Siddhartha, the chief protagonist of the novel is a seeker after truth of life. He explores it in the Bramanic tradition which he feels lacks systemacy. Then, he moves among the Samanas and finds their system as temporary escape from the torment of life. In the Buddha’s teachings, he finds overall satisfaction except that “it does not contain the secret of what the illustrious one himself experiences.” Siddhartha concludes that what he seeks cannot be acquired from teachings or teachers but must be acquired from contact with the world. When he turns to life among the people, he encounters the river and the ferryman, Vasudeva who takes him across. He spends the night with the ferryman and with the river which seems to speak to him. As he proceeds to the city he encounters the beautiful courtesan Kamala, who agrees to teach him the art of love. Kamala also explains to Siddhartha that he must become a wealthy man if he is to court her favour. Siddhartha becomes an assistant ...
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