Siddartha Analysis Essay

Siddartha #1

3) e. “He realized that he was no longer a youth; he was now a man. He realized that something had left him, like the old skin that a snake sheds...” (p. 38)

        When I first read this quote, I immediately thought of my growing and changing self in my journey through high school. The symbolism etched into my brain, creating the image of the “old skin” as my old personality, old habits, and old ways I lived by before entering high school. The snake obviously represented myself and each year of my high school career is represented by the different layers of the snake’s old skin.

        An observation that I made with this quote is that Hesse uses the word “old” to describe the skin that the snake sheds. I notice that had he used another word such as “dead,” the meaning of the whole sentence would have changed. Although Hesse is saying that Siddartha has now grown into a man, he still keeps with him the old identity that he had before reaching Enlightenment. That could mean that the memory of his youth remained, but the physical form of his old self is no longer there, just like a snake leaving its old skin and continues on with its life. Had the word “dead” been used, we would’ve been told to believe that Siddartha’s previous self had diminished completely and now has little influence on his new and transformed self. Yes, he could have left it behind and never spoke of it again, but he wouldn’t have reached Enlightenment and where he is now if it weren’t for the transformation of his “old skin” to a whole new fresh one. The snake’s transformation represents Siddartha’s evolution of himself through his many trial and errors. Each layer of the snake’s old skin represents Siddartha’s mistakes and countless attempts at reaching Enlightenment throughout his life.

        A snake, when breaking free from its tight and old skin, is literally transforming itself. The snake Hesse addresses is compared to Siddartha leaving his younger self behind while not completely forgetting it, therefore turning into a new person with a new identity. I believe the way the snake leaves its skin and turns into a smooth-skinned, shiny snake is the same way Siddartha leaves his youth and turns into a new and improved grown man. His reaching of Enlightenment has made him a man because he now holds true wisdom.

        I am, in similar ways, associated with this snake. I believe that since I began high school, my skin has grown and grown upon layer and layer. Once I graduate high school, I will have shed my “old skin” from high school and create an improved version of myself that is ready to face reality and the challenges of college. Now that I think of it, I believe the snake’s lifestyle is very much similar and a perfect representation of a teenager, especially me.

As a senior, I am making more and more memories (layers) with friends, family, teachers, coaches, etc. And as I’m doing this, my high school career is coming to an end and slowly peeling away from me. Before it all disappears on graduation day, I would like to make every moment last. Treasure every little thing along the way and embrace them with every opportunity I’m given. So that, in the end, the product of my high school career can be seen through the shell of my achievements. That shell being my “old skin” that I will have shed.