How was Siddartha able to put aside social expectations to pursue his path to enlightenment? Results?

One of the key themes in the book Siddhartha is the difficulty an individual has trying to pursue individual goals amid strong societal expectations.

Explain how Siddhartha was able to reach a point where he could put aside societal expectations. As a result, what aspects of life were made available to Siddhartha? Please cite examples from the book.