RyanFalco TheEndlessFlowoftheUnconscious

HermanHessesSiddharthatakesalookatthelifeofamanwhosearchesforfreedom fromsuffering.Theprotagonist,Siddhartha,doesnotconcernhimselfthesufferingofphysical painbutsearchesforthecauseandcureofaprevailingpainthatinhabitshispsyche. Psychoanalytictheoryconsidersavarietyofmechanismsthathelpstoputterminologybehind whatwouldotherwisebeconsideredaBuddhistreflectiononhumannature.Nearlyawhole lifespanisspentwhereSiddharthastrugglestoreachenlightenment,orfreedomfromsuffering, andinmanywayshisstrugglereflectsLacansideasthathumanbeingsareinaconstantstate ofstruggletoreturntotheReal.Thisessaywillusepsychoanalytictheorytodemonstratethat Siddharthaiswrittenasametaphorfortheworldlypaththathumanindividualstakeandtheneed tounderstandonesunconsciousinordertofreeoneselffromattachmentsthatcausethe sufferinginthemind. HermanHessepresentsaprotagonistwhosuffersfromanearuniversalaspectofthe humancondition,indeeditmightbearguedthatitisuniversal.Theprotagonistfeelstheseeds ofdiscontentwithinhimandembarksonajourneytofindcontentment(Hesse3).Itismy opinionthatHessehimselfcreatedSiddharthabecausehe,likemanyotherhumanbeings,felta lingeringdiscontentand,likeSiddhartha,heembarkedonajourneythroughwritingtoappeasea wishwhichfindsitsfulfillmentinthecreativework,awishtobetterunderstandhisown discontent(Freud513).InHessesuseofthetitleSiddharthahemakesanobviousallusionto themythicalBuddhaonwhichBuddhismisfounded.InthiswayIdarguethatifHessehimself didnotfeeldiscontent,helikelywroteitforareasonwhichparallelsFreudsbeliefincreative writing:itisextremelyprobablethatmyths,forinstance,aredistortedvestigesofthewishful fantasiesofwholenations,theseculardreamsofyouthfulhumanity(Freud513).Inother

words,hefoundedhisworkonbelievingthatcontentmentwasaprevailingwishinhumanityand attheheartofBuddhismisthesamewish. WithinSiddharthaatypicalwesternreaderwillnotdirectlyrelatetotheprotagonistwho comesfromanentirelydifferentbackgroundthanwhatisfoundinthewesternworld.However, accordingtoFreud,areaderisabletointerpretacreativeworkjustastheyareabletointerpreta dream(Freud512).Byrelatingtotheprotagonistswish,and[transformingthetext]into pictoriallanguageitismoreeasilyrepresentedandunderstood(Freud508).Siddharthafalls underoneoffourofFreudsmeansofrepresentation:itistobeinterpretedsymbolically(Freud 509).TheprimarysymbolisSiddharthahimself,andSiddhartharepresentsthefragmentedand transitorynatureofthehumanindividual. ThroughthecourseofthenovelSiddharthagoesthroughavarietyofexperiencesbut eachexperienceispressuredbyhisoriginsasthehighlytalentedandhighlyintelligentsonofa holyman.Siddharthaisesteemedbythesocialorderheisapartof,leadinghimtolateridentify hisquestbeinghinderedbyarrogance(Hesse80).Inthebeginninghisegoispraisedbecause hefulfillstheinterestsofcivilisation,carryingthelawsthatbondsocietyand[herepresents],in thefirstinstance,theinfantschiefexperienceoflovingauthorities,theparentswhoarewell respectedmembersofsociety(FreudandPsychoanalysis).Inthiswayhedemonstrates completecompliancewithhissuperego.Nevertheless,thereisadesirewithinhimthathe cannotseemtofulfill.Hessedoesnotpresenthisidasapsychosexualforceinthebeginning, butmoresoaseternallydesiringmankind.Siddharthasdesire,histhirst,hissorrowcomes fromanabsencehefeels,anabsenceofAtmanortheabsenceofacompletedsoul(Hesse 45). Siddharthaseesthathiselders,thosewhohavepassedonthebulkoftheirknowledge, alsosufferfromanabsenceofAtman(Hesse45).AtmanisanideawhichSiddharthalearned duringwhatLacancallsthesymbolic:thestagemarkingachild'sentranceintolanguage

