Govinda represents an aspect of Siddhartha's shadow, both literally and figurately. Literally, Govinda follows Siddhartha in his initial journey of self-discovery. Govinda reveres the youthful Siddhartha, like everyone else who is acquainted with the Brahmin's son. Govinda is willing to subjugate his own aspirations in favor of being supportive of Siddhartha: " . . . Govinda wanted to follow him as his friend, his companion, his servant, his lance bearer, his shadow" (Hesse 5). Govinda is described in Hesse's novel only in relationship to Siddhartha. This provides an additional clue that the author has intended Govinda to represent an aspect of Siddhartha's personality.
As the novel begins, Siddhartha is well entrenched in his career path of becoming a respected Brahmin. Both his mother and father take pride in their son. Siddhartha's father considers him intelligent and thirsty for knowledge. He is certain that Siddhartha is destined for greatness. Siddhartha's mother treasures his fine physical attributes and his gracious bearing. Siddhartha also inspires love among the hearts of the young ladies in his social circle.
Despite the high esteem that he inspires in all his acquaintances, Siddhartha becomes plagued with psychological restlessness. Although his father has imparted the best of the wisdom of the Brahmins to his son, Siddhartha does not feel that this wisdom holds the key to the meaning of life. The seeds of discontent that Siddhartha experience are the awakenings of his realization of the shadow part of himself.
Govinda, again, represents Siddhartha on a symbolic level by personifying Siddhartha's shadow self. The unpleasant, repressed aspect of Siddhartha is his tendency to seek the truth from teachers instead of finding the truth within. In the early stages of his life, Siddhartha is a follower. He attaches himself to various doctrines--first asceticism, then materialism, and later emotionalism....