In the short story Siddhartha, the author Hermann Hesse conveyed Siddhartha through

characterization. Hesse used characterization in order to convey Siddhartha’s journey of

religious and spiritual discovery. His first characterization of Siddhartha is on (p.g.38).
Siddhartha has an epiphany about finding himself, Hesse used Siddhartha’s internal conflict;
thoughts to show his process on his journey. Hesse also used speech (p.g.32) between
Siddhartha and Gotama to show Siddhartha’s disagreement and that he must go his own way to
attain enlightenment-apart from Govinda. This shows his determination to reach his goal even if
it isn’t favorable. Hesse characterizes Siddhartha as admired on (p.g. 4) “he loved everything
that Siddhartha did or said.” This quote aligns perfectly to the story’s underlying message of
Siddhartha finding himself, although Govinda and the other Brahmins admired him, he wasn’t
happy with himself and this aligns with the theme of unity of nature he had no unity or
wholeness within, therefore he could not reach enlightenment. At the river (p.g. 87) Siddhartha
wanted to kill himself so, he submerged himself into the water because he felt empty. When
Siddhartha fell into the water because he felt empty and he began to feel hear “om” which
“saved” his life and gave him a new found purpose. After the suicide attempt (p.g. 101)
Siddhartha started looking at the water differently. Siddhartha started learning from Vasuveda
told him to do. Hesse used characterization purposefully to construct Siddhartha’s personality.
Through every chapter Siddhartha experienced something else whether it be pain or joy that
built up to the theme and allowed to the Eightfold Path.