Introducing readers to the genre of magic realism, Yann Martel and Hermann Hesse incorporate stylistic features to explore the impact of enlightenment on the individuals in Life of Pi and Siddartha. The setting of both novels begins in the wide-open spaces of childhood innocence. Siddartha shares the story of a man searching for peace, while Life of Pi reminisces upon the life story of a boy trying to comprehend the world around him. Looking at the world through different perspectives taught both Siddhartha and Pi how to live and understand life and helped them become aware of the impact that religion and spirituality can have on an individual’s life journey towards enlightenment. Martel and Hesse incorporate characterisation to explore the impact that religion and …show more content…
This is a significant part of Siddartha’s character development and enables him to grow as a man. The omniscient narrator shares that Siddartha “learned incessantly from the river. Above all, it taught him how to listen, to listen with a silent heart, with a waiting, open soul, without passion, without desire, without judgment, without opinion.” The narrative point of view is reinforced with the amplification of the pronoun “without”, reinforcing the relationship of how wisdom is learned when one experiences detachment. This particular moment within the narrative highlights how Siddartha finds his spiritual enlightenment and achieves inner peace within himself just like the boatman, who initially inspired Siddartha to find a way to peace without action. Similarly to Pi, Siddartha finds himself on a difficult path where he must devote himself wholeheartedly to the pursuit of this new and fresh understanding of reality. The busyness and action of Siddartha’s surrounding environment no longer sway his emotions, and Siddartha follows his