SiddharthaSiddhartha by Hermann Hesseby Hermann Hesse

Pre-ReadingPre-ReadingIntroductory Notes LectureIntroductory Notes Lecture

Mr. SinnMr. Sinn

About the AuthorAbout the Author

Born in 1877, in Wuurtemberg, Born in 1877, in Wuurtemberg, Germany, in the Black ForestGermany, in the Black Forest

Family of missionaries on both sidesFamily of missionaries on both sides Rebelled against missionary life, sought Rebelled against missionary life, sought

a non-traditional patha non-traditional path Viewed hypocrisy in faith and educationViewed hypocrisy in faith and education Left job as a bookseller to pursue writingLeft job as a bookseller to pursue writing Lived and wrote in Basel, Switzerland Lived and wrote in Basel, Switzerland

Author…continuedAuthor…continued

1912-1919: difficult times for Hesse1912-1919: difficult times for Hesse Various illnesses/deaths in the familyVarious illnesses/deaths in the family Wife went mad; father diedWife went mad; father died WWI broke out; he was a resisterWWI broke out; he was a resister Published anti-war polemicsPublished anti-war polemics Gave up writing for psychoanalysis, Gave up writing for psychoanalysis,

working with Carl Jungworking with Carl Jung Writing became more spiritual and Writing became more spiritual and

introspectiveintrospective

Author…continuedAuthor…continued

Moved to a Swiss Moved to a Swiss villavilla

Journey of self-Journey of self-realization, writingrealization, writing

Died in 1962Died in 1962

Link to Hermann Link to Hermann Hesse BIOHesse BIO

Photo: Dutch National Archives, The Hague

Hesse’s Long SummerHesse’s Long Summerhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SJNVAlm9Gchttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SJNVAlm9Gc

Other Works…Other Works… Peter CamenzindPeter Camenzind (1904) (1904) Beneath the WheelBeneath the Wheel (1906) (1906) DemianDemian (1919) (1919) SiddharthaSiddhartha (1922) (1922) SteppenwolfSteppenwolf (1927) (1927) Death and the LoverDeath and the Lover

(1930)(1930) The Glass Bead GameThe Glass Bead Game

(1943)(1943)

Photo: www.boomerangbooks.com.au

SettingSetting

Brahmin household in IndiaBrahmin household in India Forest where Samanas live a life of Forest where Samanas live a life of

self-denialself-denial Jetavana grove in a Savathi townJetavana grove in a Savathi town

World of senses and material thingsWorld of senses and material things The RiverThe River

Background & ContextBackground & Context

SiddharthaSiddhartha is loosely based on life of is loosely based on life of Guatema Buddha as well as Hesse’s Guatema Buddha as well as Hesse’s own lifeown life

Siddhartha’s path, like Hesse’s is not Siddhartha’s path, like Hesse’s is not traditional; displeases his father traditional; displeases his father

Represents a quest for self-realizationRepresents a quest for self-realization Leads to wholeness and transformationLeads to wholeness and transformation

BuddhaBuddha

Any individual who has achieved Any individual who has achieved enlightenment without the aid of enlightenment without the aid of othersothers

Generally considered founder of Generally considered founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha GuatemaBuddhism, Siddhartha Guatema

The Enlightened OneThe Enlightened One There have been several Buddhas There have been several Buddhas

throughout historythroughout history

Life of BuddhaLife of Buddha

485-405 B.C.485-405 B.C. Northern India; Father was KingNorthern India; Father was King Mother dreamed of white elephant Mother dreamed of white elephant

entering her body through her side… entering her body through her side… led followers to believe her son would led followers to believe her son would be a Buddhabe a Buddha

Father protected him from suffering Father protected him from suffering and spoiled him to be a kingand spoiled him to be a king

Married and had a sonMarried and had a son

Life of Buddha continued…Life of Buddha continued…

Age 29, left Father’s palace to seek self-Age 29, left Father’s palace to seek self-enlightenmentenlightenment

Witnessed 4 Signs: Witnessed 4 Signs: – Old Man; Sick Person; Corpse; BeggarOld Man; Sick Person; Corpse; Beggar

Joined ascetic group of SamanasJoined ascetic group of Samanas Later determined that strict self-denial Later determined that strict self-denial

did not free a person from sufferingdid not free a person from suffering Six years later, after a period of material Six years later, after a period of material

temptation, finally experienced temptation, finally experienced enlightenmentenlightenment

