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Gina Fimiano
IDS1161
1 March 2021
Essay 1
The unanswered question: does Govinda reach enlightenment? Throughout the story, this
question essentially remains on one’s mind. It is obvious Govinda serves a purpose to the story
line, but does he reach enlightenment just as Siddhartha does? Despite what the internet and
Spark Notes says, I do not believe Govinda achieves the same state of enlightenment as
Siddhartha.
The story of Siddhartha is an allegory, which means there is an intended meaning or
message embedded in the text. Hesse wrote Siddhartha for a reason. Hesse expressed his own
thoughts and feelings through the storyline. He rejected his own religion of orthodox Christianity
taught to him by his parents. In the 1920’s this was the major religion of Europe, but Hesse
wanted more. In the middle of writing the book, he found himself depressed and disconnected
from his own mind. It was not until he began studying Buddhism when he found himself again
and was able to finish the story. Clearly, the characters of Siddhartha are all there for a reason. In
my opinion, Govinda is in the story to teach Siddhartha a lesson, adding on to the overall
message in the end.
From the beginning of Siddhartha, Govinda blindly followed Siddhartha around like a
puppy, yearning to be like his friend on the journey for something greater. They went on to be
Samanas together and were not separated until the two went on different paths to what they
believed would better themselves. This is when Siddhartha truly found himself and reached his
greatest being. “Truly, no thing in this world has kept my thoughts thus busy, as this my very
This study source was downloaded by 100000841689952 from CourseHero.com on 06-29-2022 12:16:38 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/83117034/essay1pdf/
Gina Fimiano
IDS1161
1 March 2021
Essay 1
The unanswered question: does Govinda reach enlightenment? Throughout the story, this
question essentially remains on one’s mind. It is obvious Govinda serves a purpose to the story
line, but does he reach enlightenment just as Siddhartha does? Despite what the internet and
Spark Notes says, I do not believe Govinda achieves the same state of enlightenment as
Siddhartha.
The story of Siddhartha is an allegory, which means there is an intended meaning or
message embedded in the text. Hesse wrote Siddhartha for a reason. Hesse expressed his own
thoughts and feelings through the storyline. He rejected his own religion of orthodox Christianity
taught to him by his parents. In the 1920’s this was the major religion of Europe, but Hesse
wanted more. In the middle of writing the book, he found himself depressed and disconnected
from his own mind. It was not until he began studying Buddhism when he found himself again
and was able to finish the story. Clearly, the characters of Siddhartha are all there for a reason. In
my opinion, Govinda is in the story to teach Siddhartha a lesson, adding on to the overall
message in the end.
From the beginning of Siddhartha, Govinda blindly followed Siddhartha around like a
puppy, yearning to be like his friend on the journey for something greater. They went on to be
Samanas together and were not separated until the two went on different paths to what they
believed would better themselves. This is when Siddhartha truly found himself and reached his
greatest being. “Truly, no thing in this world has kept my thoughts thus busy, as this my very
This study source was downloaded by 100000841689952 from CourseHero.com on 06-29-2022 12:16:38 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/83117034/essay1pdf/
