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hwp"Breaking out of the Shell: Reading Hermann Hesse's 'Demian'
Some time ago, while watching a program called 'I Read Books' hosted by Seol Min-sik, I heard an explanation about the novel 'Demian.' 'Demian' is a German novel that I briefly read during my school days, but at that time, it didn't resonate with me much. However, upon rereading it now as an adult, I realized that it contains profound meanings and delicately portrays the author's world of experiences during his youth, which I couldn't fully appreciate when I was younger.
Centered around a boy named Sinclair, who meets Demian, the novel depicts how their values and worldviews are influenced in a subtle yet profound way. There is a sense of quietness and depth in the narrative, and upon researching the author Hermann Hesse's life, I discovered that he had been hospitalized in a mental sanatorium during his adolescence and received treatment for depression-related issues.
As a non-expert, while reading the novel 'Demian,' I felt a certain melancholy and a quiet yet mentally engaging atmosphere, which seemed to have a somewhat Eastern vibe. The novel itself seemed to be a coming-of-age story based on Hermann Hesse's personal experiences, providing a different perspective when read in adulthood.
The Quiet Yet Tumultuous Inner World of Adolescence
Sinclair grew up in a deeply religious family. While attending a Latin school, he meets a boy named Demian, who transfers to the same school. Demian stands out with his mature demeanor and well-defined worldview, and Sinclair feels a certain inexplicable attraction towards this mature Demian. Demian appears to be more adult-like in his thinking.
During their time in a higher-grade school, Sinclair and Demian had to be separated. Demian continued to grow as a young man with a mature and profound way of thinking. One particular instance stands out when Demian interprets the story of Cain and Abel from the Bible, stating that Cain was a courageous person. Despite being humanity's first murderer, Demian saw Cain as brave, suggesting that he had his own thoughts and firm standards. At the age of 18, Sinclair enters university, and one day, he encounters Demian again. However, a war erupts, and both Sinclair and Demian find themselves involved. Sinclair sustains a severe injury during the war, while Demian survives. However, Demian once again enters the war zone, leading to an ending that leaves one wondering if Demian has chosen his own fate.
Hermann Hesse's Projection - Demian and Sinclair
Demian truly possesses unconventional thoughts and a philosophical worldview within the novel. It made me wonder if Demian had genuinely come up with these thoughts on his own or if they were ideas passed down by his parents or teachers. I was deeply moved by Demian's courage to have his own thoughts and confidently say 'no' to his teachers, even back in middle school when he had various biblical books and formulated his own thoughts. Where does such courage come from? How does one develop deep thoughts like Demian? These were the questions that intrigued me. Additionally, I was curious about the mindset of Sinclair and Demian, who, at the age of 18, were essentially high school students in South Korea, experiencing the height of adolescence, entering university, and being thrown into war. Demian's attitude towards heading back to the battlefield of death once again was a part that I found difficult to understand. Was it courage or recklessness? It was hard to judge.
While reading the novel, I couldn't help but think that Hermann Hesse projected himself not onto Sinclair but onto Demian. The profound thoughts that emerge from Hesse's other works also contributed to this impression. The novel 'Demian,' which I read this time, was challenging, but I found it enjoyable. Although it required profound reading and posed some difficulties, the pleasure of analyzing the characters and exploring why the author wrote the book in such a complex manner added a distinct characteristic to this work. Just like the subtle yet vivid differences in the thought processes of the well-defined characters, it seems that Hermann Hesse possessed both of these characters' mental characteristics.
The Freedom to Wander: Demian
Reading 'Demian' led me to ponder the author's intentions. Through this novel, Hermann Hesse, as the author, conveys Eastern ways of thinking, values, and profound philosophical ideas in an autobiographical novel format. It can be said that this novel is a manifestation of some of his thoughts and ways of thinking that emerged during his personal growth. So, among Sinclair and Demian, who resembles Hermann Hesse more? Which character did the author project himself onto? I contemplated these questions while reading.
Above all, the scene where Demian influences Sinclair is pivotal, as it presents Demian as the figure who grants Sinclair the freedom to wander. When Sinclair and Demi
