Character Relationships

Just as each character has his or her own effect on the journey toward Siddhartha's enlightenment, Siddhartha also influences each of the major characters. The novel assumes a third-person omniscient point of view that follows Siddhartha on his journey. Siddhartha's point of view on his relationships with the other characters is thus expressed to the reader. Hesse also incorporates a tone that is methodical, spiritual, and timeless into the novel. The tone makes it easy for the reader to understand Siddhartha's weaknesses, strengths, and obstacles and meditate upon them.

When Siddhartha finally achieves enlightenment himself, he begins a new cycle of time in which he takes the place of Vasuveda. Siddhartha has already lived the lives of his father and his son, and now he relieves the ferryman of his job and allows him to go into the woods--into "the unity of all things" (137).

Without Siddhartha, his old friend Govinda would not achieve enlightenment at the end of the novel. Siddhartha takes his own discoveries obtained along his own journey and relays them to Govinda, expressing that enlightenment can only be found within one's own self and that a mentor is not the answer. There is a difference between knowledge and wisdom in that knowledge can be passed from person to person, while wisdom takes on a more personal characteristic. Govinda does eventually achieve enlightenment with Siddhartha's tacit guidance.

Because of Siddhartha, Kamala is able to die with the dignity and satisfaction that she sought to achieve in the eyes of Gotama. She does not make it to him, however, but finds what she is looking for in her former lover. Siddhartha is almost at the point of enlightenment and is holy enough to satisfy Kamala's needs while she is on her deathbed.