1. SiddharthaSiddhartha
by Hermann Hesseby Hermann Hesse
Pre-ReadingPre-Reading
Introductory Notes LectureIntroductory Notes Lecture
Mr. SinnMr. Sinn

2. 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, soughtRebelled 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, SwitzerlandLived and wrote in Basel, Switzerland

3. 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 andWriting became more spiritual and
introspectiveintrospective

4. Author…continuedAuthor…continued
 Moved to a SwissMoved to a Swiss
villavilla
 Journey of self-Journey of self-
realization, writingrealization, writing
 Died in 1962Died in 1962
 Link to HermannLink to Hermann
Hesse BIOHesse BIO
Photo: Dutch National
Archives, The Hague

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

6. 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

7. SettingSetting
 Brahmin household in IndiaBrahmin household in India
 Forest where Samanas live a life ofForest 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

8. Background & ContextBackground & Context
 SiddharthaSiddhartha is loosely based on life ofis loosely based on life of
Guatema Buddha as well as Hesse’sGuatema Buddha as well as Hesse’s
own lifeown life
 Siddhartha’s path, like Hesse’s is notSiddhartha’s path, like Hesse’s is not
traditional; displeases his fathertraditional; displeases his father
 Represents a quest for self-realizationRepresents a quest for self-realization
 Leads to wholeness and transformationLeads to wholeness and transformation

9. BuddhaBuddha
 Any individual who has achievedAny individual who has achieved
enlightenment without the aid ofenlightenment without the aid of
othersothers
 Generally considered founder ofGenerally considered founder of
Buddhism, Siddhartha GuatemaBuddhism, Siddhartha Guatema
 The Enlightened OneThe Enlightened One
 There have been several BuddhasThere have been several Buddhas
throughout historythroughout history

10. 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 elephantMother dreamed of white elephant
entering her body through her side…entering her body through her side…
led followers to believe her son wouldled followers to believe her son would
be a Buddhabe a Buddha
 Father protected him from sufferingFather 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

11. 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-denialLater 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 materialSix years later, after a period of material
temptation, finally experiencedtemptation, finally experienced
enlightenmentenlightenment

12. Teachings of BuddhaTeachings of Buddha
 Suffering is a part of life; everywhereSuffering is a part of life; everywhere
 Desire originated from Ignorance andDesire originated from Ignorance and
caused Sufferingcaused Suffering
 Eliminating Desire and Ignorance canEliminating Desire and Ignorance can
cause Suffering to subsidecause Suffering to subside
 The Eightfold Path leads to cessationThe Eightfold Path leads to cessation
of Sufferingof Suffering

13. BuddhismBuddhism
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcY37748PfYhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcY37748PfY

14. 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

15. Minor CharactersMinor Characters
 Siddhartha’s SonSiddhartha’s Son– spoiled child– spoiled child
 Samanas—religiousSamanas—religious sect of self-denialsect 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

16. ConflictConflict
 ProtagonistProtagonist: Siddhartha is restless: Siddhartha is restless
and seeks self-realization and innerand seeks self-realization and inner
knowledge.knowledge.
– Leaves father’s household to join SamanasLeaves father’s household to join Samanas
 AntagonistAntagonist: Siddhartha’s base: Siddhartha’s base
instincts which lead him to ordinaryinstincts which lead him to ordinary
physical pleasures created by:physical pleasures created by:
– Kamaswami: businessmanKamaswami: businessman
– Kamala: prostituteKamala: prostitute

17. 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
 FriendshipFriendship
– Siddhartha and GovindaSiddhartha and Govinda
– Siddhartha and Vasudeva the FerrymanSiddhartha and Vasudeva the Ferryman

18. 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

19. Imagery and SymbolismImagery and Symbolism
 Potter’s WheelPotter’s Wheel
– Revolves for long timeRevolves 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

20. 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.boomerangSiddhartha. http://www.boomerang
books.co.aubooks.co.au

21. 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.