Allegory Of Siddhartha Essay

2.) Allegory: story with a hidden meaning behind the story, usually a moral or political one. Complete the attached chart to connect the character’s name to their meanings. After you complete the charter, explain in paragraph form:

a. What truth is Hesse trying to express through this allegory of Siddhartha?

b. What does Siddhartha’s journey represent?

The journey in Siddhartha represents life itself, time, and the way to illumination. As a representation of life, it gives learning without words.

3.) Compare Govinda’s life to Siddhartha’s life.

a. Which of them is happier at the end? Use quotes to support your answer, and explain thoroughly.

b. Which of them is closer to enlightenment at the end? Use quotes to support your answer, and explain thoroughly.

c. Are happiness and enlightenment the same in this case? Explain.

D. Themes and Symbolism/Archetypes

1)

Rivers are everywhere, and have deep archetypal significance.

They are a source of life, and their constant flow and change represents the flow and change of life. Siddhartha encounters the same rivers at key points of his journey. What is the significance of the rivers at each point? Support with quotes and explain.

a. When he first crosses the river, and meets Kamala

Right before he meets Kamala, the river presents itself as an obstruction, necessarily acquainting Siddhartha with the Ferryman before he can continue with his mission in “experiencing… [the senses] on its own”. It is fascinating to note that later, as Vasudeva remarks, “the river has been nothing but a hindrance in [the] travels” of many thousands who people who “traveled for money and business… and the river was in their way”. Also, it introduces an impediment to Siddhartha as of right now, demonstrating his expanding relationship with the life of "cash and business."

b. When he contemplates suicide by the river, and awakens to see

Govinda

The books peruses, “The river is everywhere at the same time, at the source of the mouth…in the ocean and in the mountains, everywhere, and that the present only exists for it, not the shadow of the past, nor the shadow of the future…Siddhartha the boy, Siddhartha the mature man and Siddhartha the old man [are] only separated by shadows, not through reality…Nothing was, nothing will be, everything has reality and presence." (P.87) Siddhartha jumping to the verge of suicide into the river. This minute appears to be so unexpected to me. The one thing in nature that spoke to the cycle of life to Siddhartha turned into the center for his place of unnatural passing. He clutched the trunk t of a tree and looked down at the water. His appearance on the water's surface enlightened him, and he all of a sudden felt joint with Om and reviewed the world's oldest creator, Brahman.

c. When his son leaves him

d. When he lets Govinda kiss his forehead

2) Consider Siddhartha’s relationship with his father at the beginning of the novel, and his son at the end.

a. How are relationships similar? Cite quotes and explain.

b. How do these relationships relate to the concept of samsara? Explain.

3) Cite incidents from the novel (quotes!) that supports the following generalizations about life:

a. Nothing is gone forever, everything comes back.

b. A person must give pleasure in order to receive pleasure in return.

c. Gentleness is stronger than severity, water is stronger than rock, love is stronger than force.

d. Knowledge can be taught, wisdom cannot.