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Govinda
is a wise Brahmin and tries to teach his talented son, but Siddhartha soon outgrows the Brahmin teaching and needs to follow his own path. His father is reluctant to let him go, but when he sees how stubborn Siddhartha is, he sends him away, in the knowledge that Siddhartha can return if he does not find the truth he seeks. When Siddhartha reaches the final stages of his wisdom, it is through realizing the cycle he is part of, and how his love and sacrifice for young Siddhartha is the same love and sacrifice that his father showed him in his youth.
Siddhartha’s father Quotes in Siddhartha
The Siddhartha quotes below are all either spoken by Siddhartha’s father or refer to Siddhartha’s father. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Part 1, Chapter 1 Quotes
He had begun to sense that his venerable father and his other teachers, that the wise Brahmins, had already imparted to him the bulk and the best of their knowledge, that they had already poured their fullness into his waiting vessel, and the vessel was not full, his mind was not contented…
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Explanation and Analysis:
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Siddhartha’s father Character Timeline in Siddhartha
The timeline below shows where the character Siddhartha’s father appears in Siddhartha. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part One, Chapter 1 – The Brahmin's Son
...encompasses the whole universe and promotes clarity. His gifts bring joy to his mother and father, and his good breeding also attracts the attention of the girls in the town.
(full context)
...no Brahmin seems to be living the life that they preach. He thinks about his father, a wise, venerable man, but even he does not live with peace in his heart....
(full context)
Siddhartha’s father is troubled and restless that night and gets out of bed, but sees Siddhartha out...
(full context)
Part One, Chapter 4 – Awakening
...that, though he had intended on leaving the samana life and going back to his father’s house, he no longer belongs there. For the first time he feels really homeless. All...
(full context)
Part Two, Chapter 11 – Om
Visions appear to Siddhartha as he watches, the faces of his lonely son and lonely father, and himself. The voice of the river is lamenting and determined. Vasudeva urges Siddhartha to...
(full context)