(PsychoanalyticCriticism).TheideaofAtmanbecomesthefocusoftheSiddharthas unconsciousmuchlikeLacancentersthetheoryofunconsciousonthesensewithinusof somethingabsent(Richter1112).Thisabsence,Siddharthalearns,issomethinghecanno longeraskforbecauseitdoesnothaveaname(Richter1112).Sure,Atmansignifies somethingbutitissomethingthatexistsbeyondthegraspofimagesandsymbolsthrough whichwethinkandconstituteourreality(Richter1113).Becausehisidcannotgetwhatit desiresfromthesuperegoitoperatesunder,itpropelshisegoawayfromthesymbolicorder whichhegrewupin. ThusbeginsSiddharthasindependencefromhisfamilyandhisemergenceinto adulthood.Hefirstbeginshisjourneytowardsfulfillinghisabsencebyjoiningagroupof ascetics.TheasceticsteachSiddharthatorepresshisbasicneedsanddesires,thoseoffood, pleasureandcomfort.InthiswaySiddharthaengagesoneoftwomajordrives[that]functionin theunconscious:theaggressivedrive,whichaimsatdestruction,inthiscase selfdestruction(Richter1127).DuringasceticmeditationSiddharthalearnstoseparatehis mindfromhisbodyandbecameanimal,carcass,stone,wood,water,andeachtimehe reawakens...heisagainSelf,swungintothelifecycle,feelsthirst,conquersthirst,feelsnew thirst(Hesse,12).HetriestoreachAtmanbyreducinghisbodyandactivitiestonothingsothat onlyAtmanremains.InthiswayheseemstobetryingtoreturntotheRealbydestroyinghis conceptsofneedandlack(PsychoanalyticCriticism). WhileLacanreferstoapointbeforelanguageandinnowaycomparesittoasceticism,I believethatifthetextisconsideredlikeadreamthenthemeditationsofSiddharthacouldbe interpretedasanattempttoreturntothepointbeforelanguage,todestroythethesymbolic conceptsandrevealtheReal.However,Siddharthamakestherealizationthat,asLacanputs it,ifIdecidetobeonlywhatIamhowevenherecanIeludetheobviousfactthatIaminthat veryact(Lacan1142).Inotherwords,hehasnotcomeanyclosertoapointwithoutneedor

lack,heismerelyinanactofaflightfromtheSelf,atemporaryescapefromthetormentof Self(Hesse13)hewillalwaysfeelnewthirst. SiddharthalearnsofGotama,theillustriousone,apersonwhohasachievedNirvana,a personwhohasdiscoveredAtman,andseekshimout.UponmeetingGotamaandhearing Gotamasteachingshedoesnotfeelsatisfied.HeseeksGotamaoutandconfrontshimwithhis repressedarrogance.SiddharthaarguesthatGotamaslogicisflawed,thatthelanguagehe usesisnearlyperfectexceptforatonepoint.LikeLacan,Gotamaunderstandsthatthe unconsciousislikealanguageandhedoesnotsuggestthatlanguagemusttherebyconstitute theultimatereality(Richter1113).Gotamaexplainsthatthegoalofhisteachingisnotto explaintheworldtothosewhoarethirstyforknowledge.Itsgoalisquitedifferentitsgoalis salvationfromsuffering(Hesse27).ThepeacethatSiddharthasensesinGotamaandthe stateofNirvanathatSiddharthabelievesGotamapossessescomesfromGotamasmastering oftheunconsciousandofthelibido.GotamarepresentstheattainmentoftheReal.

