Part I of Siddhartha initiates a theme that continues throughout the rest of the
novel- one of a quest for Nirvana. Hinduism, the common religion of India,
provides the foundation of the novel by which all characters are characterized.
The quest for Nirvana, or the ultimate understanding of life (a spiritual
enlightenment), is sought out by Siddhartha and his friend, Govinda, when they
first leave the Brahmins to join the Samanas. They then leave the Samanas to
listen to the teachings of Gotama, an enlightened one. It is here that the two
friends part as Govinda pledges himself to Gotama. Siddhartha, however,
discovers throughout his journey thus far that enlightenment can only come from
within himself. No matter how much he learns from the teachings of others and
no matter how much he detaches his soul from his body through asceticism, the
trivial enlightenment offered is only temporary. Siddhartha seeks something
deeper than this- an eternal enlightenment. Part I sets the stage for the rest of the
novel by establishing this quest that will govern Siddhartha's actions,
relationships, and spiritual journeys. It is clear that Siddhartha is much further
along than most others in the community when it comes to achieving this
spiritual salvation in that he understands the meaning of Om and comprehends
its place in life. He is also able to hypnotize the eldest Brahmin, illustrating that
he is closer to enlightenment than this man of sixty years. The entities of Om and
hypnosis can be considered symbols of checkpoints of Siddhartha's journey. It is
at these two checkpoints that the reader is able to analyze Siddhartha's spiritual
progression and prepare for further development of the main character's spiritual
disposition.
The second part of Siddhartha's quest for enlightenment consists of the seeking
of pleasure. This new obsession of Siddhartha's contrasts sharply with his
previous spiritual and ascetic life. He now leads a life of desire and even
transforms his physical body in order to fit into the material world. Kamala, the
courtesan, and Kamaswami, the businessman, are mediums through which
Siddhartha expresses himself in the material world. Kamala teaches him the art
of love, and Kamaswami teaches him the art of business. Although Siddhartha
finds success in the material world, he ultimately decides that this part of his
journey has not been productive. He has another awakening similar to the one in
Part I (in which he realizes that enlightenment comes from within the self)
symbolized by the death of Kamala's songbird in Siddhartha's dream. The reality
of the situation, however, is that the songbird is set free by Kamala, meaning that
Siddhartha has released himself from the reins of pleasure before they
have completely hindered his path toward enlightenment.
Siddhartha's epiphany that marks the entrance into the third part of the novel
consists of the entity of "Om" permeating into his being by the river. Om makes
him realize that there is still hope for enlightenment and that suicide is not the
answer. The river and Om are symbols of another one of Siddhartha's rebirths
into a new state of being- a state of joy. Siddhartha is a new man who has
emerged stronger from his past mistakes. He "was transitory, all forms were
transitory, but today he was young, he was a child--the new Siddhartha--and he
was very happy" (100). Although Siddhartha has learned from his past journeys
through asceticism and pleasure, he has not achieved an ultimate awakening, and
he thus starts another cycle in his journey trying to find a balance between the
two in his life on the river with Vasuveda. The chapter "By the River" thus serves
as a transition chapter into Siddhartha's third stage in his process toward
enlightenment. This new tranquil life as a ferryman teaches Siddhartha many
lessons, including how to listen with an open mind and heart, time does not exist,
and the river echoes a potpourri of voices that result in Om when put together.
Siddhartha becomes the embodiment of hypocrisy when he tries to impose his
views on his son. He does not realize that he himself left his own father and
future as a Brahmin for the group of Samanas. Siddhartha's central belief when it
comes to enlightenment is that it must be found within one's own self. His son,
however, is not being given this opportunity because his father's love is getting in
the way. Siddhartha influences the character of his son through a lack of
discipline. This results in the stubbornness, unhappiness, and downright
depression that characterize the son's life and ultimately lead him to stealing the
ferrymen's money and running away. However, this wound to Siddhartha's
emotional health results in his enlightenment of the idea that all time is captured
in the present moment. In himself, Siddhartha sees both his father and his son
and realizes that life is a unity of all time, space, and experience. When
Siddhartha listens to the voices of the river, he hears voices "entwined in a
thousand ways . . . the great song of a thousand voices consisted of one word:
Om--perfection" (135-136). It is at this point that Vasuveda leaves Siddhartha in
Siddhartha's newly found "serenity of knowledge" (136).
The religion of Buddhism forms the foundation upon which Hesse's novel
Siddhartha is built. Just as the Buddhist religion centers on the teachings of
Gautama Buddha, the character of Gotama in the novel is the one who has
achieved enlightenment and who has many followers, including Govinda. Hesse
connects Siddhartha to the actual Buddha through name; Gautama Buddha was
also given the name Siddhartha.
The Middle Way is the center practice upon which Buddhism surrounds itself,
and it was discovered by Gautama Buddha. It means taking the middle path, or
finding a balance between self-mortification and self-indulgence, in order to
achieve Nirvana (the end of all suffering and the understanding of the true nature
of all things). In the novel, Siddhartha eventually takes this path in the third part
of the novel and attains enlightenment by the river.
In real life, the Buddha taught the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold
Path as a cure for these truths. The truths consist of suffering, the cause of
suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the way leading to the cessation of
suffering (the Noble Eightfold Path). In the novel, Gotama teaches these concepts
to his followers. The chapters in the novel mirror this idea as well. The first four
chapters follow the four noble truths, and the last eight parallel the Noble
Eightfold Path as Siddhartha travels through these concepts toward
enlightenment.
Just as each character has his or her own effect on the journey toward
Siddhartha's enlightenment, Siddhartha also influences each of the major
characters. The novel assumes a third-person omniscient point of view that
follows Siddhartha on his journey. Siddhartha's point of view on his relationships
with the other characters is thus expressed to the reader. Hesse also incorporates
a tone that is methodical, spiritual, and timeless into the novel. The tone makes
it easy for the reader to understand Siddhartha's weaknesses, strengths, and
obstacles and meditate upon them.
When Siddhartha finally achieves enlightenment himself, he begins a new cycle
of time in which he takes the place of Vasuveda. Siddhartha has already lived the
lives of his father and his son, and now he relieves the ferryman of his job and
allows him to go into the woods--into "the unity of all things" (137).
Without Siddhartha, his old friend Govinda would not achieve enlightenment at
the end of the novel. Siddhartha takes his own discoveries obtained along his own
journey and relays them to Govinda, expressing that enlightenment can only be
found within one's own self and that a mentor is not the answer. There is a
difference between knowledge and wisdom in that knowledge can be passed from
person to person, while wisdom takes on a more personal characteristic. Govinda
does eventually achieve enlightenment with Siddhartha's tacit guidance.
Because of Siddhartha, Kamala is able to die with the dignity and satisfaction that
she sought to achieve in the eyes of Gotama. She does not make it to him,
however, but finds what she is looking for in her former lover. Siddhartha is
almost at the point of enlightenment and is holy enough to satisfy Kamala's needs
while she is on her deathbed.