Analysis of Demian by Hermann Hesse :: Demian Herman Hesse Germany Essays

Analysis of Demian by Hermann HesseDemian is the story of a boy, Emil Sinclair, and his search for himself. Emil was raised in a considerably traditional home at the turn of the century in the nation of Germany. His family is very wealthy and they have a reputation as a principled, spectral family. As a boy, Sinclair views the beingness within the walls of his home as representing all that is good, pure, and innocent. But starting at a young age, he feels an inner impinge between his cause little world, the "world of light," and the outside world, or "forbidden realm" which represents sin and l superstarliness. Even though his mother, father, and two sisters remain within the "world of light", he constantly feels attracted to the outside realm. He ends up feeling uncertain between both of his little worlds, and not belonging to either one of them.&9This struggle between Sinclairs two worlds is evident whenSinclair is about 10 years old. While playing one day with some confederateschoolmates, Franz Kromer, an older kid, joins them. In an effort toimpress the older boy and his schoolmates, Sinclair makes up a story in which he and another unnamed accomplice take a bag of apples from a fellow neighbor. Although the story is untrue, Kromer threatens Sinclair with exposure if Sinclair does not pay him off. Unable to pay the full amount, Sinclair is forced to become Kromers slave, lastly sending Sinclair into depression and paranoia. Sinclair feels trapped by Kromer, forced to live within the "forbidden realm", which in turn exiles him from the "world of light" because he has spoil himself by lying and committing sinful acts for Kromer. This experience is traumatic for Sinclair and he is often haunted by nightmares, he is unable to eat, and he becomes withdrawn and sullen. His personality alters as he tries to cope with the bondage of his slavery to this lower-class, troublesome kid, but he sees no escape and reluctantl y succumbs to what he believes to be his fate. The arrival of a recent kid in town, Max Demian, is noticed by everyone due to the strange aura that surrounds him and his recently widowed mother. From the start, Sinclair feels a type of fascination forDemian, a perplexing feeling filled with both love and hate. "He was inevery respect different from all the others, was entirely himself, with a personality all his own which made him noticeable even though he did his best not to be noticed his manner and bearing was that of a prince disguised among farm boys, victorious great pains to appear one of them.