Throughout a person’s life, one usually encounters numerous forms of adversity instigated by others, their surroundings, and his or herself. It is these encounters which allow a person to obtain a deeper understanding of his or her over-all purpose in life, sometimes referred to as the “hour of consciousness” or the “hour of […] enlightenment” (Camus, “The Myth of Sisyphus” 89; Hesse 34). This notion remains true within Albert Camus’ The Stranger and Hermann Hesse’s Siddhartha as the protagonists of each novel journey towards self-discovery. The protagonist in The Stranger has to come to terms with his life in order to reach the “hour of consciousness.” In Siddhartha, the protagonist must overcome the thirst for knowledge along his journey towards the “hour of […] enlightenment.” In both works, the protagonists of the novels are forced to struggle through various life-altering conflicts within society, nature, and themselves in order to reach the point at which they reach full understanding of the meaning and purpose of their lives.
Within both novels, the protagonists struggle against societal conventions as they try to make sense of their own lives. The Stranger portrays the protagonist Meursault as an outsider due to his unique outlook on life and inability to understand his society. As the novel opens, Meursault attends his mother’s funeral, where he shows very little grief. Meursault is, in fact, annoyed by those around him who do show their grief and “wishe[s he] didn’t have to listen to [them] anymore” (Camus, The Stranger 10). While Meursault reacts to his mother’s death in the way that is most natural to him, nonchalant indifference, it is not acceptable for society which demands some visible form of sadness. Towards the end of the novel, Meursault is put on trial for murder and meets with his lawyer where the two begin to discuss Meursault’s mother’s death. Meursault explains, he “probably did love [his mother], but that [it] didn’t mean anything, [because…] all normal people wish their loved ones were dead” (Camus, The Stranger 65). Within society it is normal for one to wish that a loved one does not suffer through a painful, life-threatening situation, however, Meursault instead wishes for his mother’s death due to the annoyance she once posed. Although Meursault is being completely honest with his lawyer and is alluding to a common thought, he phrases it incorrectly and further alienates himself from society.
Similarly, within Siddhartha, Siddhartha embarks on a journey of self discovery, away from the path of society. Siddhartha is unfulfilled living amongst the Brahmins and one day asks his father’s permission to join the travelling ascetics, the Samanas. His father refuses because the Samanas lead a life-style so different from the one society demands, however, he soon allows Siddhartha to leave after realizing that “he [has] already left him” (Hesse 12). Siddhartha’s spiritual beliefs and desire to obtain enlightenment force him to alienate himself from society in order to achieve his goal. Years later, however, Siddhartha leaves the Samanas and travels to a nearby town where he works as a businessman under the merchant Kamaswami. Although Siddhartha leads a life among society, he still remains apart from it and holds on to his spiritual beliefs. Siddhartha “play[s] with the people around him, […] deriv[ing] amusement from them, but […] with his real nature he […is] not there” (Hesse 71). After a number of years in the town, however, Siddhartha becomes caught up in Samsara, the everyday cycle of life, and returns to the river. Once again, Siddhartha must ostracize himself from society in order to find his way on the path to enlightenment.
Meursault and Siddhartha also experience encounters with their environs which lead them to alter their views on life as well as discover the true nature of the world. Meursault experiences his first existential moment while at the beach as the sun’s brutal force causes him to awaken from a lifetime of living in the moment and realize the repercussions of his actions. While at the beach Meursault gets involved in a confrontation with an Arab. Although Meursault realizes that killing the Arab will bring about numerous ill-fated consequences, he is unable to make a positive decision due his many years of going with the flow of life (Camus, The Stranger 58). The sun’s harsh blinding and disorientating effects also lead Meursault to kill the Arab despite his reservations. Meursault is overwhelmed because “the whole beach, throbbing in the sun, [i]s pressing on [his] back […and] the sun [i]s starting to burn [his] cheeks […] It [i]s this burning, which […] ma[kes Meursault] move forward” and kill the Arab (Camus, The Stranger 58-59). While this beach encounter leads to Meursault’s downward spiral, it also brings him closer to self-knowledge and “the hour of consciousness” because his decision serves to change the direction of his life.
After suffering and straying from the path to enlightenment for so long, Siddhartha is able to learn some of the most important lessons in life upon his departure from the town. In despair, Siddhartha returns to the river, which initially “laughs” at him, where he learns that life “continually flow[s…] and yet [is] always there” just as the river is (Hesse 131, 102). Siddhartha begins to understand “that the present only exists for [life], not the shadow of the past, nor the shadow of the future” which reflects the need for Siddhartha to live his life in the present (Hesse 107). Siddhartha realizes that regardless of the choices he makes he is always on the path to enlightenment and can learn everything from his own life. Siddhartha learns “that it is good to strive downwards, to sink, to seek the depths” of life (Hesse 105). Siddhartha brings himself closer to the “hour of […] enlightenment” by essentially learning how to find his inner Self by silencing all else. Through his time at the river, Siddhartha is able to “continually” learn, and it is in this manner that Siddhartha is able to move closer to his “hour of […] enlightenment” (Hesse 106).
Meursault and Siddhartha reassess their lives thus far as they try to make sense of their beliefs and relationships. Meursault struggles to understand of all his thoughts and emotions which he previously saw no meaning in. Meursault’s inability to determine whether or not he loves his mother and his feelings towards her death is reflective of his lack of understanding of his own emotions (Camus, The Stranger 65). The unattached manner in which Meursault treats his relationship with Marie, the woman he has been dating, also provides insight into his inability to have emotions towards another being. He admits that he “probably d[oes]n’t love her,” however, is still willing to marry her because “it d[oes]n’t make any difference to [him]” (Camus, The Stranger 41). Fortunately, towards the end of the novel, Meursault is finally able to make sense of his life thus far and comes to the conclusion that despite his unengaged lifestyle, he “ha[s] been happy” (Camus, The Stranger 123). Meursault realizes that life is a never-ending cycle and is therefore “ready to live it all again” (Camus, The Stranger 122). Despite Meursault’s late epiphany, he is able to finally to take action and accept responsibility for his behavior. Meursault subsequently reaches his “hour of consciousness.”
Likewise, Siddhartha reflects on his life and is able to see the value and purpose of each of his life experiences; he is able to reach his “hour of […] enlightenment.” Siddhartha is able to see the value in all of his life experiences by understanding that in order to truly find himself in his spiritual journey he has to “seek the depths” of life (Hesse 105). Despite the various paths Siddhartha has chosen on his journey to enlightenment, each has given him a better understanding of the nature of life. He realizes that with each person he becomes along his spiritual journey, he comes one step closer to enlightenment by obtaining the knowledge specific to each different person. As Siddhartha learns, the Buddha is essentially a part of everyone and his ability to discover his Self so many times allows him to finally reach his “hour of […] enlightenment” (Hesse 147-152).
Throughout the novels The Stranger and Siddhartha, the protagonists are forced to come to terms with their innermost thoughts and emotions. Meursault has to deal with his mother’s death, relationships with others, and own views on life in order to discover the purpose of his life. After reaching the end of his days, Meursault is finally able to take responsibility for his actions, make sense of his life, and reach the “hour of consciousness.” Siddhartha is forced to suffer through the thirst for knowledge as he strives to discover his true Self. Along the way, Siddhartha follows a variety of paths before realizing that they all lead to the same thing, to enlightenment. Siddhartha learns that, regardless of class or status, the Buddha is a part of everyone. It is this knowledge which allows Siddhartha to finally reach the “hour of […] enlightenment.” Although Meursault and Siddhartha differ in their lifestyles, they both are able to reach a full and final understanding of themselves and their place in the world.
