Archetypes In Siddhartha

Throughout the novel Siddhartha written by Hermann Hesse, there are many archetypes present that can compare to Occidental literature. An archetype is a worldly recognized symbol in a work of literature that many believe every book is based off of. An archetype can be a character, a tradition, a story or image that recurs in different works in different cultures. Archetypal criticism focuses on those patterns that commonly occur. It is clear that Hesse includes many archetypes from start to finish in his novel Siddhartha including the characters he creates, the river, and the meditation “Om” which can easily be compared to symbols and characters all throughout literature.

First, the novel’s protagonist is clearly Siddhartha. He journeys on

a quest for knowledge and tries to fill his void for the power of enlightenment. He dedicates himself completely to the process of this understanding, even though the path is very difficult. Outside factors do not easily sway Siddhartha, and he always follows his heart. “But where were the Brahmans, where the priests, where the wise men or penitents, who had succeeded in not just knowing this deepest of all knowledge but also to live it” (Hesse 4). Also, if Siddhartha isn’t satisfied with what he is learning, then he will completely abandon the situation. Siddhartha reminds me of the character Jack from the T.V. series Lost as he is constantly searching for himself through experience and is the shows leader and protagonist. Another archetypal character is Govinda who is Siddhartha’s best friend and also his follower. Very much the same as Siddhartha, he devotes his life to the pursuit of understanding and enlightenment. He departs from his village with and just like Siddhartha to join the Samanas; next he leaves the Samanas to follow Gotama. He searches for enlightenment separately from Siddhartha but continues to attempt to discover new teachings. Govinda reminds me of the commonly known character of Robin from Batman. They are the sidekicks to the min characters, but get a lot of glory as well. They have the same motifs and ideas as the main character and do well to achieve their own goals.
In addition to the archetypal characters, the concept of “Om,” is an obvious symbol throughout Siddhartha. The symbol displays the individuality and harmony of everything, and also conveys key moments of realization for Siddhartha. Siddhartha’s ability to finally understand “Om” starts his plunge right towards enlightenment. During his journey, Siddhartha confronts this idea numerous times, which has a different affect on him each time. “All the voices, all the goals, all the yearnings, all the sorrows, all the pleasures, all the good and evil, all of them together was the world. All of them together was the stream of events, the music of life...then the great song of a thousand voices consisted of one word: Om - perfection" (Hesse 110-111). This symbol makes me think of yoga and a meditating person connecting their mind to their body and controlling their breathing. This is a universally known sound/ symbol because yoga is such a common activity all over the world. It is easy to see how Siddhartha was able to reach enlightenment through his use of meditation and “Om”.
The river in Siddhartha represents life itself, time, and the path to enlightenment.

As a representation of life, it provides knowledge without words. The river’s many sounds suggest the noises of all living things, and the flow of the river, as well as the fact that its water perpetually returns, suggests the nature of time. “But of all the water's secrets, he saw today only a single one-one that struck his soul. He saw that this water flowed and flowed, it was constantly flowing, and yet it was always there; it was always eternally the same and yet new at every moment! Oh, to be able to grasp this, to understand this”(Hesse 84). The river is a main symbol from start to finish in Siddhartha and represents unity and the eternity of all things in the whole universe. "The new Siddhartha felt a deep love for this flowing water and decided that he would not leave it again so quickly" (Hesse 81). The river in Siddhartha prompts the comparison to the Holy Spirit in my opinion. The Holy Spirit is constantly guiding people who need its help. Just like in novel when Siddhartha was contemplating committing suicide, the river was there to help him. Jesus would refer to the Holy Spirit as a counselor that guides us through everyday life, and that’s just the reason why Siddhartha kept returning to the

river.
In conclusion, Siddhartha is a clear-cut archetypal masterpiece with many included from beginning to end of the story. It is obvious that Hesse includes many archetypes from start to finish in his novel Siddhartha including the characters he creates, the river, and the meditation “Om” which can easily be compared to symbols and characters all throughout literature. It’s not a surprise that many feel Siddhartha is based off of Occidental literature with Oriental motifs, shown through all of the archetypes Hesse incorporates. Also, it is easy to draw comparisons to all of the archetypes Hesse uses in his work.