The protagonist, Siddartha, appears to possess all of the traits every man should want, for he is a handsome, scholarly Brahmin who has mastered all of the religious rituals; however, although he has everything that most men believe is necessary for happiness, Siddartha feels deeply dissatisfied with his life and yearns to find a stronger spiritual meaning. His refusal to accept the traditional limitations presented by his surrounding society demonstrate his power to overcome the preconceived notions of happiness that act as obstacles in the pursuit of the good life.
Ahmed and Hesse differed in their views on attaining happiness through the happiness of others. Ahmed states that “Happiness involves both reciprocal forms of aspiration (I am happy for you, ...