The knowledge one possesses cannot simply be given to others. On the contrary, being guided by a familiar person allows one to acquire and interpret this knowledge. In his novel Siddhartha, Hermann Hesse tells the story of a young adult, Siddhartha, who sets out in search of enlightenment and fulfillment in life. Throughout the novel, Siddhartha constantly interacts with those around him, including Govinda, a lifelong friend, Vasudeva, the smuggler who is influential in Siddhartha's life, and his son, whom he meets several years after his birth. In this novel, Hesse expresses that the key to living a realized and fulfilling existence is that one must learn and gain knowledge from others, connections and deep interactions with those around them. He uses these interactions and connections of Siddhartha and those around him, including Vasudeva, Govinda and his son, in order to convey this message. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get an original essay The characterization of Siddhartha and those around him is important when considering that individuals should not learn in isolation , but rather how wisdom is guided and inspired by others. At the start of their journey, Govinda leaves Siddhartha to follow the Buddha. In the end, Siddhartha remains alone for part of his path, but on the way to a small village he meets a ferryman, Vasudeva, who lives on the river. Siddhartha has no money to pay the ferryman to take him across the river, but the ferryman rejects this claim because “Vasudeva did not expect any payment or gift from Siddhartha...Vasudeva also learned this from the river; everything comes back. Siddhartha too, Samana, will return. Now farewell, may his friendship be his reward. This part of the novel is very important for Siddhartha because it is the moment where he begins to embark on the path of desires, in order to find fulfillment. The kindness that Vasudeva exercises reflects his character very well throughout the rest of the novel. Siddhartha can find comfort in Vasudeva's words, since he is able to continue without payment. The word spoken by Vasudeva foreshadows not only the importance of the river in Siddhartha's journey, but also the fact that Siddhartha himself will return to the river. This foreshadowing and prediction may cause Vasudeva to be openly kind to Siddhartha, and with that said, it is the beginning of the friendship between the two. The very small bond they have at this point allows Siddhartha to continue on his path to fulfillment. Siddhartha's son fled, and he "felt something die in his heart", sat down by the river and "sank into the void and let himself sink without seeing any way out". After a long time had passed since his son left him, Siddhartha found himself alone with Vasudeva, sitting together by the river. As he sat by the river, “Vasudeva’s smile was radiant; it floated brightly in all the wrinkles of his old face... His smile was radiant as he looked at his friend, and now the same smile appeared on Siddhartha's face. His wound was healing, his pain was dispersing; his Self had merged into unity.” Human connections and relationships are necessary when a person's goal is to live a fulfilled and fulfilling existence. Between two individuals who may not know each other well, these connections are not as important; it is much easier to let yourself be guided by a familiar person, and this is seen through the relationship that exists betweenVasudeva and Siddhartha. However, the relationship that exists over an extended period of time, such as that with Govinda, is also important to Siddhartha's journey. Siddhartha and Govinda are two inseparable teenagers at the beginning of the novel. The two grew up together most of their lives, which makes Govinda "love him more than anyone else". As he grows, Siddhartha feels a disconnect between those around him and a dissatisfaction with the path that has been laid out for him. When he explained to Govinda how he would join the Samanas in order to find enlightenment, “Govinda turned pale at the words and read the decision on his friend's determined face. Govinda understood from the first look on his friend's face that it was beginning... And he turned pale as a dried banana peel. Although Govinda has always been there for Siddhartha, he doesn't believe his friend took such a decision. Since he cannot make this opinion known to Siddhartha, Govinda must follow through with Siddhartha's choice. This reaction is important because not only is their disbelief in Siddhartha's decision, but this disbelief comes from a close friend and companion. In the end, Govinda knows that this day was coming, and how, in the end, he would support Siddhartha with all his heart. This reaction does not end the relationship between the two, but rather makes it stronger as Govinda follows Siddhartha. Even though Govinda does not fully support this idea, he must wholeheartedly follow Siddhartha, in order to keep their friendship alive and push him towards enlightenment. At the end of the novel, Govinda, who now follows the Buddha, returns to the river in search of "an old ferryman who lived by the river, a day's journey away, and who can be considered a sage." Much to his surprise, Govinda reunites with Siddhartha, and the two quickly reconcile, before Siddheartha says what he thinks about how Govinda can seek the enlightenment the two began seeking in their youth. Siddhartha asks Govinda to kiss him on the forehead, Siddhartha smiles, "and Govinda saw that this mask smile, the smile of unity on the fluid forms, this smile of simultaneity on the thousands of births and deaths - this smile of Siddhartha - was exactly the same as the smile a thousand times calm, delicate, inscrutable, perhaps graceful, perhaps mocking, wise, of Gotama, the Buddha, as he perceived it a hundred times with admiration It was. in this way, Govinda knew, that the Perfect One was smiling.” Although Siddhartha struggles to explain how to find enlightenment, when Govinda looks at his face, he suddenly realizes what true enlightenment is. of finding one's enlightenment is visible in one's own face and seen by Govinda It is much easier to be guided towards enlightenment rather than taught, and this can be seen through the interactions that occur between Siddhartha and. those around him, such as Vasudeva and Govinda, and their characterization. Even so, the relationship that exists between Siddhartha and those around him can be one-sided, just like the one that exists with his son. After the death of Kamala, the son's mother, Siddhartha takes the son under his wing. The relationship between the two is not the best, as the son is used to materialistic and cynical lifestyles with his mother. One day, in a fit of fury, the boy said to Siddhartha: "He knows that Siddhartha continually punishes him and makes him feel small with Siddhartha's piety and indulgence...The son hates Siddhartha." Through this interaction with his son, Siddhartha learns that he cannot impose his knowledge on his son. The son constantly pushes Siddhartha away, but he is blinded by the undying love he has for his son. Siddhartha is too.