Siddhartha Symbolism

Even though some people may perceive the symbols in Siddhartha literally, they also should be interpreted as symbols. In the novel Siddhartha, by Hermann Hesse, symbols are a big part of story. The book is about how a son of a brahmin decided to seek Nirvana so he went on a pilgrimage. The symbols are significant and they help guide Siddhartha and help him on his path. There are many crucial symbols in Siddhartha, including the river, the serpents, and the songbird, and they each play a very important role in Siddhartha’s journey to enlightenment.
The river is one of the biggest symbols in Siddhartha and it is crucial for Siddhartha to achieve Nirvana. Its meanings are life itself, time, and the path to enlightenment (or Nirvana). According to Britannica, in greek mythology, there is a ferryman named Charon who ferried the souls of the newly deceased who had received a burial ceremony across the river Styx. The river Styx is very symbolic and Charon understands it well. This connects to Vasudeva and the river in Hinduism because both of …show more content…
They show Siddhartha’s constant growth and evolution. As a snake sheds its skin to continue its growth, Siddhartha sheds the skin of his past. On page 37 in Siddhartha it says, “While thinking those thoughts, Siddhartha halted again, suddenly, as if a serpent were lying in his path. For suddenly this was clear to him: He, who was truly awakened or newly born, he had to begin his life anew and afresh.” This shows that he realized that he had left Govinda, so it is like he is shedding his skin from his past, and begins a new and fresh life by himself. On page 101 in the novel it says, “‘No, dear friend, why should I be sad? I, who was rich and happy, have now become even richer and happier. I have been given my son.’” This shows that he is not sad that he lost Kamala because he is just shedding his past life and he is happy that he got his son because he is beginning his new

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