Who is he, the "steppe wolf" Hesse - a philosopher or a murderer?

Hermann Hesse was born in Germany, but spent most of his life in Switzerland. Throughout the creative path he was interested in various layers of world culture. Among the topics that thrilled him were philosophical, religious systems and even analytical psychology. All this was reflected in his works, one of which is "Steppe Wolf".

Book in the book

The novel begins with finding the main character of the notes of somebody Harry Geller, but most notably they were labeled with the inscription "Only for the crazy." Actually, the whole story revolves around these notes. They describe Geller's life, his thoughts, dreams and fears. He was the one who in the modern world will be called a "lunatic psycho" - aloof and timid, at first he does not cause anything in the main hero except alertness. But the more the narrator learns about Harry, the stronger his sympathy and understanding become. "Steppe Wolf" - so Geller himself called himself, he saw himself lost among philistinism and civilization, he seemed to have no place anywhere in this world. He leads a closed life, practically does not leave the house, he sits, is surrounded by books, reads days off, sleeps a lot and sometimes writes with watercolors.

Suppression of personality

Harry sees in himself two sides, one of which is human, and the other is a wolf. And at first the novel "Steppe Wolf" is filled with the enmity and confrontation of the two sides of Geller's personality. If most of his contemporaries were able to suppress the animal will and pacify their wolf, then Harry is torn by the struggle of so many different sides of his personality. He does not want to be tamed, does not want to obey, so he is unable to live on, and more and more often suicidal thoughts arise in his head . In search of truth, he turns to books and classical music, but they also do not give him comfort. Once again, disappointed after meeting with the professor, a man seemingly as intelligent as he, Geller realizes that he can not find understanding among people either. He is even disgusted to listen to this man, impregnated with the spirit of intellectual philistinism. Harry had already decided that the steppe wolf had won, and he should say goodbye to all the philistine, scientific and moral world, and, indeed, to life in general. The problem is only in the oppressive fear of death.

A meeting

Harry's life began to acquire color after an unexpected acquaintance with a person named Hermine. Their relationship can not be called a novel, but it truly was a kinship of souls. It is she who connects Heller to nightlife, jazz, introduces people, but in the end secular mess gives him the realization that he is not a steppe wolf, but the most ordinary man in the street. He, like the others, is ready to suppress his personality and give up his words without a twinge of conscience. And only in narcotic intoxication, becoming a murderer, erasing the line between dream and reality, he finds the answer ...

Roman Hermann Hesse "The Steppe Wolf" gives us a topic for reflection on the question of who we really are, gives us the opportunity to make an important decision. This powerful work, based on Hesse's long research, once helped him to realize himself ...