The Novel Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse?

Question

I need to write a thesis paper on the novel, and I can't decide on a thesis statement. Which one sounds better? Which one will be easier to prove?

1. One learns more from life experiences than a set curriculum of

teachings.

2. Enlightenment is more easily achieved when one does not

aggressively seek it.

Any other suggestions for my thesis are welcome.

Thanks for the help.

Answer 1

The first one sounds easier to demonstrate, and easier all around, but I bet it's already been done many times.  You might want to take the harder way just for the sake of your professor seeing something different.

I'm not sure about #2. I don't think the other response is right about 'not at all', because he does go out to seek enlightenment, and finds it.  And I'm not sure that's a 'provable' statement in any case. It ends up true in Siddhartha's case -maybe- but I'm not sure it applies across the board as a universal principle.

Answer 2

Those are pretty good.

I would change the second one to only achieved by not seeking it.

Also, you might consider the underlying theme that life occurs in cycles. How Siddharta embarks on his quest only to come back to his beginning, as symbolized by the river.