WhatSiddharthasokeenlyobservesisthatGotamacantcommunicateinwordsand teachingswhathappenedto[him]inthehourof[his]enlightenment(Hesse27).Gotamas teachingscanonlyexistinlanguagelikethesignifier[that]sendsforthitslightintotheshadow

ofincompletesignifications(Lacan1137).HesseusesGotamaasthesymbolofSiddharthas highestdesire,anexistencefreefromsuffering.DuetoSiddharthasorigins,hebelieveshe cannotdependonknowledge.Theunderlyingreasonisthatknowledgeisstructuredby language,andifwetrytograspinlanguagetheconstitutionoftheobject,inthiscaseGotamas Enlightenment,wecannotfailtonoticethatthisconstitutionistobefoundonlyatthelevelof concept(Lacan1131).Siddharthabelievesthathewillneverachieveenlightenmentthrough followingGotamasteachingsanddecidesthathemustactualizeitthroughanindividualquest. AfterSiddharthaleavesGotamahehasadreamthathedrinksmilkfromawomans breastthattastesofeverypleasurehecanconceiveof(Hesse40).Hesseusesthisdreamto foreshadowthenextstageinSiddharthasjourney,thatoffeedingthenondestructiveaspectof thelibido,theonewhichaimsatpleasure(Richter1107).Thisphaseexhibitsthemostovert repressionofSiddharthasdesiretounderstandAtmanandattainEnlightenment.Siddhartha embellishesinwine,wealth,sexandfoodandfindshimselfbecomingmorelikethecommon man.However,Siddharthabecomesverysickofhimselfbecausehefeelsfurtherfromhisgoal thaneverandhesimplycannotforgetthewishofhisyouth.InTheAgencyoftheLetterinthe UnconsciousLacanassertsthatsomewishesneverdie:

Thereisnowayofconceivingtheindestructibilityofunconsciousdesirein theabsenceofaneedwhich,whenforbiddensatisfaction,doesnotsickenand die,evenifitmeansthedestructionoftheorganismitself.(Lacan1443)

Siddharthassensesheisonthepathofdestroyinghimselfinanattempttorepresshis unconscious.Hedoesnotknowwhyhisunconsciouswishispersistentamidstthepleasures hehasaccrued:itsimplyis.Hesseusesadreamaboutararesongbirdasarevelationfor Siddhartha:

Thisbird,whichusuallysanginthemorning,becamemute,andasthis surprisedhim,hewentuptothecageandlookedinside.Thelittlebirdwas deadandlaystiffonthefloor.Hetookitout,helditamomentinhishandand thenthrewitawayontheroad,andatthesamemomenthewashorrifiedand hisheartachedasifhehadthrownawaywiththisdeadbirdallthatwasgood andofvalueinhimself.(Hesse66)

Whenhewokeupfromthedreamhethoughtthathehadwastedhislifeaway(Hesse66). AccordingtoFreud,itisfromthesedreamthoughtsandnotfromadreamsmanifestcontent thatwedisentangleitsmeaning(500).Inthisinstance,itcanbethoughtthatthebird symbolizedSiddharthassoulbutthereaderknowswithcertaintythatSiddharthafeltunhappy aboutthecoursehislifehadtaken. Uptothispoint,HesseusesthemyriadofSiddharthasexperiencestosymbolizethe experiencesahumanindividualmighthave.Ifweconsiderthethoughtsthereaderhasabout thetext,andnotthemanifestcontentofthetext,wecanfindrepresentationsthatpertaintothe readersownsubjectiveexperiences.Siddharthastimewiththeasceticsmightbetakenasa metaphorfortimesofloss,ofphysicalpainorofsuicide,whereonetriestofleetheexperience throughfantasyorprojectingthemindawayfromtheexperience.Histimeofindulgencesmight betakenasametonymicrepresentationoftimesofthereadersownoverindulgenceperhaps throughdrugs,sex,spendingorjustjunkfooditmakesthepointthatindulgencesdonotcalm thediscontentonetriestocoverwiththem.And,GotamamightsymbolizetheIdealIof humanity,thefulfilledwishofonewhoneversuffersdiscontent. Finally,Siddharthafindshimselfanoldmanworkingasaferrymanonariver.When Siddharthafirstcomestotheriverhewantstocommitsuicidebutfindsadesiretofulfillhiswish againinthismoment.Hesawhisfacereflected,andspatatit...Hebent,withclosedeyes

