Enlightenment In Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha

“One must find the source within one’s own self, one must possess it” (Siddhartha p. 5). Good morning students, my name is Michaela Laffey and I am an enlightened critic from NBCC. The National Book Critic Circle, here to enlighten to you today about the book Siddhartha written by author Hermann Hesse. If I was to ask you all a question, who are you? How would you answer it? Would you give me an answer stating your name, date of birth and where you lived? You know, the simple stuff. Or would you tell me your dreams and aspirations, telling me genuinely who you are as a person and where you want to be? The truth is, I don’t think that any of you could tell me. We are all trying to find ourselves. Trying to seek out our purpose, why we were

Having or showing a rational, modern, and well-informed outlook. It’s a movement of the late 17th and 18th centuries emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition. Which is exactly what Siddhartha seeks out to do. Religion plays a major part for the people situated within this novel. It basically describes how each individual person should live their life. Following strict and certain rules and instructions created by this “higher power” in which to live a successful life. This is exactly why Religion isn’t highly or 100% thought upon in contemporary society. Yes, religion is just as important then as it is now, it is just not practiced word for word or taken as literally on how our lives should be lived unlike it was in historical times. This novel is set in ancient India at the time of Gotama the Buddha, whose Eightfold Path guides the faithful toward Nirvana, six centuries before the birth of Christ. Throughout this novel, it is Siddhartha’s quest to seek Nirvana, the state of the highest form of enlightenment, liberation, and illumination and it frees the person from suffering, death, and rebirth, by going on this spiritual