Achieving Enlightenment at the River in Siddhartha In Siddhartha's quest for enlightenment, Herman Hesse makes the river the final focal point of the novel. Siddhartha embarks on his journey to the river by listening to his inner voice and questioning authority. The river comes to represent the ideas through which Siddhartha achieves enlightenment. The essential concepts of time and its relationship with life are discovered by Siddhartha through listening to the river. He realizes that his previous conclusion is correct, wisdom cannot be taught. When he reaches nirvana, he also sees how spiritualism and materialism both have a place in the cycle of life. Acting as Siddhartha's inspiration for his ultimate goal, the river operates as a significant element in Hesse's novel, Siddhartha. At the beginning of the novel, Siddhartha defines his model of life by questioning the authority of Hinduism. With his friend Govinda he begins life among the samanas. With the samanas Siddhartha begins to master their teachings. Feeling dissatisfied, Siddhartha concludes as an ascetic that he will not achieve bliss as the older samana has yet to achieve enlightenment. Leaving the forest, Siddhartha and Govinda go to listen to the teachings of the illustrious Buddha. After listening to Gotama's preaching, Siddhartha realizes that he will not reach enlightenment through the teachings but along a path that he will have to trace himself. Guided once again by his inner voice, Siddhartha begins to explore life in the material world. Over the next twenty years, he remains deeply involved in samsara. Forgetting the teachings of the past, Siddhartha can begin his journey again. Disgusted with his life, Siddhartha leaves again and discovers the river. Listening to his... middle of paper......hat leads him to the river where he learns the concepts of time and timelessness. Seeing many disciples of different religions, Siddhartha decides that wisdom is incommunicable. His final revelation comes when he reaches nirvana. The two worlds of spiritualism and materialism do not exist as forces to align with, but as powers to be in harmony with. The ideas discovered come from his life experiences and above all from the river and its nature. Works Cited Hesse, Herman. Siddhartha. Dover Publications, 1998.Malthaner, Johannes. "Hermann Hesse: 'Siddhartha'". The German quarterly. Vol.25, No.2, March 1952. Timpe, Eugene F. “Siddhartha of Hesse and the Bhagavad Gita.” Comparative Literature, V.22 No.4, 1970, p.23."Nirvana". The World Book Encyclopedia, (Vol.14). Toronto: World Book, Inc., 1987, p.332-333.