Self-actualization, a concept first put forth by Abraham Maslow, an American psychologist in 1954, states that there are basic needs which need to be met in order for a person to achieve inner peace. One of the most debated assumptions of self-actualization is Maslow’s idea that humans are intrinsically good, only swaying when faced with situations beyond their control. There are many key concepts to Maslow’s theories, one of the most important being his pyramid of basic needs leading to self-actualization. Basic needs are at the bottom, followed by safety, love, esteem, and finally self-actualization. Also relevant are the topics of peak experiences and humanistic acceptance. In the following paragraphs, I will address these topics with reference to E.M. Forster’s “A Passage to India” and Herman Hesse’s “Siddhartha”.
“Siddhartha” tells the story of a boy’s journey into a through manhood, bringing up topics such as self-conservation, antidisestablishmentarianism, and religion. The primary themes, as stated by critics, are “the search for enlightenment”, “interior vs. exterior influence”, and the rather interesting “wisdom of indirection”. These are all prevalent elements of Maslow’s humanistic theories, and provide a backing to my support of their relevance in this novel. Also, the theme of self-actualization is essentially the driving force behind the entire novel, playing the role of the goal which Siddhartha is trying to reach. He ultimately reaches this goal by experiencing everything his limited community can offer him; in addition to learning that acceptance is the key to self-actualization. Siddhartha encounters many interesting people during his journey who allow him to further realize his actualized self. Though this is not part of Maslow’s theories, this touches on another humanistic psychologist’s work. Carl Rogers proposed “client-centered therapy” in which the person with a “problem” would talk while the psychiatrist would simply listen, showing...