However, although he brings joy to all, Siddhartha feels no joy himself. ... Leaving the grove, Siddhartha experiences an awakening. ... It is clear from the beginning that this story is not meant to be realistic; Hesse renders his main character as a type, exaggerated to the point of abstraction. ... The other characters, too, are extremes or types: they are either followers, such as Govinda, or teachers, such as Kamala and Kamaswami. ... Because Siddhartha is thus very much an allegory, characters are best understood not through conventional analyses, but rather as vehicles for ideas. ...

• Word Count: 1200
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

I found this section of the class particularly interesting because I have read "Siddhartha," by Herman Hesse, several times and am always impressed by the image of Buddhism that it portrays. In it, the central character Siddhartha oscillates through the 2 extremes of life in the physical world. ... It is through this river and the sounds that the water makes as it passes on its journey to the sea, that Siddhartha is able to realize the true meaning of the sacred word, Om, and begins to grasp the transcendental awareness underlying the unity of all life. ...

• Word Count: 1904
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: Undergraduate