Siddhartha Quote Analysis

Siddhartha Mini-Essay - Passage 4

This passage takes place after Siddhartha has met with the Buddha and ignored his teachings since he felt he would only learn from his own experiences. He realizes that he is ready for an adjustment in his life, hoping to finally feel fully satisfied. Prior to this excerpt, Siddhartha did not “know anything about himself.” There has been an unfulfilled part of his life since a young age. Realizing that self-knowledge is necessary to reach enlightenment, he accepts the fact that a change needs to be made. Siddhartha believes that one should always read with respect, and make sure that each little word of a text is valued and later incorporated in their life. Siddhartha believes that he has completed these actions, but he is always open to a positive change. In addition to identifying as an awakened person, he registers that he is not who he used to be. This passage is significant because it marks the moment when Siddhartha vows that he is going to change his way of thinking, intending to become a new, awakened, and discovered person.

Siddhartha was born into a life of wealth. From an early age, he had it all. All that he needed was provided for him. However, his mother had died shortly after giving birth to Siddhartha. He suffered the loss of one of the most important figures that would ever come into his life, and maybe this is why he never really feels fully satisfied. In a sense, he doesn’t really have all that he wants. This could be one of the reasons that he feels as if he could do more with his life and become a better and more satisfied person. History in fact does repeat itself, and Siddhartha’s becoming a “new person” happens several times. Later in the book, the reader can notice that this passage indicated a “false awakening”. In the instant in which Siddhartha believes that he is going to change his way of thinking, intending to become a new, awakened, and discovered person, one can notice how this has been one of his goals since a young age. Never feeling fully contented has held him back from several opportunites, and he does not want this to continue throughout the rest of his life. Perhaps this is why he seeks the journey to enlightenment. Siddhartha wants to be the best version of himself, to feel that something positive has come out of his life, in the sense that he learned and achieved rather than gotten or received.

In this passage, Herman Hesse uses the terms “deception” and “scorn” more than once. These terms are rich and sets a mentality towards the reader that this passage has much more significance while using those enhanced terms rather than the simple words of “cheating” and “disrespect”. The author wants the reader to understand the significance of this passage, and Siddhartha’s story in general, by using more complex language. Hesse uses the term “worthless peels” in this descriptive