Hero's journey in literature

¶ … classic works of literature and examines their underlying message. Using Hermann Hesse's "Siddhartha" (Bantam Books edition) and Leo Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilych (Signey Classic edition)," the author of this paper attempts to capture the meaning of the underlying themes. Isolation, conflict, resolution, and other factors are all compared and contrasted as the works are examined in depth. There were two sources used to complete this paper.

The journey to self-awareness and wholeness can take a lifetime. As people travel through their every day experiences they often get so caught up in the mundane daily needs of survival that they push aside the desire or need to self-reflect and discover the meaning of their individual existence. Often times the truth about this is not evident until tragedy is faced and then those who encounter it are suddenly faced with their own failure to discover their inner selves. Two pieces of classic literature attempt to detail and blueprint this pattern of human nature.

In Hermann Hesse's "Siddhartha" (Bantam Books edition) and Leo Tolstoy's

The Death of Ivan Ilych (Signey Classic edition)," the protagonists present classic examples of what can happen on the road to self-discovery.

Mental, emotional and spiritual issues can all arise in the case of life changing experiences. In these two works that is exactly what happens.

In the first book, the protagonist, Ivan Llych has died and the book is based on a reflection of his life through the eyes of those who knew him. It also details the things he felt and said before his death. Ivan Llych for the most part led a very boring life according to the biographical sections of the text.

He was raised on a farm, went to school and had older brothers. He gets married and things are good until his wife becomes pregnant with their first child (Tolstoy, 1981). At that point her personality changes and he begins to seek outside stimulation for company. He invites friends over, he goes out more and generally buries himself in his work and his social activities instead of his family. The journey he takes just before his death reflect the failure to be bonded properly with his family (Tolstoy, 1981). His refusal to work out those problems and instead maintain a barrier between him and his wife create a tension after his death that everyone around him experiences as well (Tolstoy, 1981). Mental and emotional discovery can be a painful and lonely journey. In the case of this protagonist it was especially so because of his lack of closeness with his wife.

She began to remind him of his medicines, but he turned his eyes towards her with such a look that she did not finish what she was saying; so great an animosity, to her in particular, did that look express (Tolstoy 1981)."

In most circumstances the spouse is the one who is closest and will be the rock of strength as one passes through the various stages of acceptance of death. In the case of Ivan however, he had been so isolated during the marriage that the isolation was simply magnified as he faced his own demise.

Throughout his adult life Ivan refuses to bother himself with anything unpleasant. He avoids it and this becomes a problem as he faces death. It is difficult to suddenly handle the unpleasant when you have spent a lifetime pretending it does not exist. In his journey toward the other side Ivan uncovers a depth within himself he denied for many years. His ability to understand the spiritual and emotional aspect of life does not become apparent until the end. This is something that is believed about many average people and the author of this book strives to make Ivan represent "every man."

But if that is so," he said to himself, "and I am leaving this life with the consciousness that I have lost all that was given me and it is impossible to rectify it -- what then?"

He lay on his back and began to pass his life in review in quite a new way. In the morning when he saw first his footman, then his wife, then his daughter, and then the doctor, their every word and movement confirmed to him the awful truth that had been revealed to him during the night. In them he saw himself -- all that for which he had lived -- and saw clearly that it was not real at all, but a terrible and huge deception which had hidden both life and death. This consciousness intensified his physical suffering tenfold. He groaned and tossed about, and pulled at his clothing which choked and stifled him. And he hated them on that account (Tolstoy, 1981)."

The above passage is a common theme to many as they pass through the acceptance of the inevitable, death.

In Hesse's work however,. The protagonist is not a boring quiet average Joe as Ivan appeared to be. In this work, Siddhartha, is a man who follows nothing other than his own heart and soul. While Ivan followed all the rules and complied with societal expectations, Siddhartha does not even care that those expectations exist. Whereas Ivan was average in all areas Siddhartha is not. He has looks, charm, intelligence and grace that rival the average man (Hesse, 1982). His life by most accounts should have been blessed with ease but this work only serves to underscore that without inner peace and contentment nothing else matters. Siddhartha had everything that should have given him the golden key to the golden dream. Instead, because of his own internal demons and unhappiness he was tortured with wondering what the meaning of life really meant (Hesse, 1982).

As a struggling young man Siddhartha explores spiritual truth (Hesse, 1982). The work examines it so closely that it challenges several faiths along the way. Through the heart and eyes and emotions of this protagonist the reader is taken on the journey of enlightenment and comes out the other side in tune with the world. The harmony that is discovered by Siddharth creates a balance with nature and emotion that many men seek throughout their lifetimes.

While Ivan's journey is one of quiet reflection and conversation Siddartah takes a completely different path. He first envelopes himself with indulgence. He wants to know if having it all will create a sense of contentment. When he realizes that will not work he then goes on a journey of self denial and sacrifice. This may be the answer in his mind but he soon discovers that is not the key either (Hesse, 1982).