Demian

I picked up this book on a whim. Just last year, I had read Steppenwolf, and although I recognized it as a great piece of literature, I found myself feeling somewhat detached from it. However, with Demian, Hermann Hesse has given me everything I was hoping for.

The story is deep, beautiful, and tender. It is seamlessly intertwined with the writing, and every aspect of this book feels truly amazing.

It's summer now, and I'm both busy and a bit too lazy to pen a proper review. But I want to emphasize that I absolutely loved this book. I highly encourage you to give it a try.

Be well, folks, and have a wonderful August <3.

In my life for the first time, the external world coincided perfectly with my inner world. When this happens, it's a celebration for the soul and life is truly worth living. No house, no shop window, no face on the street bothered me; everything was as it should be, but without the empty aspect of the daily and the familiar: it was nature expectant, respectfully prepared to receive destiny. This is how I had seen the world as a child on the mornings of the great festivals, at Christmas and Easter. I didn't believe that the world could still be so beautiful. I had become accustomed to living withdrawn within myself and had come to the idea that I had lost the sense for what was happening outside, that the loss of the bright colors was inevitably linked to the loss of childhood and that one had to pay for the freedom and maturity of the soul with the renunciation of that soft glow. Now, I excitedly discovered that all that had only been covered up and dimmed and that it was also possible, as a free man who has renounced the happiness of childhood, to see the world shine and enjoy the childish vision.

I find it difficult to give a rating to this Bildungsroman because in its pages I have found many interesting reflections and some certainly absurd ones. Since, for me, the former abound and in which I have seen my emotional world reflected in a breathtaking way, I rate this book by Hesse highly. It is a novel that I would have liked to read during the transition from adolescence to adult life because of the multiple existential questions it deals with within the framework of the anguished journey of Emil Sinclair, its protagonist. I'm sure I will frequently revisit several delicious fragments that I have underlined in my copy.

Have you ever felt identified with a book?

For me, Demian has been a surprise in that I feel like I'm reading about myself. Perhaps it's because it's based on Karl Jung's Psychoanalysis, and even without knowing this fact, the book makes us think a lot.

I sincerely regret not having read this book a few years earlier (in my 20s). The journey that Sinclair takes throughout the book is a guide to learning and self-acceptance of the self, which any of us can take as an example for our lives.

I highly recommend it. I think no book has ever marked me as much as this one has. Without a doubt, I will read it again.

A sentence:

Today I know very well that nothing in the world repels a man as much as following the path that must lead him to himself.

I really didn't like it! And I was very disappointed because basically I expected to find it at least good.

The characters are antipathetic, there is too much religion, too much philosophy, too much mysticism. In many places I found it unrealistic, from the characters to the situations. Sometimes it was indifferent or even tiring. However, my biggest problem was that it was very symbolic for my taste!

It had some good moments and the writing was nice, but it wasn't enough.

I understand why it might have appealed to some people, but unfortunately it didn't work for me.

Perhaps if the story had been less symbolic and more focused on the characters and their emotions, I would have had a different opinion. But as it is, I can't recommend it.

Maybe others will find more to enjoy in it, but for me, it was a miss.

Demian is an amazing book that makes one realize how incredibly lucky those people are who, like the characters in this book, are constantly inclined to search.

They discover so much in their journey of exploration. They experience a wide range of emotions, from the deepest joys to the most profound sorrows.

Their stories are incredibly inspiring, showing us that there is so much more to life than what meets the eye.

I loved this book with all my heart because I have always had a soft spot for passionate people. Their unwavering dedication and thirst for knowledge and experience are truly captivating.

Demian takes us on a journey that is both thought-provoking and emotionally engaging, leaving us with a newfound appreciation for the power of self-discovery and the beauty of a passionate life.

In our days, only a few people know what a human being is. And many people suffer from this ignorance and die easily because of it, in the same way that I will die once I finish this story.

