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Symbol for Om

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Analysis

Knowledge can be communicated, but not wisdom.

This book is a very good example of mythology, and especially a great example for a hero's journey. It takes place in ancient India, during the time of the Buddha. I really enjoyed reading this book, in fact it is probably my favorite book I have ever read and I would recommend it to everyone! 

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Symbols

Om- Signifies the oneness and unity of all things, and at the end he finally understands the concept of Om.

The River- The river represents itself, time, and the path to enlighenment. It provides knowledge without words. The flow of the river represents the nature of time.

The Garden- The garden is where Kamala teaches Siddhartha all aspects of love, and it's where they conceive their child, it represents unspoiled beauty, innocence, and fertility.

The Smile- In this book, the characters who smile are those who have achieved enlightenment. Siddhartha first sees the smile in Goatama, and Vasudeva. Both of which respond with smiles rather than talking at times, suggesting that enlightenment in communicated without words. Siddhartha does not smile until he reaches enlightenment, and through this smile Govinda realizes that Siddhartha, himself, is much like the illustrious one (enlightened.)

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Plot

Siddhartha decides to leave his father’s house to join the Samanas ,because  he has already learned everything that he can from the Brahmins, he believes that there is more out there, and decides to seek for enlightenment to fill the void he has. His friend Govinda goes with him. Eventually, Siddhartha decides that there is nothing more he can learn from the Samanas,  and he hears that the Buddha is in a nearby village. Siddhartha and Govinda go to hear what the Buddha has to say,  Govinda decides to stay and be one of the Buddha’s monks, on his path to enlightenment. Siddhartha decides to go find enlightenment and the meaning of life on his own. He meets a ferryman who takes him across the river to a city. There he meets a courtesan named Kamala, whom teaches Siddhartha the art of love, and making love. She convinces Siddhartha to work with a merchant named Kamaswami. Once Siddhartha has learned about business from Kamaswami, he becomes a rich businessman. Years later, Siddhartha realized that he has become “distracted” from his journey, by drinking, gambling, and the material world, he runs away to the river, where he meets his friend Govinda again. At first, Govinda doesn’t recognize him. Siddhartha then stumbles upon to the ferryman. Eventually, Kamala goes to the ferryman to take her across the river to see the Buddha, but a snake bites her and she dies. That is when Siddhartha learns that he has a son. He takes his son to live a the river with him. His son runs away one night and steals all of Siddhartha’s money. Later, the ferryman retires into the forrest and Siddhartha becomes the new ferryman. Eventually, Govinda returns to the river seeking enlightenment by meeting the wise man who lived there. At first he doesn’t recognize that it is Siddhartha, again.

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Characters

Siddhartha: The Hero - Siddhartha is the novel's protagonist, he is the son of a respected Brahmin and leaves his family, and everything he knows on a quest to find enlightenment. In the beginning, Siddhartha believes that a life of spiritual teachings, and meditations will lead him to Nirvana, but then comes to realize the inadequacy of such a life, and turns to a hedonistic life, full of money, power, and sexual desires. Siddhartha realizes that this lifestyle is lacking, and eventually attains lessons of thought, and lessons of the senses. "With your permission, Father, I have come to tell you that I wish to leave your house tomorrow and join the ascetics. I wish to become a Samana. I trust my father will not object." Does he find the enlightenment he spends his life seeking for? Read the book to find out!

Govinda: Shadow - Govinda is Siddhartha's childhood friend. They are both on the search for enlightenment, but Govinda choses to take a different path than Siddhartha. After both Siddhartha and Govinda leave their lives, as sons of respected Brahmins, to live among the ascetics, they come across the Illustrious One, Govinda choses to become a monk, and follow the Illustrious one and to attain enlightenment through spiritual teachings. Siddhartha continues along his journey, without Govinda by his side. Through spiritual teachings, does Govinda have any better luck attaining enlightenment?

Goatama, The Illustrious One, Buddha: The Mentor/ Wise Old Man- The historical founder of Buddhism, his first name is also Siddhartha. Siddhartha does not chose to follow him, like Govinda does, although Buddha is enlightened, and has reached enlightenment, Siddhartha's ideal goal. Why doesn't Siddhartha chose to follow him, if Goatama has reached Siddhartha's ideal goal?

Kamala: The Mentor/ Soulmate/Good Mother - Kamala is the courtesan whom Siddhartha meets on journey, through the worldly lifestyle. She teaches Siddhartha the art of love, not only the physical aspects, but the importance of love itself. However, at this point Siddhartha is incapable of receiving and giving genuine love at this stage. Kamala bears Siddhartha a son who appears later in the book.

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