The Importance Of Being Earnest And Siddhartha Essay

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I will discuss the issue of society versus the individual in The Importance of Being Earnest and Siddhartha. Both texts contain the same message; everyone is and always will be an individual, people learn and grow through mistakes and experiences based on individual decision; conforming to a societal ideal will not satisfy any individual in reaching the good life. In Siddhartha, Siddhartha reaches enlightenment following his inner voice through struggles, evolving into an enlightened individual. Contrarily, In The Importance of Being Earnest, John Worthing conforms to societal expectations and remains a superficial character. Beginning with Siddhartha, Siddhartha is the ideal boy, beloved by all, “They all loved Siddhartha he brought …show more content…

He is respectable gentleman in Victorian society even though he does not seem to enjoy the obligations of being such. He is the guardian of Cicely Cardew, and believes that since he is a guardian he must be very moral even if he doesn’t not enjoy it. He states that “A high moral tone can hardly be said to conduce very much to either one’s health or happiness” (Wilde 6). John is not content to live by societal expectations so to fulfill his wants while remaining respectable he assumes the identity of an imaginary brother named Ernest. Contrasting Siddhartha, Jack does not outwardly follow his ego but conforms to society and fulfills his desires through …show more content…

After hearing about Gautama, the enlightened one, Siddhartha visits him to learn the secret to enlightenment. After visiting Gautama Siddhartha realizes enlightenment is reached through experience, which is found by following one’s ego. Siddhartha leaves religious teaching, resolving to find enlightenment by following his ego, he states “no one is granted deliverance through teaching” (Hesse 32). Siddhartha tells Gautama of his decision saying, “…there is one thing that the so clear, so venerable teaching does not contain: it does not contain the secret of what the sublime one himself has experienced” (Hesse 33). Siddhartha teachings will not allow him to reach enlightenment as it cannot cause him to experience what Gautama experienced. This encounter shows Siddhartha following his individual decisions. While Giovanna eagerly follows Gautama and urges Siddhartha to do so, Siddhartha questions his teaching and disembarks them, choosing his ego over societal

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