Now that we've finished reading Siddhartha, what are you closing thoughts? Were you satisfied with the ending? If not, what do you feel should have happened?
I thought the ending was fitting,especially Govinda also finally finding enlightenment. However,I was a bit let down with the fact that he sort of remained a follower. He followed Gotama for years and never found Nirvana and when he follows Siddhartha, he finds enlightenment but only after following the right person.
I also thought the ending was pretty fitting to the overall of the story. What i liked about the ending was that Govinda and Siddhartha got to see each other because at the beginning of the story they were really close friends. I think it came to a close by closing with the both friends as it started with at the beginning and both reaching their goals as it also happened in the beginning.
I didn't expect Govinda and Siddhartha to meet up again but I'm glad they did. I was surprised that Govinda finally saw and heard what Siddhartha did. I thought Govinda would have died with no sort of enlightenment. I thought the ending was more realistic; however, I would of loved that happy ending where his son realized he made a mistake by leaving, but life is not always a happy ending so I can understand why the author ended the novella like he did.
Michaela, interesting point, I thought more people would comment on Siddhartha's son remaining absent. I know that his disappearance from his life is what helped him learn to love and thus develop his character, but its still feels unresolved. I for one was disappointed that his son did not reappear. Glad I wasn't the only one!
I would have preferred if they had fulfilled Govinda's character before his death. I found the book a bit repetitive that he found someone learned something then goes through another short series of events with someone else and move on
I agree that it was a pleasant surprise that Govinda shows up again at the end of the story. However, I second Alejandra's statement that it was a bit disappointing that Govinda remained a follower for most of his life. Perhaps if he had stayed with Siddhartha for longer as he had planned he may have found enlightenment faster.
I wasn't expecting Govinda to show up either. I was expecting the ending to be centering towards Siddhartha and have some sort of final revelation, similarly to his awakening at the river. I think we all wish there was more grown to Govinda's character prior to Siddhartha's influence.
I really like Maythe's comment about how Siddhartha and Govinda finding each other is a proper closing as they were very close friends in the beginning of the novella. It reminds me of the symbolism of the river that Vasudeva mentions, that life, like the river, is a cycle. The novella opens with them being close friends and it closes the same way. Also, I agree with Michaela that it would have been nice if Siddhartha's son had realized his mistakes but it would not have been realistic and been too much of a happy ending.
I thought the ending was fitting,especially Govinda also finally finding enlightenment. However,I was a bit let down with the fact that he sort of remained a follower. He followed Gotama for years and never found Nirvana and when he follows Siddhartha, he finds enlightenment but only after following the right person.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't expecting Govinda and Siddhartha to meet up again, but I think it's nice that they got to see each other one more time in their old age.
ReplyDeleteI also thought the ending was pretty fitting to the overall of the story. What i liked about the ending was that Govinda and Siddhartha got to see each other because at the beginning of the story they were really close friends. I think it came to a close by closing with the both friends as it started with at the beginning and both reaching their goals as it also happened in the beginning.
ReplyDeleteI didn't expect Govinda and Siddhartha to meet up again but I'm glad they did. I was surprised that Govinda finally saw and heard what Siddhartha did. I thought Govinda would have died with no sort of enlightenment. I thought the ending was more realistic; however, I would of loved that happy ending where his son realized he made a mistake by leaving, but life is not always a happy ending so I can understand why the author ended the novella like he did.
ReplyDeleteMichaela, interesting point, I thought more people would comment on Siddhartha's son remaining absent. I know that his disappearance from his life is what helped him learn to love and thus develop his character, but its still feels unresolved. I for one was disappointed that his son did not reappear. Glad I wasn't the only one!
DeleteI would have preferred if they had fulfilled Govinda's character before his death. I found the book a bit repetitive that he found someone learned something then goes through another short series of events with someone else and move on
ReplyDeleteI agree that it was a pleasant surprise that Govinda shows up again at the end of the story. However, I second Alejandra's statement that it was a bit disappointing that Govinda remained a follower for most of his life. Perhaps if he had stayed with Siddhartha for longer as he had planned he may have found enlightenment faster.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't expecting Govinda to show up either. I was expecting the ending to be centering towards Siddhartha and have some sort of final revelation, similarly to his awakening at the river. I think we all wish there was more grown to Govinda's character prior to Siddhartha's influence.
ReplyDeleteI really like Maythe's comment about how Siddhartha and Govinda finding each other is a proper closing as they were very close friends in the beginning of the novella. It reminds me of the symbolism of the river that Vasudeva mentions, that life, like the river, is a cycle. The novella opens with them being close friends and it closes the same way. Also, I agree with Michaela that it would have been nice if Siddhartha's son had realized his mistakes but it would not have been realistic and been too much of a happy ending.
ReplyDelete