James Stehm
Mrs.Iaconelli
American Literature
08 December 2017
Teachers in Siddhartha In the book Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, the protagonist’s life is changed greatly through the journey he embarks and the people whom he encounters. Many of the people that Siddhartha meets throughout the novel teach him important lessons that shape him into the person that he becomes at the end of the novel. The great merchant Kamaswami teaches him everything that he knows about business and trade. Kamala, a respected courtesan teaches him everything he knows about lovemaking. Vasudeva the Ferryman teaches him patience and listening skills. Throughout the novel these three characters had a great impact on Siddartha teaching him many life lessons he never …show more content…
Learning about business, love, and patience had a major impact on Siddartha and changed the course of his life forever.
Kamaswami is the wealthiest merchant in Siddhartha’s time, and is the mentor who teaches Siddhartha everything he knows about business and the art of trade. However, Kamaswami represents everything that samanas despise. Kamaswami is troubled by everyday problems, petty, and is obsessed with wealth and its benefits. “Siddhartha thanked and accepted, and lived in the dealer's house from now on. Clothes were brought to him, and shoes, and every day, a servant prepared a bath for him. Twice a …show more content…
He is spiritually and socially pure, and helps guide those who seek enlightenment. Vasudeva is a teacher of sorts to Siddhartha, however he never directly tells him anything. Instead, he guides Siddhartha to listen to the river and learn from it. “"You will learn it," spoke Vasudeva, "but not from me. The river has taught me to listen, from it you will learn it as well. It knows everything, the river, everything can be learned from it. See, you've already learned this from the water too, that it is good to strive downwards, to sink, to seek depth.” (Siddhartha 95) Once he realizes what the river says, and tells it the Vasudeva, Vasudeva simply tells Siddhartha that he has received the same wisdom. Vasudeva never tells Siddhartha what the river means or says, but instead waits for Siddhartha to realize what it says. Instead, Siddhartha meditates on the meaning of what the river revealed to him, and understands the complexity of existence through the sounds and visuals the river showed him. Vasudeva is such a powerful figure that he leads a suicidal, desperate Siddhartha to enlightenment. In a sense, Siddhartha owes his life to Vasudeva and his
Mrs.Iaconelli
American Literature
08 December 2017
Teachers in Siddhartha In the book Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, the protagonist’s life is changed greatly through the journey he embarks and the people whom he encounters. Many of the people that Siddhartha meets throughout the novel teach him important lessons that shape him into the person that he becomes at the end of the novel. The great merchant Kamaswami teaches him everything that he knows about business and trade. Kamala, a respected courtesan teaches him everything he knows about lovemaking. Vasudeva the Ferryman teaches him patience and listening skills. Throughout the novel these three characters had a great impact on Siddartha teaching him many life lessons he never …show more content…
Learning about business, love, and patience had a major impact on Siddartha and changed the course of his life forever.
Kamaswami is the wealthiest merchant in Siddhartha’s time, and is the mentor who teaches Siddhartha everything he knows about business and the art of trade. However, Kamaswami represents everything that samanas despise. Kamaswami is troubled by everyday problems, petty, and is obsessed with wealth and its benefits. “Siddhartha thanked and accepted, and lived in the dealer's house from now on. Clothes were brought to him, and shoes, and every day, a servant prepared a bath for him. Twice a …show more content…
He is spiritually and socially pure, and helps guide those who seek enlightenment. Vasudeva is a teacher of sorts to Siddhartha, however he never directly tells him anything. Instead, he guides Siddhartha to listen to the river and learn from it. “"You will learn it," spoke Vasudeva, "but not from me. The river has taught me to listen, from it you will learn it as well. It knows everything, the river, everything can be learned from it. See, you've already learned this from the water too, that it is good to strive downwards, to sink, to seek depth.” (Siddhartha 95) Once he realizes what the river says, and tells it the Vasudeva, Vasudeva simply tells Siddhartha that he has received the same wisdom. Vasudeva never tells Siddhartha what the river means or says, but instead waits for Siddhartha to realize what it says. Instead, Siddhartha meditates on the meaning of what the river revealed to him, and understands the complexity of existence through the sounds and visuals the river showed him. Vasudeva is such a powerful figure that he leads a suicidal, desperate Siddhartha to enlightenment. In a sense, Siddhartha owes his life to Vasudeva and his