously synchronized the form and the content in the book. This unification has the effect of clearly illustrating the journey that Siddhartha goes through, in mind, body, and soul. The elements of form and content are synchronized in such a way that the journey in mind, body, and soul is also synchronized. This synchronization in form and content can be seen in the division of the chapters in the book. The book has 12 chapters which upon examination are divided into 3 parts. Each part of the divisions is followed by an interlude. The interludes between the chapters are important in that they help the reader to refocus on the journey that the character is taking. The first three chapters of the book are important in describing the experiences that Siddhartha goes through in the spirit land. These chapters end with an interlude which is very important to the plot in that helps Siddhartha come to the realization that his life is full of spiritual detachment. The realization is important and it leads him to the decision of seeking a new path in his life in his attempt to find himself and find spiritual reconnection. The next group of chapters talks of the journey and experiences that Siddhartha has in the land of the senses. Here, he experiences various pleasures, but he still does not find himself. The chapters are followed by an interlude (referred to as by the river) which is important in his realization that the pleasures have not helped in his journey to self discovery, and that he must change his path if he is to achieve self discovery. It is said that ‘He lost his Self a thousand times and for days on end he dwelt in non-being. But although the paths took him away from Self, in the end they always led back to it (Hesse 15). In the final chapters, Siddhartha is seen to be moving towards a unification of the different elements of the self. This unification and the achievement of the discovery of self are seen in the last chapter of the book. In the last chapter, the totality of the experiences that Siddhartha has gone through and their impact on his self knowledge is seen (Mileck 17). One of the literary devices that are widely used in the book is symbolism. One of the major symbols is the name Siddhartha. The name is a variation of the name Siddartha, which means the Bhudda. The name symbolizes the journey to enlightenment and self discovery. The river in the book is also used symbolically. It is the symbol of the separation of the different experiences that Siddhartha goes through in his journey to self discovery. The experiences of the mind and spirit are seen to be on one side of the river while those of the body and the senses are experienced on the other side of the river. The river can however also be interpreted to be the unifying factor in his life. This is seen when it is taken that the experiences of the soul are at the edge of the river, which is thus the merging point of the extremes of life, and of the various experiences that Siddhartha has gone through. Symbolism is used in the book to illustrate the fact that conformity to norms and standards is an illusion that should not be sought, and that every individual must involve himself in the activities that will help him in the discovery of self. Siddhartha is directed to the river when he seeks advice from Vasudeva. This is because Vasudeva has realized that the answers that one seeks must come from within. In the course of self discovery, Siddhartha learns that one cannot conform, and that if one is to achieve enlightenment, he cannot rely on teachers or on others. Initially in his quest, Siddhartha attempts to discover himself by conforming to outside forces. He begins by conforming to the rules of the organized religion that is Brahmins, Buddhism and in the Samanas. This however does not lead him to the enlightenment that he seeks. He then goes ahead and seeks to conform to the material world through Kamaswami and Kamala. He is however unsuccessful. He learns that the body is not the ‘self, and not the spectacle of the senses…’ (Hesse 42). It is only when he realizes that he must seek individuality and wisdom away from outside influences that he is able to be successful and discover himself. His achievement of the state of nirvana comes not from conforming to other sources but on seeking individuality and independence. He also discovers the fact that “Wisdom cannot be imparted. Wisdom that a wise man attempts to impart always sounds like foolishness to someone else. Knowledge can be communicated, but not wisdom. One can find it, live it, do wonders through it, but one cannot communicate and teach it.” (Hesse 39). This means that what other people know may not help the individual in the process of self discovery, and that the individual must seek his own knowledge and wisdom. By telling the story in a chronological order, the author is able to show that it is only the characters who seek their own path such as Siddhartha who are successful. Those who continually conform such as Govinda are not able to achieve nirvana. Govinda continues to ask such questions as ‘do you have a teaching? Do you have a faith, or knowledge, you follow…? (Hesse 124). The novel is told from the third person narrative point of view. The author however allows the reader to glimpse into the thoughts of other characters in the book. It is however the structure of the book that allows the plot to develop in a clear and concise way, and helps one to see the effects of the conformity with the material and the sensual world as opposed to seeking individuality from the self. The style in which the book is written allows the reader to experience feelings at a deeper level, and it also helps the reader to participate in the journey to self discovery that the characters undertake. The book through the use of the various literary devices as well as through the use of style of writing that is used is effective in showing that one should seek to follow their own path as opposed to conforming to the different aspects of the world. Works cited Hesse, Hermann. Siddhartha. New York: Forgotten books. 2008. Print. Mileck, Joseph. Hermann Hesse: Life and Art. Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1978. Print. Read More