The, Siddhartha, By Herman Hesse
Set in ancient India, Siddhartha, written by Herman Hesse, narrates a soul s quest in pursuit of the
answers to humanity s role in this realm. Centered around a Brahmin s son, Siddhartha, Hesse
illustrates how powerful society is to both promote and hinder Siddhartha s pilgrimage towards
spiritual enlightenment. It is through sin, lust, and profound despair that Siddhartha learned to not
resist but to love all as is. Through this mindset of accepting everything, Siddhartha attains Nirvana.
Siddhartha had one single goal to become empty, to become empty of thirst, desire, dreams, and
sorrow to let the self die (11). As a young Indian, Siddhartha suffered thirst, he thirsted for knowledge.
This philosophy leads him on the path of ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Before, he saw the world as an illusive veil , which he disregarded and ostracized from his thoughts;
he saw his Self as Atman, the eternal nature of everything. Now awakened, Siddhartha listened only to
the voice within his Self, He would only strive after whatever the inward voice commanded him, not
tarry anywhere but where the voice advised him (39), and this voice led him to the town of Kamala
and Kamaswami. This town, or society, was very monumental to the development of Siddhartha. It
was necessary to isolate himself in this society. Though he was isolated, he felt separated and superior
to the people, He saw people living in such childish or animal like way (57), which he laughed at; this
was because he had been a Samana, where he had despised money, small pleasures, and trivial honors.
Siddhartha viewed the people s lives as a game, which he derived amusement from. While his
physical body resided in the town, his real self wandered elsewhere, invisibly; he had remained a
Samana at heart. But, over the years he became enveloped in comfortable living. He hardly noticed the
years passing as he had become rich, possessed both a house and servants. His glorious awakening
and the prominent voice within him slowly became a memory, had passed. His ascetic philosophy
slowly died as well. Siddhartha became accustomed to fine living; He had learned to wear fine
clothes, to
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