Self Discovery In Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha

Hermann Hesse’s Siddhartha is the story of a young Indian noble who ventures off in the world to find an understanding of the meaning of life. His journey begins as a young Brahmin who thrives to discover the meaning to his existence. He ends as an old man who has found peace within himself and his surroundings. Throughout the book, we watch Siddhartha’s maturation process both through his experiences, and people with whom he comes in contact with. During his journey, he makes a number of choices that lead him to his self discovery and independence. He is continuously unsatisfied with his spiritual state until Siddhartha begins a simple life alongside a secluded river with a man named Vasudeva. Siddhartha's maturation is developed the most by Vasudeva, his belief in Siddhartha, his support, and his guidance.

Siddhartha is still a Samana and has nothing to offer to the ferryman as a payment, but Vasudeva doesn't see this as an issue. Vasudeva immediately realizes Siddhartha isn't like every other man because he notices the beauty and strength of the river after Siddhartha says “It is a very beautiful river. I love it above everything. I have often listened to it, gazed at it, and I have always learned something from it. One can learn much from a river” (Hesse 49). Vasudeva knows Siddhartha will be back to experience more that the river offers. Siddhartha then carries on his journey, goes to the town where he meets Kamaswami and Kamala and with time he lived in the physical world but he grew sick and tired of it. He felt restrained by "too much knowledge...too much doing and striving" (99). He fled this life and returned to the river he had once crossed. Vasudeva believed in Siddhartha and knew he would eventually return to