Hermann Hesse is a well-known German-Swiss writer, winner of the 1946 Nobel Prize in Literature . His most famous works are the novels The Steppe Wolf, The Bead Game, Siddhartha. However, to understand the essence of the author’s work, you need to go to the origins of Hesse’s early works. Demian is a novel created in 1919 under the pseudonym. But it is precisely in it that the beginnings of many ideas and decisions lie, which were later realized in the more famous works of Hesse.
Classic of German literature
Hermann Hesse was born in the German town of Calve in 1877. His parents were missionaries. The maternal grandfather was fond of theology, and his father, Johannes Hesse, traveled with a mission to India, and, returning to the German Empire, met his future wife at the Gundert publishing house.
Herman was the second child in the family. The first to be born was his sister Adele in 1875. The youngest were Marulla and Hans.
The Hessian family cultivated pietism. This is a special direction of Lutheranism, which consisted of exceptional piety, constant direct communication with God, as well as a sense of constant control over your life of higher powers.
In 1881, the Hesse family moved to Switzerland ("Demian" was later written in the same country). In Basel, Herman enters a missionary school. From an early age, everyone noted his talent - a craving for painting and playing musical instruments. In school years, he conducts the first writing experiments. The first work of Hesse, which is known for certain, is the tale "Two Brothers", written by him for his younger sister at the age of ten.
In 1886, Hesse returned to Calw, and Herman continued his studies at the seminary at the monastery. He masters ancient languages, studies the gospel in detail, writes the first poetic works. Later, he will include some events of this period in the novel "Under the Wheel". Most researchers reasonably consider it autobiographical.
Mental problems
The first serious mental crisis, German is experiencing back in 1892, when he was only 15 years old. He leaves the monastery school, and only the next day friends and teachers find him sleeping in
a haystack. He begins to experience universal rejection from both adults and peers.
In the end, Hesse leaves the monastery and tries to study at the Boll in Baden-Württemberg. However, his condition worsens, and after an unsuccessful attempt at suicide, his parents send him to the psychiatric clinic of Hermann Hesse. “Demian,” a brief summary of which largely describes similar problems among heroes, is also partly an autobiographical work.
After trying to study at the gymnasium and being a student of the printing house, Herman goes to work in the missionary publishing house owned by his grandfather.
First publications
Subsequently, Hesse is actively engaged in self-education. In 1899, with the money earned and deferred, he published his first book, Romantic Songs. And a little later - a storybook "An hour after midnight." However, books are not popular and sell poorly.
Over time, his works become more mature. Herman receives fame among the reading public thanks to the novel "Peter Kamenzind", published in a Berlin publishing house. In addition to fame, serious money came, which allowed us to completely concentrate on literature.
Love and war
In Swiss Basel, Hesse meets Maria Bernoulli. In 1904, lovers travel together in Italy, after which they decide to get married.
Family happiness lasts about 10 years. The crisis in relations occurs in 1914. To the outbreak of World War I, the death of Hesse's father and the illness of his wife are added. Because of these events, the writer's mental state is deteriorating again. And ultimately they disagree with his wife. Hesse finally filed for divorce in 1919.
The war divided the whole of Europe into two camps, including it affecting Switzerland, where Hesse lived then. He is trying to sign up for the front, but he is declared unfit for service.
Acquaintance with Lang
The events listed above worsen the mental state of a prose writer, and he decides to turn to specialists. In 1916 in Lucerne, he met with Dr. Joseph Lang. Within a year and a half, about 60 sessions of psychoanalysis take place with him.
Subsequently, Lang becomes a close friend to Herman. In many works, the prototypes of the doctor are guessed.
In 1919, a new novel was published by Hesse - "Demian". The book was signed at the same time by his pseudonym - at that time he was published under the name Emil Sinclair.
The full name of the work is "Demian, or the History of Youth". Hesse hides from everyone that he is the author. The publisher manages to convince that he was created by a young aspiring writer who, just before his death, asked Hesse to publish a novel.
It was only in 1920 that Hesse recognized authorship. "Demian" comes out with the subtitle "History of the Youth of Emil Sinclair, Written by Hermann Hesse."
Emil's story
Hesse’s novel “Demian” is the story of the protagonist growing up and searching spiritually. Emil Sinclair is a young man who is trying to figure out his own psychological problems, and he approaches this issue from a philosophical point of view. Many critics compare the novel with one of Goethe's most famous works - The Suffering of Young Werther.
The childhood and youth of young Emil are described in detail in Hesse's "Demian". The plot tells of the quest for the protagonist. Even at the age of ten, a child observes adult self-reflection. With each step, he feels self-confidence, his character is becoming increasingly stronger.
Two worlds
From early childhood, Emil feels that he lives in two worlds. One is understandable, warm and clear, in which male power and female beauty are valued. The second is dark, forbidden and evil, but at the same time interesting and attractive.
At the beginning of the story, he meets an older boy, Franz Cromer, a bully and a scammer. In order to gain his trust and become his own in this company, Emil invents a story about having recently robbed an apple orchard with friends, taking two bags of excellent fruit. However, a lie does not bring the desired result. Cromer begins to blackmail Emil and demand that he pay so that he does not pass this story to the owner of the garden, who has long been looking for thieves and even appointed an award in two brands.
