Siddhartha

Siddhartha

In the book Siddhartha, by Herman Hesse, figurative language is used to create beautiful pictures, settings and feelings more real. Strong images, metaphors, and symbols help to make the books topic, Buddhism, more understandable.

Imagery is used to make the setting and Siddhartha’s words come alive. The author spends a good amount of time describing the settings in Siddhartha’s journey, to convey that in Buddhism words are not just the teachings, but lessons of everyday life. Siddhartha says “words do not describe thoughts well. They always become a little different immediately after they are expressed, a little distorted, a little foolish" (145).

“Wandering along the rosy paths of the fig garden, sitting in contemplation in the bluish shade of the grove, washing his limbs in the daily bath of astonishment, offering sacrifices in the depths of the shady mango wood with complete grace of manner, beloved by all, a joy to all, there was yet no joy in his own heart” (5). The author uses the words to paint a picture that one should be happy to be loved by all, yet Siddhartha is not.

“the flesh disappeared from his legs and cheeks, strange dreams were reflected in his enlarged