Siddhartha and Govinda in Siddhartha Essay

In the novel Siddhartha by Herman Hesse both Siddhartha and Govinda come about in different ways achieving enlightenment. Siddhartha has a very strong desire to find the spiritual self within. As a young child he is taught the way of the Brahmins and then leaves to become a Samana. He also learns from the O Illustrious One and realizes that the true meaning is within him. He reaches enlightenment by finding the true meaning within himself. Govinda is Siddhartha best friend and begins his journey to enlightenment with Siddhartha. When he hears the words of Gotama he stays behind and leaves Siddhartha. In the end he reaches enlightenment because of the love from Siddhartha. Hesse expresses the theme of interior vs. exterior guidance through the different ways these characters find enlightenment.

Siddhartha tries many different ways to seek enlightenment. First Siddhartha learns the way of the Brahmins who had pored the sum total of their knowledge into his waiting vessel: and the vessel was not full, his intellect was not satisfied, his soul was not at peace, his heart was not still. (5). In the beginning of Siddharthas journey he does not find the teachings of the Brahmins good enough and continues on with his journey. Siddhartha decides to leave his father and go join the Samanas and Siddhartha says that I have become distrustful of [these] teachings and learning and that I have little faith in world that come to us from teachers (22). Siddhartha once again is not satisfied with the Samanas teachings and carries on. Siddhartha goes to seek Gotama and find the truth and says to him to nobody, O Illustrious One, can [one] communicate in words and teachings what happened to you in the hour of your enlightenment. (34). Siddhartha realizes that he cant achieve enlightenment through the teachings of others and has to go seek it within himself. Siddhartha looks for the truth about enlightenment from within him and says that he will learn from myself, the secret of Siddhartha. (39). Siddhartha starts to look within himself for all of his answers and he became his own teacher. After the many different teachings that Siddhartha receives he finds the most meaning within him.

Govinda follows Siddhartha through the many different teachings about attaining enlightenment. Govinda believes that he will achieve enlightenment through exterior guidance and asks why Siddhartha why there is no learning (19). Govinda believes that he will attain enlightenment with the help of others. When Govinda goes to hear the teachings from Gotama he believes that its goal is [to teach] salvation from suffering (33). Govinda stays behind to hear more about these teachings because he believes that this is his path to enlightenment. Gotama believes that one will reach enlightenment through teaching unlike Siddhartha.

Both Siddhartha and Govinda attain enlightenment in different ways. Siddhartha attains enlightenment with inner guidance. Siddhartha realizes that meaning and reality were not hidden somewhere behind things, they were in them, all of them (40). Siddhartha realizes that he reaches enlightenment from within. Govinda attains enlightenment with exterior guidance. Siddhartha helps Govinda with his journey and in the end he tells him to kiss me on the head (149). Siddharthas love helps Govinda attain enlightenment. Both Siddhartha and Govinda attain enlightenment in the end but come about in different ways with different guidance.

Both Siddhartha and Govinda attain enlightenment in opposite ways. Siddhartha tries to learn how from many different teachings but doesnt work out for him. In the end he figures out that enlightenment can only be attained by connecting with your inner self. Govinda also goes through many different teachings and believes that they will help him attain enlightenment. He goes and learns from the Buddha his ways on attaining enlightenment. Siddhartha helps him in the end attain enlightenment and he reaches his goal with the help of others. Both Siddhartha and Govinda help express Hesses theme of interior vs. exterior guidance on the quest for enlightenment.