Hero Cycle
Quote: “In the shade of the house, in the sunshine on the riverbank by the boats, in the shade of the sallow wood and the fig tree, Siddhartha, the handsome Brahmin’s son, grew up with his friend Govinda.”
Explanation: This quote, which is the first sentence in the novel, describes the Ordinary world very well, and represents each element. Mainstream faith is represented through the identification of Siddhartha as a Brahmin’s son. When Siddhartha crosses the threshold into Special World, he abandons the mainstream religion and philosophy of his father, as well as his buddy Govinda. Govinda himself is a component of Ordinary World, as Siddhartha’s departure from Govinda symbolizes his departure from Ordinary World, and his reappearance later on in the novel is symbolic of a return. Finally, Siddhartha’s thought of fatherhood and household is a component of the Ordinary World. This is seen extra later in the novel, when Siddhartha realizes that as he returns to the Ordinary World he is continuing the cycle that started by using himself and his father at the start of the novel.
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Quote: “Siddhartha had begun to feel the seeds of discontent within him. He had begun to feel that the love of his father and mother, and also the love of his friend Govinda, would not always make him happy, give him peace, satisfy and suffice him.”
Explanation: Siddhartha’s Call to Adventure is viewed in the discontent and doubt that grows within him. He begins to trust that the elements of the Ordinary World, Govinda, his family, and his religion, will no longer make him happy and will not permit him to acquire enlightenment. Therefore, Siddhartha realizes that he ought to discover his route to enlightenment. This search for a path, and the ensuing journey, is Siddhartha's adventure.
Quote: “As Siddhartha left the grove in which the Buddha, the Perfect One, remained, in which Govinda remained, he felt that he had also left his former life behind him in the grove.”
Explanation: As Siddhartha finds his inner mentor, he also Crosses the Threshold into a Special World. At this point, he has abandoned every element of Ordinary World.
Quote: “His face was still more clever and intellectual than other people's, but he rarely laughed...Slowly the soul sickness of the rich crept over him.”
Explanation: This quote describes the first set of assessments Siddhartha has to face on his Heroic Journey. While dwelling in the metropolis near Kamala and Kamaswami, he began to feel the effects of greed and wealth. As the quote describes, Siddhartha battled sadness and “soul sickness” for the duration of his time as a wealthy man.
Quote: “Then Siddhartha knew that the game was finished, that he could play it no longer. A shudder passed through his body; he felt as if something had died.”
Explanation: Siddhartha realizes that he can no longer stand his life as a wealthy man. This realization is necessary for him to continue on his journey toward enlightenment, and it foreshadows an important event shortly, making it an Approach to the Innermost Cave.
Quote: “He bent, with closed eyes – towards death. Then from a remote part of his soul, from the past of his tired life, he heard a sound. It was one word... Om”
Explanation: This Ordeal is Siddhartha's closest brush with death in the novel and the closest he comes to failing his journey. While he has been strong, determined, and wise throughout the novel, during his Ordeal Siddhartha becomes weak, and is close to giving up. Finally, at the last second, he is saved by his mentor, his inner path: Om. Through his rediscovery of Om, Siddhartha is saved and is once again on the right path to enlightenment.
Quote: “Siddhartha stayed with the ferryman and learned how to look after the boat...he was pleased with everything that he did and learned and the days and months passed quickly. But he learned more from the river than Vasudeva could teach him.”
“...Siddhartha began to realize that no happiness and peace had come to him with his son, only sorrow and trouble. But he loved him and preferred the sorrow and trouble of his love rather than happiness and pleasure without the boy.”
Explanation: The first quote suggests Siddhartha's gradual transition again to the Ordinary World. As Siddhartha learns from the river and Vasudeva he begins to pass farther into the Ordinary World, as this studying from an exterior trainer is comparable to the following of a faith or philosophy.
The 2nd quote suggests Siddharth's warfare with his relationship with his son. This battle is the event that pushes Siddhartha again into the Ordinary World. The introduction of a father-son relationship, which is comparable to that of Siddhartha and his father, allows him to go the threshold out of the Special World.
Quotes: “Siddhartha realized that the desire that had driven him to this place was foolish, that he could not help his son, that he should not force himself on him. He felt a deep love for the runaway boy, like a wound, and yet felt at the same time that this wound was not intended to fester in him, but that it should heal.”
Explanation: Siddhartha's Resurrection is his acceptance of his son's departure. After realizing that he needed to let his son find his path, Siddhartha reached a new level of wisdom and enlightenment, but this realization was very difficult for him to reach. This was the most difficult struggle for Siddhartha, but in the end, he was resurrected and came out stronger.
Quotes: “Govinda stood yet a while bending over Siddhartha's peaceful face which he had just kissed, which had just been the stage of all present and future forms.”
Explanation: Siddhartha's Elixir is his enlightenment, and his unique ability to share this enlightenment with others. The Return with the Elixir is represented by his ability to finally teach Govinda the secret to enlightenment, and metaphorically share the Elixir with him. Govinda's return further proves that Siddhartha has fully returned to the Ordinary World by the end of the novel, as he was the last missing element.
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