Nature

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 * Nature**

Thesis: In the novel Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha goes on a journey where he experiences life as an aesthetic Samana and as a self-indulging merchant in attempt to attain enlightenment. However, his pursuit remains unfulfilled until he embraces a middle ground of the two extremes: the river. While living near the river, Siddhartha successfully attains the satisfaction he was looking for by truly appreciating the beauty of nature.

1. Samana
 * although he has all the knowledge that others have, he is longing more
 * joins the Samanas--is away from civilization
 * practice dispassion
 * "empty of thirst, desire, dreams, pleasure, and sorrow" (11)
 * through this, enlightenment is thought to be achieved by eliminating the Self
 * however, these practices of eliminating the Self is only temporary
 * "temporary escape from the torment of Self [...] a temporary palliative against the pain and folly of life" (13)
 * samanas are old of age, but have not yet achieved nirvana--shows the futility of these practices
 * "sixty years old [but] has not attained Nirvana" (14)
 * his self-mortification focuses too much on himself; disregards nature around him
 * therefore, he is unable to achieve enlightenment

2. Merchant
 * crosses the river to go the other extreme: the city
 * experiences pleasure and material goods
 * is faced with the obstacle of having to be materialistic
 * "fine clothes, find shoes, and money in [his] purse" (45)
 * enjoys this type of lifestyle
 * "simple [...] with no difficulties" (49)
 * however, the pleasure he gets is just as temporary as his flee from the Self when he was a samana
 * the more he indulges in material goods, the more he becomes dissatisfied
 * "the soul sickness of the rich [creeps] over him" (63)
 * because Siddhartha does not interact with nature, he is incapable of being enlightened

3. Ferryman
 * Siddhartha returns back to the river
 * he is trying to become someone new--not a samana nor a rich man
 * hears Om from the river
 * becomes "conscious of Brahman, of the indestructibleness of life" (72)
 * therefore, he becomes satisfied and wants to live near it for the rest of his life
 * "love this river, stay by it, [and] learn from it" (83)
 * learns from the river; the ferryman Vasudeva acts as his mentor
 * river: "the voice of life, the voice of Being" (88)
 * by listening to the river, Siddhartha is satisfied and is fulfilled with the desire of acheiving enlightenment

Nature mediates the two extremes. Therefore, by appreciating and paying attention to nature, Siddhartha is able to live a content life, one where he achieves his lifelong goal: attaining enlightenment.