Teachings of BuddhaTeachings of Buddha

Suffering is a part of life; everywhereSuffering is a part of life; everywhere Desire originated from Ignorance and Desire originated from Ignorance and

caused Sufferingcaused Suffering Eliminating Desire and Ignorance can Eliminating Desire and Ignorance can

cause Suffering to subsidecause Suffering to subside The Eightfold Path leads to cessation The Eightfold Path leads to cessation

of Sufferingof Suffering

BuddhismBuddhismhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcY37748PfYhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcY37748PfY

Main CharactersMain Characters SiddharthaSiddhartha– son of a Brahmin– son of a Brahmin GovindaGovinda– Siddhartha’s friend and – Siddhartha’s friend and

companion; his servant; his shadowcompanion; his servant; his shadow The BuddhaThe Buddha—the Illustrious One—the Illustrious One VasudevaVasudeva– the illiterate Ferryman who has – the illiterate Ferryman who has

discovered inner self through riverdiscovered inner self through river KamalaKamala– beautiful prostitute who initiates – beautiful prostitute who initiates

Siddhartha into mysteries of loveSiddhartha into mysteries of love KamaswamiKamaswami– rich and clever merchant– rich and clever merchant

Minor CharactersMinor Characters

Siddhartha’s SonSiddhartha’s Son– spoiled child– spoiled child Samanas—religiousSamanas—religious sect of self-denial sect of self-denial Buddha’s disciplesBuddha’s disciples– people who have – people who have

vowed to follow the Eightfold pathvowed to follow the Eightfold path Vasudeva’s WifeVasudeva’s Wife– cremated after death– cremated after death

ConflictConflict

ProtagonistProtagonist: Siddhartha is restless : Siddhartha is restless and seeks self-realization and inner and seeks self-realization and inner knowledge. knowledge. – Leaves father’s household to join Samanas Leaves father’s household to join Samanas

AntagonistAntagonist: Siddhartha’s base : Siddhartha’s base instincts which lead him to ordinary instincts which lead him to ordinary physical pleasures created by:physical pleasures created by:– Kamaswami: businessmanKamaswami: businessman– Kamala: prostituteKamala: prostitute

ThemeTheme HappinessHappiness – Comes from spiritual peaceComes from spiritual peace– Siddhartha seeks in different stages of lifeSiddhartha seeks in different stages of life

The QuestThe Quest– Siddhartha’s search for Atman, inner spiritSiddhartha’s search for Atman, inner spirit

LoveLove – (parent/child; male/female) is important(parent/child; male/female) is important

Friendship Friendship – Siddhartha and GovindaSiddhartha and Govinda– Siddhartha and Vasudeva the FerrymanSiddhartha and Vasudeva the Ferryman

Chapter TitlesChapter Titles

Part One:Part One: The Brahmin’s SonThe Brahmin’s Son With the SamanasWith the Samanas GotamaGotama AwakeningAwakening

Part TwoPart Two KamalaKamala Amongst the PeopleAmongst the People SamsaraSamsara By the RiverBy the River The FerrymanThe Ferryman The SonThe Son OmOm GovindaGovinda

Imagery and SymbolismImagery and Symbolism

Potter’s WheelPotter’s Wheel– Revolves for long time Revolves for long time – Shapes life like clayShapes life like clay

Caged BirdCaged Bird– Kept by Kamala in her groveKept by Kamala in her grove– Symbolizes Siddhartha with SamanasSymbolizes Siddhartha with Samanas

The RiverThe River– Unity; Oneness; Flow of LifeUnity; Oneness; Flow of Life– Baptism; Purification; RebirthBaptism; Purification; Rebirth

Photo CreditsPhoto Credits

Hermann Hesse. http://ibero909.fm/ Hermann Hesse. http://ibero909.fm/ blogs/gore-vidal-y-herman-hesse/ blogs/gore-vidal-y-herman-hesse/

Siddhartha. http://www.boomerang Siddhartha. http://www.boomerang books.co.aubooks.co.au

ReferencesReferences

“Buddha” International Encyclopedia of Social Sciences. Web. http://www.encyclopedia. com/topic/Buddha.aspx 10 May 2013.

"Hermann Hesse." 2013. The Biography Channel website. May 10 2013, 07:52 http://www.biography. com/people/hermann-hesse-9337513.

“The Middle Way of Compassion.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcY37748PfY. 10 May 2013.

Sauder, Diane. “Siddhartha by Herman Hesse.” Web. 10 May 2013. Pinkmonkey.com. 1997.