Journey to ENLIGHTENMENT
Siddhartha's perspective on how he would become enlightened changed as he matured from a teenager to an adult. Siddhartha initially thought that he would find enlightenment by becoming a Samana; however, he did not realize that he needed to experience life for himself to reach enlightenment. He had to experience what it meant to love, what it felt like to be a rich, and the love that comes with having a son. By experiencing the highs and lows of life, he was able to reach enlightenment. He had an epiphany that one cannot become enlightened by being confined, but rather by having a broad spectrum of experience. This related to the typical teenager because teens are constantly trying out new experiences in order to find what they want to do with their life.
Teachers
The teachers in the novel represent all the people in teens lives that influence them into making their decisions. Whether it is good or bad, teachers play a vital role in the identity of a teenager in this century.
Vasudeva- He taught Siddhartha how to listen to nature and how everything is united. Even though he was not the smartest man, he was one of the wisest because of his ability to listen and embrace nature.
Kamala- She represents love and lust within the novel. She teaches Siddhartha how to love and gives him experiences and feeling that he had not felt before.
Buddha- The Buddha does not teach Siddhartha what to do to become enlightened, rather he teaches Siddhartha that he must go off on his own and experience life for himself. Siddhartha has an epiphany about what he must do in order to achieve Nirvana.
Samanas- The Samanas taught Siddhartha to listen only to his Big Self and to live only on basic necessities. Their teachings are the first time Siddhartha realizes that there must be balance between the big self and small self.
Himself- Siddhartha has to interpret all of the information that his teachers taught him. The teacher merely act as a guide him, since he has to learn and experience everything for himself. He demonstrates this idea when he realizes, "I will learn from myself, be my own pupil; I will learn from myself the secret of Siddhartha" (39).
Vasudeva- He taught Siddhartha how to listen to nature and how everything is united. Even though he was not the smartest man, he was one of the wisest because of his ability to listen and embrace nature.
Kamala- She represents love and lust within the novel. She teaches Siddhartha how to love and gives him experiences and feeling that he had not felt before.
Buddha- The Buddha does not teach Siddhartha what to do to become enlightened, rather he teaches Siddhartha that he must go off on his own and experience life for himself. Siddhartha has an epiphany about what he must do in order to achieve Nirvana.
Samanas- The Samanas taught Siddhartha to listen only to his Big Self and to live only on basic necessities. Their teachings are the first time Siddhartha realizes that there must be balance between the big self and small self.
Himself- Siddhartha has to interpret all of the information that his teachers taught him. The teacher merely act as a guide him, since he has to learn and experience everything for himself. He demonstrates this idea when he realizes, "I will learn from myself, be my own pupil; I will learn from myself the secret of Siddhartha" (39).
Symbols
River- The river is symbolic for the bridge between the little and big self. It represents the constant battle between indulging in the small self versus listening only to the big self. In order to be successful or enlightened, one must find a balance between both.
Fruit (fig)- The fig is symbolic for temptation. It is an allusion to Adam and Eve when they were tempted by the fruit. The fruit embodies the idea of Sigmund Freud's id where one listens to only their desires. His desires often lead him off what he thinks is his desired path, but his path is changing constantly in order to give him a variety of experiences under his belt. These experiences give Siddhartha wisdom and the tools to achieve Nirvana.
Snake- The snake is symbolic for Siddhartha's growth as a character. The shedding of the snake's skin represents Siddhartha's positive growth as a character. When a creature sheds it's skin, it does so to make room for growth in the future. In the same way, Siddhartha sheds his old ways with the Samanas in order to grow as a person in life.
Fruit (fig)- The fig is symbolic for temptation. It is an allusion to Adam and Eve when they were tempted by the fruit. The fruit embodies the idea of Sigmund Freud's id where one listens to only their desires. His desires often lead him off what he thinks is his desired path, but his path is changing constantly in order to give him a variety of experiences under his belt. These experiences give Siddhartha wisdom and the tools to achieve Nirvana.
Snake- The snake is symbolic for Siddhartha's growth as a character. The shedding of the snake's skin represents Siddhartha's positive growth as a character. When a creature sheds it's skin, it does so to make room for growth in the future. In the same way, Siddhartha sheds his old ways with the Samanas in order to grow as a person in life.