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Conflict in Siddhartha

     The conflict in the novel Siddhartha is about the search for inner peace and enlightenment, and how difficult it can be to find. Siddhartha’s life takes him on a very long journey. It takes Siddhartha years searching for a state of happiness and serenity. His search for happiness and serenity seems to be constantly just beyond his grasp. He struggles to find truth. Siddhartha begins the novel by leaving  his comfortable life of wealth. He gives up all of his possessions to be a wandering philosopher. 

     Siddhartha discovers hunger and pain for the first time. After meeting Gotama the Buddha  he decides that this is not the right path for him, so he declines joining his Buddhist followers. He decides to go to a city and reenter the world, hoping to learn some new truths about himself. He does find new truths about himself, but he doesn't like what materialism and being a merchant does to him, and after a few years he leaves this life as well. 

     Siddhartha then becomes a ferrymen's apprentice trying to learn what lessons he can from the river. He is finally happy and enlightened. The conflict in this novel is inside Siddhartha's head. Siddhartha has a truly personal quest toward self-fulfillment. 

     Siddhartha believes that experiences and your own personal growth can teach you spiritual enlightenment. Siddhartha believes understanding the true self is the ultimate goal of every human being. By the end of the book Siddhartha has complete serenity and he is in a peaceful and harmonious state of being.