In Hermann Hesse’s “Siddhartha”, John Green’s “Beowulf” and J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” the protagonist’s search for self-fulfillment is displayed throughout each authors stories differently.
Siddhartha, an earnest and spiritual pilgrim consumed by his quest for philosophical discoveries and spiritual enlightenment, finds logical flaws in the teachings put before him which has him choosing between family, friends and religion “I have always thirsted for knowledge, I have always been full of questions.” (Hessey). Hesse’s protagonist Siddhartha, once seeking religion to further his place in the world, is introduced to Kamaswami; a wealthy man who introduces him into the society of city-dwellers. But materialism only leads Siddhartha to …show more content…
The occurrences of these events lead to the development of his character. There is undoubtedly a division between Beowulf’s youthful self as an unfettered warrior and his maturer self as a reliable king. In Beowulf’s youth, he was a great warrior characterized predominantly by his acts of strength and bravery, demonstrated greatly by his swimming competition against Breca. Beowulf also embodies the etiquette and manners of a true Anglo-Saxon hero, including, loyalty, courtesy, and pride. In the first part of John Green’s story he matures very little as he possesses many of the heroic qualities that follow him towards adulthood. The second part of “Beowulf”, focusing mainly towards the end of his life, we see our “Hero” transform into a sophisticated (As sophisticated as a Viking could be)fine king. The period following the murder of Hygelac is an important part of Beowulf’s development. We recover much of what happens during this period and are able to see how Beowulf conforms himself as both a warrior and a king. In the third and final portion of this epic, Beowulf 's encountered by a dragon. Green reflects further on how the responsibilities of a king, who must act for the good of the people and not just for his own glory, differ from when Beowulf was but a heroic …show more content…
Rowling’s famous protagonist “Harry Potter” exemplifies how characters develop throughout plots. However In Rowling 's “Philosopher’s Stone” Harry was definitely unsure of his surroundings; as expected of any new student at school, but unlike Green’s and Hesse’s protagonists, Harry has much more to prove. The death of Harry’s parents is the spark that shapes the entire narrative of Rowling’s stories along with the development of Harry’s character. The absence of his parents distinguishes Harry from the rest of his peers because he has endured a loss that none of them can understand, and this sense of isolation and martyrdom becomes crucial in the novels to come. Rowling’s emphasize on the importance of choice in determining an individuals character and direction in life is the choice that establishes what kind of person Harry will become. Harry’s refusal to be placed in Slytherin despite his many similarities with Voldemort, is important in the characterization of himself but by taking an active role in the assortment process Harry, like his parents is placed in Gryffindor. Harry therefore demonstrates early on his determination to choose his own direction in life and therefore can not be bound by anyone else’s perception of his
Siddhartha, an earnest and spiritual pilgrim consumed by his quest for philosophical discoveries and spiritual enlightenment, finds logical flaws in the teachings put before him which has him choosing between family, friends and religion “I have always thirsted for knowledge, I have always been full of questions.” (Hessey). Hesse’s protagonist Siddhartha, once seeking religion to further his place in the world, is introduced to Kamaswami; a wealthy man who introduces him into the society of city-dwellers. But materialism only leads Siddhartha to …show more content…
The occurrences of these events lead to the development of his character. There is undoubtedly a division between Beowulf’s youthful self as an unfettered warrior and his maturer self as a reliable king. In Beowulf’s youth, he was a great warrior characterized predominantly by his acts of strength and bravery, demonstrated greatly by his swimming competition against Breca. Beowulf also embodies the etiquette and manners of a true Anglo-Saxon hero, including, loyalty, courtesy, and pride. In the first part of John Green’s story he matures very little as he possesses many of the heroic qualities that follow him towards adulthood. The second part of “Beowulf”, focusing mainly towards the end of his life, we see our “Hero” transform into a sophisticated (As sophisticated as a Viking could be)fine king. The period following the murder of Hygelac is an important part of Beowulf’s development. We recover much of what happens during this period and are able to see how Beowulf conforms himself as both a warrior and a king. In the third and final portion of this epic, Beowulf 's encountered by a dragon. Green reflects further on how the responsibilities of a king, who must act for the good of the people and not just for his own glory, differ from when Beowulf was but a heroic …show more content…
Rowling’s famous protagonist “Harry Potter” exemplifies how characters develop throughout plots. However In Rowling 's “Philosopher’s Stone” Harry was definitely unsure of his surroundings; as expected of any new student at school, but unlike Green’s and Hesse’s protagonists, Harry has much more to prove. The death of Harry’s parents is the spark that shapes the entire narrative of Rowling’s stories along with the development of Harry’s character. The absence of his parents distinguishes Harry from the rest of his peers because he has endured a loss that none of them can understand, and this sense of isolation and martyrdom becomes crucial in the novels to come. Rowling’s emphasize on the importance of choice in determining an individuals character and direction in life is the choice that establishes what kind of person Harry will become. Harry’s refusal to be placed in Slytherin despite his many similarities with Voldemort, is important in the characterization of himself but by taking an active role in the assortment process Harry, like his parents is placed in Gryffindor. Harry therefore demonstrates early on his determination to choose his own direction in life and therefore can not be bound by anyone else’s perception of his