Emil breaks his own piggy bank and takes all the money that he had, all his savings, but not even one brand is typed there. Franz refuses to accept pennies and requires only the full amount. Describes in detail Emil’s suffering in Hermann Hesse's The Demian. The summary tells that Emil sees the only way out - to steal this money from his parents. He steals money and feels himself more and more immersed in the dark world. He is tormented by nightmares and anxieties, he is becoming more and more closed and closed.
Cain
The personification of the second, forbidden world is the new student of the school of Emil, his name brings in the title of Hesse - Demian. The book tells that its appearance is of great interest to all classmates. It seems to them smart, mature, more mature than peers.
During the walk, Demian tells Emil his own interpretation of the biblical legend of Cain and Abel. An interesting look at this story is offered in his work by Hermann Hesse "Demian". Quotes that, after the release of the novel, were spread among literature lovers, claimed that Cain was a noble man, and Abel was a coward. According to Demian, the beginning of the whole story was laid by the seal that was on Cain. Invisible, but all the people around felt that he was stronger, more confident, more courageous than them. They could only explain this by inventing a story with his brother.
During the second meeting, Damian tries on Emil his art of reading thoughts. He realizes that Sinclair is under the influence of Franz, but he manages to convince that these problems are insignificant. Emil falls into euphoria, but he is not able to feel gratitude to Demian. Instead, he falls into another depression, locking himself in the world of his parents' home and increasingly moving away from his school friends.
Transitional age
The complex experiences of a teenager are described in his novel by Hesse "Demian". The main characters fall into puberty. Emil feels that changes are taking place in him, but he relates them to a dark and evil world. It is becoming increasingly difficult to suppress one's desires and urges.
On this basis, friendship with Demian is strengthening. Emil sees in him a soul mate. Especially Sinclair is impressed by the ability of Demian to control people and subject them to his will.
He has his own special view of religion. In his opinion, the biblical God is an imperfect and narrow-minded character, because he personifies only the good half of this world. While the second, evil half, represents the devil.
Emil is close to this point of view, since he himself feels the contradictions between the worlds, now realizing that this is not his personal conflict, but the problem of all mankind.
To these thoughts brings the reader and Hesse. "Demian", the content of which reflects the views of the author himself, argues that everyone must independently decide what is allowed and what is forbidden. Live by your own rules, and not look back at strangers, do not even look at the commandments.
Beatrice
At the age of 16, Emil goes to study at a boarding school. With his new companion, Alfons Beck, the eldest among his classmates, he first learns for himself yet another sin - drunkenness.
At the same time, Sinclair continues to experience ambivalent feelings. On the one hand, he realizes that he is more and more immersed in the dark world, on the other hand, he longs for bright and pure love.
The turning point in this conflict is the meeting with the young woman Beatrice. True, her image is fictitious. Without even reading Dante, Emil recognizes her by reproducing an English painting that he always carried with him. He begins to devote many ideals to his ideal. And here again the amazing thing happens in the novel "Demian" by Hermann Hesse. The content of these paintings indicates that Beatrice's features are similar to Demian's appearance. This confirms that he is deeply homesick for his friend.
The bird gets out of the nest
Soon, Emil discovers in his things a small piece of paper on which there were words that were incomprehensible at first glance that the bird was being picked from an egg, which is the world. And if a person wants to be born, then he must destroy this world and let the bird go to God - Abraxas.
This mysterious deity is not known to Emil, however, already at the next lesson he learns that this is a character who combines the divine and the devilish beginnings. Interest in the mysterious deity instantly awakens, but all searches in the library are futile.
The situation changes when Emil meets the organist Pistorius, who also worships this deity. He convinces Sinclair to rely only on his own opinion, to decide for himself what is possible in this world and what is forbidden. Pistorius also doubts the Christian faith.
Beginning of the End
After graduating from boarding school, Emil goes to university. He disappoints his studies, he does not find in it the comfort he had long been looking for in knowledge. But he meets the mother of Demian, whom everyone calls Mrs. Eva. Thus, Mrs. Eva, Demian and Sinclair form a harmonious community that feels connected by the laws of Cain. Together they are ready for any troubles and upsets.
Emil Sinclair summarizes all his knowledge in order to attract Eve, whom he fell in love with, to himself, but at this time fundamental transformations begin in the world. The First World War ... The world, it seems to everyone, is about to collapse. Friends separate from each other go to war.
The last time Emil and Demian meet in a military hospital. Demian gives him a farewell kiss from his mother, and disappears the next morning. However, for Emil, everything has already changed. Now Demian becomes a part of him and he is finally ready to make a choice and go his own way.
Structure and reviews
The novel consists of an introduction and eight chapters, each with a title. The preface is intended to make the reader believe that Emil is a real person, one of us.
The narration is conducted in the first person, which once again proves that the work is largely autobiographical.
The novel "Demian" Hesse received positive reviews from both contemporaries and current readers. The classic of German literature, Thomas Mann, in particular, wrote that this work had an unforgettable electrifying effect on him.