Hey, Diary!
I have exciting news! Dad finally decided to let me leave the
palace! It’s so exciting I've been waiting to do this for years. I’m
glad he realizes that I’m mature enough handle what’s out there.
I am so excited!
Siddhartha
Dear Diary,
I know it’s been a while since I've talked to
you. I've just been so heart-broken. It’s been hard to figure
out what to say. Dad finally let me leave the palace about a couple weeks ago
and explore the city. I know it should have been fun and exciting but the
things I saw….. I will never be the same…
Let me explain. So you know that I've lived a pretty
sheltered life. I know that Dad just wants to protect me and keep me
innocent but so much exposure all at once… It scared me.
Each trip started out great. The guards opened the gates and off
we went into the streets of the city. It was so cool to see the land that we
rule. We traveled down the road seamlessly until I saw this weird looking- man
and turns out he’s sick. Not only is he sick, but anyone can become sick.
Anyone can suddenly be stricken with complete disaster.
I got over it the first time. I just accepted that there is
sickness out in the world and took another trip into the city. That trip
started out well until I saw a beggar and the next trip an old man. I put my
disappointment and pain aside and took another trip into the city today and
this time someone was DEAD. People DIE. I just don’t understand how everyone
can go on about their life knowing that it’s all for nothing. Why are we living
if we are just going to die? Why am I living if I’m just going to die?
Until next time,
Siddhartha
Hi, Diary,
I know I promised I would talk to you again, but I have been so
busy trying to figure out what to do. There is just so much despair in the
world and here I am living a lavish life in the palace. I have to do something
about it. I can’t just sit back and live my life without purpose. I have to
find the end of death and suffering. I have to.
Siddhartha
Diary,
Today is the day. Today is the day I've figured out what
to do to end the world’s pain. I have to leave the palace. I know Dad and Gopa are
going to be so heart -broken, and Rahula is going to grow up without a
father, but I just can’t take it anymore. I have to leave and find the
answer to my questions. I’m not sure where I’m going, and I’m not sure what I’m
going to encounter but I have to go. I have to leave tonight. Gopa and Rahula
are asleep. The chariot is ready. I have to go now.
I hope to be able to talk soon, Diary.
Siddhartha
|
Image of Siddhartha Leaving His
Family
Provided by Imgarcade |
Author's Note: I wrote this story based
off of The Life of Buddha by Andre Ferdinand Herold Translated by Paul C. Blum.
In this story, Siddhartha is finally able to leave the palace but because of
his sheltered life, he is completely shocked by the pain that exists in the
world. He cannot believe that everyone continues to live knowing that sickness
and age and death are just around the corner, ready to truncate life
at any moment. Siddhartha becomes convicted of his lavish life and goes on a
pilgrimage to find "True Knowledge" and end the world's suffering. In
this story, I took the thoughts expressed in the book and elaborated into a
further detailed narrative of what is going through Siddhartha's Mind.
Bibliography: The Life of Buddha
by Andre Ferdinand Herold (1922) Translated by Paul C. Blum (1927)
Hey Gloria! I enjoyed reading your story this week. The diary format made it easy for me to read and to relate to Siddhartha through his thoughts and feelings. I can only imagine what it would be like to be sheltered my whole life and to finally break free and find something I wasn’t expecting. Great job with this story.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this story! The diary format is one of my favorites for writing stories. It allows the writer to add more depth and perspective to the narrator's emotions. I have not read the orignial version of this story, but you did a great job of explaining the original version in your Author's note.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this story! The diary format is one of my favorites for writing stories. It allows the writer to add more depth and perspective to the narrator's emotions. I have not read the orignial version of this story, but you did a great job of explaining the original version in your Author's note.
ReplyDeleteGloria,
ReplyDeletethis was a great story to do in diary form! I have not read the original story, but it seems you took all the important parts and wrote about them in each diary entry. I really enjoyed the slow progression from excitement to confusion to despair to action. In a short span, the character really seems to change. I think it would be nice to see the entries more detailed. Really have him delve into a deep dialogue with himself about these problems he sees in the world. Otherwise, great story!
Gloria, I really enjoyed reading this story. I do not believe I have read any of your stories yet and I feel like the diary format is a very good way to tell a story. I have not seen may do it this way but found it very intriguing. It was also a great way for you to portray Siddhartha as well for all of the readers. Very nicely done!
ReplyDeleteGloria, what an awesome story! I really like that you decided to turn your story into a diary. I thought that was a really fun way to rewrite the story! It's a good way to get to know the true feelings of a character. It's always nice to know what's running through a characters mind when certain events are going on. Your writing style was very clear and concise, which I think makes a story that much better! Good job!
ReplyDelete