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The River In Herman Hesse's Siddhartha

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The River In Herman Hesse's Siddhartha
Ekong, Pg. 1
Topic #5 Siddhartha by Herman Hesse shows the growth and life of Siddhartha, who is The Brahmin’s Son and is very urgent to learn more about the world around him. Siddhartha had an empty mind, and a not as peaceful soul. Siddhartha became a Samana to fill his mind and make his soul at peace. To do this he set a goal to become completely empty of desirers, dream, pleasure, and sadness and even thirst. The river plays many roles in the Siddhartha novel. To Siddhartha, the river represents the flow of life and also represents Siddhartha’s understanding of life. Siddhartha saw the river had many different and brief appearances just like him. In Siddhartha the river shows Siddhartha many things during the course of his life. In Chapter 4 …show more content…
“There was a tree on the river bank, a cocoanut tree; Siddhartha leaned against it, placed his arm around the trunk and looked down into the green water which flowed beneath him; he looked down and was completely filled with desire to let himself go and be submerged in the water” (Pg. 88). Very ironic that Siddhartha wanted to commit suicide in the river which he said was very beautiful and learn a lot from it by listening to it. It wasn’t until the river showed Siddhartha his reflection which gave him a sort of enlightenment. “With a distorted countenance he stared into the water; he saw his face reflected, and spat at it; he took his arm away from the tree trunk.” (Pg. 89). Even though he was enlightened he still let himself get closer to his death, but then Siddhartha heard the word “Om”. Siddhartha learned that he was very close to death, and learns of his emptiness. Later on Siddhartha then remembers at the end of chapter 8, that the river brings a great pleasure to him. “Happily he looked into the flowing river; never had a river attracted to him as much as this one; never had he found the voice
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