The River of Life

A recurring symbol, or motif, in Siddhartha is the river. The author perhaps attempts to portray the river as somewhat of a pathway for Siddhartha. A ferryman says to Siddhartha, “it is a very beautiful river. I love it above everything. I have often listened to it, gazed at it, and I have always learned something from it. One can learn much from a river.” (Hesse, 49) The ferryman simply states how he listens to and learns from the river. Perhaps this is symbolic for all of the lessons one learns in life. The author goes on to say, “A chilly emptiness in the water reflected the terrible emptiness in his soul.” (Hesse, 88) In this scene, it is being communicated to the reader that whatever Siddhartha does is shadowed by the river. When his soul is empty, so is the water. Both are learning more about themselves, taking turns for the best and the worst in life. After experiencing an awakening, Siddhartha asks himself, “Was it not his self…Was it not this which had finally died today in the wood by this delightful river?” (Hesse 99) The author is trying to represent dying points in one life. The death of Siddhartha’s old, prideful self-occurred by the gorgeous river. It’s as if the most important pathway (or in this case, the river) overcame the ugly parts of life. The river in Siddhartha is in fact a very important motif for the representation. 

-Mati Music