Siddhartha is the protagonist of the book, and the whole story revolves around his quest for meaning, physical and spiritual journey, and personal growth, which takes a lifetime. Biographically, Hesse’s hero and the historical Buddha Gautama display many parallels: They both leave wealthy homes to search for enlightenment, experiencing asceticism, awakening, and eventually Nirvana.

Siddhartha’s very human character is a powerful force in determining how his story unfolds. He is restless, stubborn, and yet very patient. These personality traits drive him to leave behind a life of entitlement and ease in the search for a more meaningful existence and deeper understanding of the world. With his charm and resilience, he ingratiates himself into several situations from which he benefits but then leaves as he finds them unsatisfying. Despite expressing an attitude of slight superiority to the ordinary people that he observes and lives amongst, he remains humble enough to open his heart to new emotions, learn from his experiences, and adapt his thinking.

Much of the book is devoted to relaying his inner thoughts and reflections, and these reveal to the reader Siddhartha’s character and preoccupations. Such reflections include, “Siddhartha had begun to feel the seeds of discontent” (4); and “the vessel was not full, his intellect was not satisfied, his soul was not at peace, his heart was not still’ (5).