Circularity In Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha

From a grandpa’s last steps to a baby’s first steps, circularity can be seen in the all phases of life. The Grandpa’s last steps were taken through wisdom, while the baby’s steps were taken with the ignorance and innocence of a child. While circularity may be considered cut and dry, one’s experience or inexperience is essential to their roles in the circle of circularity. Siddhartha would have never truly achieved enlightenment without his experience with circularity throughout his search for Nirvana. Siddhartha experienced circularity through his relationships with his father and own son, During his journey with Vasudeva through the River and eventually returning to listen to the river, also Siddhartha having to feel ruin before being able to feel genuine spiritual

Vasudeva showed him the way and he didn't understand till he came back to listen to the river. (Page 79). The River represents the eternity of time and its uncountable benefits. At first, Vasudeva points Siddhartha toward to the right direction without specifics. This gives SIddhartha a blurred vision toward enlightenment. The river focused his vision upon his return it releases all the voices within it allowing him to hear all living things and what they had to offer, eventually leading him to the path of enlightenment.

Additionally, Siddhartha experiencing ruin first, to genuinely feel spiritual prosperity was an essential part of his path to enlightenment. Siddhartha felt worthless after many tries to reach enlightenment but never being able to even come near it. He also felt the death of his lover Kamala, and the departure of his son all were necessary to achieve spiritual prosperity enlightenment. WIthout losses one can never feel the triumph of winning. This was the same in Siddhartha's case without experiencing ruin he could not have reached