Common Ground: A Mythological Analysis Of Siddhartha

Common Ground: A Mythological Analysis of Hesse’s Siddhartha

As the son of a Brahmin, Siddhartha lives with his father, in India. Even though he has an inevitable life of luxury and success set before him, his inner feelings about spirituality and enlightenment cause him unrest and make him feel like he is looking for something more.
His discourse comes to a head, when a group of monks, called the Semanas, arrive in town, begging for food. Siddhartha feels that he has learned all that he can learn of tradition and spirituality from his father and the other priests. He decides that his next step in life should be with the Semanas. After persistent argument, Siddhartha’s father allows him to leave with this group of men who starved and mutilated

Siddhartha lives under the influence of the River for many years. Siddhartha goes through many things during his time beside the river, including the loss of kamala and the discovery and loss of their son. In the midst of all this, he eventually reaches enlightenment. When approaching “Siddhartha” from a mythological, critical standpoint, one can apply certain theories and ideas that are common among all myths. The three most prominent things that one can analyze in this book is Siddhartha’s role as a hero, his character archetype, and the satifaction of The Volk

The Volk Theory suggests the theme of the common man: the idea that common people possess wisdom, not because of instruction or priesthood, but because of their everyday interactions with the world around them. The most prominent thing that Siddhartha stresses about his enlightenment, and the enlightenment of others, is that while it can be guided, it cannot be taught. One example of this is when Siddhartha points out inconsistencies in the Buddha’s teachings, “There is one thing that this clear, worthy instruction does not contain; it does not contain the secret of what the Illustrious One himself experienced. He alone among hundreds of thousands. That is what I thought and realized when I heard your teachings. That is why I am going on my way: not to seek another doctrine, for I know there is none, but to leave all doctrines and all teachers and to reach my goal alone or die. But I’ll often think of this day, oh exalted one, and of this hour, when my eyes beheld a saint. ” (Hesse 35) Gotama was personally instructing his followers on how to reach enlightenment, but could not convey the true meaning of enlightenment to his pupils. Siddhartha realized that he could not replace the feelings that he had inside of himself with teachings and disciplines. The fact; however, that proves that the Volk Theory is in practice is closer to the end of the story, where Siddhartha helps Govinda achieve enlightenment.