My first reading of Hermann Hesse, and I really, really enjoyed it ❤️

The story begins with a question: "I only wanted to live according to the impulses that sprang from my true self. So why was that so difficult?" Then, throughout the story, there are many questions about the soul, good and evil, self-discovery, and all these questions are presented in a lovely way..

The story is told from the perspective of the protagonist, Sinclair, who starts by recounting an event that happened to him when he was ten years old. He describes his childhood perception of the world, which he divides into two: the world of his home, which belongs to the world of light and virtue, and another world of activities, work, and sins, which belongs to the world of darkness and vice. He experienced the transition between these two worlds in his childhood and noticed their differences.

The rest of the story is about his journey to discover the extent of the mixture of these two worlds within him, or more clearly, within any human being..

"The life of every human being is a path to himself, and no human being has ever been completely and fully himself, but every human being tries to be."

Therefore, this story is a journey of self-discovery.. The ability of a person to recognize himself, overcome his fears, and understand his dreams, because that is what is likely to lead to the control of the human soul.

"For every human being, there is one essential task, which is to find the way to himself." "Yes, you must find your dream, and then the path becomes easy, but there is no dream that lasts forever. Every dream is followed by another dream, and a person must not be attached to a specific dream"....

Sinclair is an innocent soul who firmly believes that the world is divided into two distinct realms: light and darkness. As he embarks on this journey through his preconceptions, he will uncover his inner world and realize its significance far outweighs conforming to the molds imposed by society. He often remarks, "Other people live in dreams, but not in their own. That's the difference." However, this exploration won't be a walk in the park. At his initial encounter with the other world, he attempts to deny its existence and yearns to return to the familiar world of light.

He is constantly and sincerely pleading for conversion and transformation. But he makes the mistake of seeking it from others, which leads to his repeated failures. It is only when he finally accepts that he is the only one who can find the path towards himself that he begins to make progress. Every character that appears in his life, along with his dreams and "epiphanies," which are all intertwined and sometimes confusing to distinguish between reality and dreams, guides him to a new realization.

Ultimately, it doesn't matter whether some events actually occurred or not. Sinclair best explains this when referring to Eva, "she existed only as a metaphor of my inner self, a metaphor whose sole purpose was to lead me more deeply into myself." This book is likely the most Jungian one I've ever read, with Sinclair's coming of age paralleling Jung's individuation process, complete with all the symbols and archetypes. However, one doesn't need to have prior knowledge of Jungian psychology to enjoy this novel.

Reading this while listening to the 'Wings' album by BTS is the only correct way to do it. I won't change my mind on that. It was a buddy read with bestie Annie. Definitely one of my favorites.

In 1917, Hermann Hesse, while recovering from a severe nervous breakdown in a sanatorium in Lucerne, wrote "Demian" in just a few months. It was published under the pseudonym Emil Sinclair in 1919. The ninth edition of the book, when the rumors had already reached him, was published with the writer's real name.

"Demian. The Story of a Youth."

It is the story of the young Emil Sinclair, in conflict between the clear world governed by good and custom, and the dark world, the realm of the prohibited and the evil. Sinclair will discover that good blends with evil and vice versa, that man is not simply good or bad but a mixture of humanity and ferocity, that he is not just flesh or spirit but both flesh and spirit. Kromer will push him towards evil, while Demian will accompany him on a path of growth, maturation, and knowledge. Eva, Demian's mother, will be for Emil first a dream of love and then a point of reference. He will discover Abraxas, god and devil, who has the "symbolic task of uniting the divine and the diabolical."

"The bird struggles to break free from the egg. The egg is the world. Whoever wants to be born must destroy a world. The bird flies to God. The God is called Abraxas."

Psychoanalysis, the unconscious, dreams, philosophy, symbols, transcendence.

In a letter from 1956, regarding the advisability of reading "Demian," Hesse wrote:

"... you might be called upon, instructed, and faced with any enemy. If you shoot and kill the enemy, you will have on your side the priest, the church, the fatherland. But at the same time, you will have against you the divine prohibition of killing. Then it will be your conscience that decides whether you want to obey the commands of God or those of the church and the fatherland. Probably you will attribute a greater authority to the priest and the fatherland than to God. If instead you do not do so and begin to doubt the absolute authority of the church and the fatherland, then you will already find yourself among those to whom Demian has something to say."

