Siddartha: The River As A Symbol Essay, Research Paper

SIDDARTHA: THE RIVER AS A SYMBOL

The river is a common symbol that corresponds to he creative power of nature and

of time. On one hand it can signify fertility; and on the other it signifies the irreversible

passage of time and a sense of loss and oblivion. It also phases into life, peace,

refreshment, rebirth, entrance into the underworld (the river Styx), and the obedience to

time, life, and law. Siddartha written by Herman Hesse is one of those literary works that

always comes back to the wise river.

The river is the most predominant and all-inclusive symbol in the novel. The

river represents for Siddartha and the continuous process of life and time, the process of

being and becoming, and how all things are connected. The river defines purity, divides

lands, and intertwines and ultimately merges the transitions in Siddartha?s journey and

ultimately leads to the supernatural vision of totality and timelessness he reaches at the

end of his quest. Siddartha?s vision on the riverbank leads to intuitive wisdom.

He finally reaches his goal and becomes content with the direction his life had

taken. His journey was long and winding but ultimately ended with his exploration and

understanding of his Self. Siddartha finds peace as a ferryman at he banks of the river.