towardsdeath(Hesse72).Theriveritselfsymbolizestheunconsciousandhisimage symbolizestheotherofLacanswork,thatoftheIdealIasitrelatestohisactualI.Hehad literallyspatonthediscoursegivenbyhisIdealI.HesseusesSiddharthasliteralworkonthe rivertosymbolizehisworkonhisunconscious.Helearnstolistentotheriver.Hetakesall kindsofpeopleofacrossitandlistenstothem.And,hemeditatesdeeplyonthenatureofhis ownlifeandlifeasawhole.TheriveritselfalsosymbolizestheOtherthatLacandiscusses:it iscomprisedofthewholeoflanguage,theothersubjectsofexistence,thecodesofsocietyand forSiddharthaitincludesthenaturalorderoflife,ortheconstanttugbetweencreationand destruction.Theriverliterallyspeakstohiminalanguage,thelanguageofhisunconscious.

Oneday,whenSiddharthaisgriefstrickenoveradeeploss,hegoestotherivertolisten toit.Here,Hesseexplicitlyshowsthattheriverisametaphorfortheunconscious:

Thepictureofhisfather,hisownpicture,andthepictureofhissonallflowed intoeachother...Theyallbecamepartoftheriver.Itwasthegoalofallofthem, yearning,desiring,sufferingandtheriversvoicewasfulloflonging,fullof

smartingwoe,fullofinsatiabledesire.Theriverflowedontowardsitsgoal. (Hesse110)

Siddharthafinallyfindspeacewhenhe[does]notbindhissoultoanyoneparticularvoiceand absorbsitinhisself,buthearsthemall,thewhole,theunity(Hesse111).Forthereader,this actsasametaphorforbeingattachedtoaparticularmomentinthepastandfailingtoliveinthe present.Lacanalsoplacesimportanceonlivinginthepresentwhenhesays:

Thecontentsoftheunconsciouswithalltheirdisappointingambiguitiesgive usnorealityinthesubjectmoreconsistentthantheimmediatetheirvirtue derivesfromthetruthandinthedimensionofbeing.(Lacan1143)

Siddharthaiswrittenasalookathowtheego,thesubjectandtheIsufferduetoits attachmenttoexternalobjectswhichprojectsitintoperenniallack.Hesseintentionallycauses thereadertothinkabouttheirownownexistenceandtheirownunderstandingoftheir unconsciousthroughthiscreativetext.Contentment,Hesseargues,isfoundthroughbecoming harmoniouswiththeintrinsicandunconsciouspartofourselves,acceptingourtransitory natures,includingdeath,andlivingintheunfoldingflowofthepresent.

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Freud,Sigmund.TheDreamWork.TheCriticalTradition:ClassicTextsandContemporary Trends.Ed.DavidRichter.NewYork:St.MartinsPress,1989.500509.Print

Freud,Sigmund.CreativewritersandDaydreaming.TheCriticalTradition:ClassicTextsand ContemporaryTrends.Ed.DavidRichter.NewYork:St.MartinsPress,1989.509514. Print.

Hesse,Hermann.Siddhartha.NewYork:NewDirectionsPublishing,1951.Print.

Lacan,Jacques.TheAgencyoftheLetterintheUnconscious.TheCriticalTradition:Classic TextsandContemporaryTrends.Ed.DavidRichter.NewYork:St.MartinsPress,1989. 11291148.Print. Richter,David.PsychoanalyticTheoryandCriticism.TheCriticalTradition:ClassicTextsand ContemporaryTrends.Ed.DavidRichter.NewYork:St.MartinsPress,1989. 11061122.Print.

Dr.Siegel,Kristi."PyschoanalyticCriticism."IntroductiontoModernLiteraryTheory.07May 2013.<http://www.kristisiegel.com/theory.htm#psycho>