I will say a foolish thing, but why not repudiate every form of authority of the church, the fatherland, God, and simply respond to that natural law that places "the other" within our own belonging as human beings? Thus, without bothering the divine.

P.S. I know that he deserved the Nobel Prize for Literature, I am aware that his is a high form of writing, and so is his thought. But it was not love, as it was not when I was an adolescent.

Perhaps too much mysticism is bad for me.

My limitation.

Books on the Couch of the Lazy

\\n  ⋆˚࿔ “But I think we should honor everything, and worship everything—the whole world is sacred, not just this artificially partitioned official half!”\\n
╰┈➤ easiest 5 ★

My relationship with Herman Hesse's books is indescribably intimate. It's almost strange how I see myself mirrored in them. Siddhartha opened my heart to a new genre of books, and Demian completely changed my perspective. I would recommend it, but I'm afraid no one will understand my undying love for this book. Nevertheless, here's my review.

“To unite the divine and the satanic”

This book constantly explores oxymorons, the coalescence of two polarizing opposites. It's almost an oxymoron itself. How can two entirely different things be the same? Sinclair, the main character, grapples with this idea throughout the book as he searches for his identity. He sees the world of light in his parents, in God, in ingenuity, but it crumbles when he enters the world of darkness, with alcoholism and over-sexualization. He mourns the loss of the world of light and what he thinks was his last chance at redemption, at following the path of goodness.

Yet Demian takes a different approach to life. He doesn't hide from the world of darkness; instead, he embraces it. He believes life shouldn't be so simple with a separation between good and evil but rather a conjunction of both. I think we often forget that good and bad are human creations. There is no natural law that dictates what should or shouldn't be prohibited. We set the standards. But life isn't always about the good. Things happen, and whether they're good or bad depends not on the action itself but on our interpretation and retrieval of them. We are complex creatures, and a simple polarization cannot define our actions. Whoever said humans should be "coherent" is a disgrace to individuality and self-recognition.

“Fate and character are different names for the same idea.”

Life shouldn't be measured by extremes. To be true to oneself is to understand that we are not only our good qualities. Every "flaw" is still within us and affects how we act and see the world. “Going away from yourself is a sin. What a person needs to do is crawl entirely into himself, like a turtle.” I think the happiest I've been is when I'm mindful of my feelings, when I understand that my mood is a conscious decision I make. I choose to be angry because I choose to be annoyed by people talking too loud. I choose to be sad because I choose to let others' thoughts on me affect me. Life is not about the events that happen to us but about how we respond. This simple realization was like a spiritual epiphany for me. I realized that consciousness is the door to full enlightenment and plenitude. Thank you, Herman Hesse, for your insightful writing.

pre-read: I'm sorry, did I read JAMES FRANCO FOREWORD??? um NEED

That is actually my husband, and if he loves this, I will love it too

Demian is truly a remarkable and rather twisted book.

It gives off an occult vibe, with a scene involving fire worship and discussions about an alternative version of the Christian God, Abraxas, which was considered heretical and Pagan even by the early Christian Church.

Although Hesse's writing seems to support Pagan and Gnostic teachings, I don't believe it was his sole intention. Instead, he was advocating for an alternative way of thinking. Hesse was more spiritual than heretical, and more unconventional than anarchic. He wanted to inspire us to discover our own spirituality from within and forge our own unique paths, especially outside of the constraints of social or religious norms. This is exactly how many people in their late adolescence feel today.

I, as a non-traditional Christian, am conflicted about highly recommending this book despite its Gnostic teachings. I firmly believe it can be of great help to those who are in a psychological rut and have no reason (yet) to believe in contemporary religious institutions. It is a blasphemous book, yet it doesn't seem entirely anti-religious or anti-spiritual. In fact, it might serve as a place of refuge for those who are searching for themselves and their God. It encourages self-discovery and challenges the reader to think beyond their comfort zones, which I think is extremely beneficial for one's self-fulfillment. Books that challenge the reader are always my absolute favorites. However, the reason I didn't give this book a 5-star rating was because the ending seemed rather silly to me. Had the book ended on any of the prior 5 chapters, it would have felt complete and coherent.

