Archetypes In Siddhartha Essay -- essays research papers fc

     In analyzing the novel Siddhartha, we find that Herman Hesse has incorporatedmany literary techniques to relay his content to the reader. By using various writingapproaches to convey the theme of the novel, Hesse appeals to the readers senses andaides them in grasping the novel. Included in these techniques are symbolism, metaphor,allusion, and archetypes. He compares many issues that Siddhartha faces to casualobjects and forces, making the novel easier to understand. Three of the main archetypesHesse uses to get his point across are trees, rivers, and sleep.     One of the more obvious symbols used in the novel is a tree. Cross-culturally, itis extremely common for trees to represent wisdom. In Hebrew literature, when Adamand Eve eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, they are "awakened" and gain the insightof salutary and evil. In Norse mythology, the tree of Yggdrasil represents knowledge andlife. In American literature, Joh n Knowles "A Separate Peace" uses a giant oak tree to stage Finny and Gene becoming men. Finally, in Siddhartha we see that trees (andmore broadly, gardens) are present when Siddhartha discovers something about himself. On just the third page of the novel with Siddhartha contemplating in a fig garden, itbecomes obvious that trees are being used as a representative of learning. This concept isrepeated many times throughout the novel, some instances of engagement mo...