Siddhartha Love

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There is perhaps no other subject tackled so incredibly in-depth than that of love. In an age of suppressing mankind’s own primal urges, love and attraction remain as two of the most basic human emotions and feelings. With multitudes of interpretations and experiences by literally every person on the planet, it’s safe to say that love is a complicated and ambiguous subject matter. That being said, a question of whether love brings people further towards or further away from enlightenment can be asked, and there is no definite answer. In Herman Hesse’s, Siddhartha, Siddhartha Gautama exhibits both answers, as not only is his relationship with Kamala very complex, the way he interacts with all the people he is close with can be examined. …show more content…

The whole point of why Siddhartha requests to see her in the first place is to learn the more passionate aspects of loving somebody. “You are the best lover," she said thoughtfully, "I ever saw. You're stronger than others, more supple, more willing. You've learned my art well, Siddhartha. At some time, when I'll be older, I'd want to bear your child. And yet, my dear, you've remained a Samana, and yet you do not love me, you love nobody. Isn't it so?” (Hesse 59). Kamala has a peculiar way of using the word “art” when describing what she does for people, including Siddhartha. The fact that she uses “art” instead of commenting on the bond between the two of them points, points to the fact that what Siddhartha and Kamala had was completely superficial. Siddhartha went to Kamala out of a desire to “learn” how to love, granted in a way of complete physicality, but nonetheless out of desire. In present times, Kamala could be related in profession to that of an escort. Typically called upon by people in a higher economic standing, but one thing that remains the same between Kamala’s work and that of an escort is just that; it’s work, a job. Kamala and the escorts don’t do it to get closer to the person they’re with, to form a closer bond, they do it because, one, it makes money, but two, and more importantly for this essay, they do it to fulfill the passions and desires of the …show more content…

Agápe is an unconditional love for another person, and a prime example of that with Siddhartha is the bond he has with his son. Outside the novel, it’s easy to tell who is in that state of agápe, whether it exemplified through their spouse, children, etc. It’s extremely apparent to see who genuinely cares about the one they’re close to. It’s especially common with one’s children, as with Siddhartha; “Rich and happy, he had called himself, when the boy had come to him. Since time had passed on in the meantime, and the boy remained a stranger and in a gloomy disposition, since he displayed a proud and stubbornly disobedient heart, did not want to do any work, did not pay his respect to the old men, stole from Vasudeva's fruit-trees, then Siddhartha began to understand that his son had not brought him happiness and peace, but suffering and worry. But he loved him, and he preferred the suffering and worries of love over happiness and joy without the boy,” (Hesse 96). There’s obviously a very large and distinct difference between an unconditional love, and one of desire, agápe versus éros. Comparing the two relationships Siddhartha has with Kamala and his son, Siddhartha prefers the suffering and worries that come with his son, he doesn’t care whether or not it brings complete joy and happiness to his life, he just wants to love his son. But with Kamala, if there was suffering or worries while they were doing what they did,

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