I am forgiving of Hesse, just as I am of the Jungian theory from which his ideas stem. Exploring mythological symbols and non-traditional Gods can be a highly beneficial mental activity that keeps one in pursuit of their true self. It is the combination of compassion and intellectual intrigue that keeps me engaged with Hesse's writing. In his prologue, he himself suggests that some of it may be nonsense, but this is the nature of the subconscious, as it eludes definition and clear interpretation, and its immediate manifestation is pure chaos. This book is about psychological transformation, like an egg hatching, and it is about 'becoming', which is an ageing process that might be superficially related to a spiritual confusion that eventually becomes clear again. I do think, however, that the actual resolution, the closing chapter, was a bit of a waste. Since this book is both autobiographical and fantastical, Hesse might not have had the narrative freedom to make the 'ideal' ending the actual ending of this story.

The cultural importance of Hesse in relation to Nazi Germany was to encourage those who did not like society to walk away from it. While he didn't rally against Nazi ideals as strongly as other German writers of his era, such as Heinrich Boll, he instead proposed that the German public should simply walk away. I believe Hesse should be included alongside Camus and Kierkegaard as an existential writer, as he echoes the idea that we should peacefully distance ourselves from societal structures that do not serve us.

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Video review coming soon. It was a 5-star book until the last 30 pages (last chapter). What an absolutely bizarre ending.

Video Review

Every human life is a path towards oneself..

In a narrative form inspired by myths and philosophical reflections, with ideas and luminous words that illuminate with their inspiration the fears of the silent soul, and on the very edge where the fleeing human spirit stands, Hesse writes about the journey of self-discovery, about loss and confusion within the world, about the oscillation of a person between perception and great madness, about divinity and devilry, about the illusion of knowledge and the mirage of life, about everything and nothing in this vast, terrifying, and mysterious world that surrounds and inhabits us.

His story begins with the first journey of the soul between the world of darkness and light, the struggle of good and evil and the battle of the individual until he finds a foothold in one of the worlds, and it tilts him between the two sides throughout his life, then he moves to form consciousness and develop a special vision and the ability to form an elevated opinion about everything that is familiar and related, and how to reach the construction of a new canon with beliefs and values that are above everything that is base, vulgar, and distorted..

And every character in the novel is created to leave its expected and awaited mark on the existence of the narrator Sinclair:

Demian: The devil of the self, a symbol of rebellion and free thinking, the latent force that pushes the bird to break the egg and exit into the other world.

Bastorius: The ability to reflect with the spirit of things and their essence and what is behind the materials and superstitions.

Eva: A symbol of desire and love and the pursuit of dreams until the end..

I truly longed, with a genuine longing, to live in a genuine way, if only once, to give something of myself to the world, to enter into a relationship and a battle with it...

I don't say that I agree with Hesse's treatment of his ideas, but the idea of self-discovery and stripping away the dead skins from the inner truths has always attracted and moved me in its course, and I believe that every searching soul will find itself drawn to what I was drawn to in this novel..

This novel was written after World War I, so it carries within its pages Hesse's hopes and pains, his ideas and his expectations for the world and the new future.

From an innocent and seemingly naive view of the world through its distinction between light and dark, Hesse leads us into this literary masterpiece - Demian. Everything that was once undoubtedly sacred and light falls into the water under the onslaught of doubt; doubts and self-examinations that are the result of the pure use of the mind. Questions about how the work progresses and how Sinclair grows more and more complicated multiply. Symbolism and the otherworldly are also present at every step. Demian and Eva are so otherworldly. Hesse points out at the end of this book, but the real problems, answers, and points only come after the end, in the hours and days that you will spend thinking and searching for yourself.