Sacrifice In Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha

230 Words1 Pages
At first glance, I can understand why some people would question Siddhartha's actions to leave his wife and child. Some may regard it as selfish. Others may find it as an act of negligence, that he was trying to escape his responsibilities. However, I believe that it was purely a sacrifice. He sacrificed not only his wife and child, but also his wealth and entire empire. He knew he would have to release his attachment from the ones he loved because, in the long run, they would have been a distraction on his journey to enlightenment. He had confidence that allowed him to believe that, if he were to seek enlightenment, it would not only benefit his family, but all people. You see? He wasn't being selfish. Selfishness is defined as "the act of