Jean C.

Rodrguez Guzmn

3/4/2015

Guy S. Garca Pomales

Siddhartha
The Brahmin's Son
The novel begins with a brief glance at Siddhartha's Brahmin family background, his
upbringing, and the innocence and tranquility of his childhood. Later, as we meet Govinda,
Siddhartha's boyhood friend, they are very close intellectually and fraternally.
In spite of the admiration and adoration which Siddhartha receives from his family and
friends, his soul feels uncompleted. Unable to find inner peace, Siddhartha initiates his search for
Atman. He knows that Atman, the individual spirit or Self, is within him and is inclined toward
Brahman, and he strives to find his own way to experience Atman. Siddhartha is troubled by the
fact that nobody, not the wisest teachers, or his father, or the holy songs, can lead him to the
discovery of Self. Teachers and scripture have yielded only second-hand learning, wich doesnt
contain the experience from which knowledge comes from. Siddhartha suggests that his father,
like himself, must not he actually experiencing Atman, for he continually performs ablutions to
absolve himself of spiritual impurity and guilt.
Siddhartha breaks the news to Govinda that he has decided to free himself from his
predetermined Hindu caste and plans to leave his father to join the Samanas. After standing on
his feet all night in defiant endurance and upon receiving reluctant consent from his father,
Siddhartha leaves home at daybreak. The father alludes to his own spiritual disquietude as

Siddhartha departs, and he asks his son to teach bliss to him should he find it in the forest among
the Samanas. Govinda's shadow then appears and he joins Siddhartha.

Themes
A) The Search for Spiritual Enlightenment.
B) Inner vs. External Guidence.
Characters
A) Siddhartha - The novels protagonist. Siddhartha sets out on a quest for enlightenment
and tests the religious philosophies he discovers. Siddharthas most defining
characteristic is his desire for a transcendent, spiritual understanding of himself and the
world. Outside forces do not easily sway Siddhartha, and he follows his heart. Siddhartha
has a son, who is also named Siddhartha.
B) Govinda - Siddharthas best friend and sometimes his follower. Like Siddhartha,
Govinda devotes his life to the quest for understanding and enlightenment. He leaves his
village with Siddhartha to join the Samanas, then leaves the Samanas to follow Gotama.
In the end, he is able to achieve enlightenment only because of Siddharthas love for him.
C) Siddharthas Father - A respected Brahmin in Siddharthas boyhood community.
Siddharthas father familiarizes Siddhartha with many basic religious teachings, but he is
unable to provide Siddhartha with the answers he needs, which leads to Siddharthas
quest for enlightenment through other religious traditions. When the Samanas arrive to
tempt Siddhartha away, Siddharthas father initially resists but eventually lets him go.
D) The Samanas - A group of traveling ascetics who believe that a life of deprivation and
wandering is the path to self-actualization.