Symbolism In Herman Hesse's Siddhartha

Natural entities holistically substantialize an explicit secular imitation that is synonymous to the inner workings of the unfastened course of reality. These various actualizations impart guidance and externalize the innate channels that connect human psyches through a mirrored version of life. In the novel, Siddhartha by Herman Hesse, the ubiquitous river is a lucid encapsulation of the spiritual progression of the eponymous character, Siddhartha, while simultaneously providing a framework for the circularly constructed novel. The unintentional insight that is emanated from the tangible interpretation pervades aspects of the protagonist’s life, acting as an unadulterated material lens. Through the purposely detailed employment of water imagery, …show more content…
The natural body interconnected aspects of his spiritual journey, vividly indicating its sequential commencement and its blissful end. The river evoked stability, reminding Siddhartha of the essential and continuous linkage between his routine past and his uncertain future. Throughout his journey, the young man acquired beliefs that he retained and compounded in order to reach spiritual contentment. The river unleashed vestiges of Siddhartha’s past, awakening dormant parts of his soul. “With a distorted countenance he stared into the water…Then from the remote part of his soul, from the past of his tired life, he heard a sound…the holy Om…” (Page 72) The river reminded Siddhartha of a fundamental element of his life, which originated from his time as a Brahmin, this catalyzed his entrance into a pivotal period of his spiritual growth. The depths of the river conveyed his embrace of his former spiritual identities along with his newfound existence. This action was further augmented by the inherent cleansing properties of the river. Contextually, Siddhartha was in need of spiritual stimulation deriving from his past in order to shed his spiritually oppressive identity as a merchant. The river provided Siddhartha