Comparing the Theme of Self-Discovery in Demian and Siddhartha Essay

Literature reflects many aspects of human nature. It can be seen as a collection of mankinds thoughts. The intangible is transformed from brainwave patterns to ink patterns. What leads to the writing of lit varies from author to author. In the case of Hermann Hesse, it was his individualised experiences in life. In the novels Demian and Siddhartha, Hermann Hesse was influenced by Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, both psycho-analysts. A personal crisis, which caused Hesse to undergo psycho-analysis with Dr. J.B. Lang, led to the writing of Demian in 1919. His fascination with Eastern cultures and his trip to India in 1922 directly resulted in the instauration of the novel Siddhartha. The fundamental study of self-discovery is evident in both novels. Self-discovery involves underdeveloped the mind, experiencing life, obtaining wisdom, learning about oneself, coming to an understanding and acceptance of this, and by the end, discovering ones identity. This theme of self-di scovery was important to Hesse because he experienced similar events in life. He was innate(p) in Germany in 1877 and raised in a Protestant sept with expectations to follow in the footsteps of his forefathers and become a missionary. He did not give care to do so, partly because he was interested in Eastern religions. This personal crisis of the questioning of fundamental beliefs deeply affected Hesse. In Demian he writes, at that place is only one true vocation for everybody - to find the way to himself. (Hesse, Demian, 1989, p.120) finished his struggles, he found that the road to self-discovery could only be experienced at first hand and could not be e... ...ld Literature. New York Funk & Wagnalls, 1972. 13. Timpe, Eugene F. Hesses Siddhartha and the Bhagavad Gita. Comparative Literature, V.22 No.4 , 1970. 14. Walter, Soreil. Hermann Hesse The Man Who want and Found Himself. London Oswald Wolff, 1974. 15. Wast, R.W. (Ed.). Modern German Authors New Series. (Vol .2). 16. Benets Readers Encyclopedia triad Edition. Toronto Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 1987. 17. Hesse, Hermann. The New Encyclopedia Britannica Micropedia, (Vol. 5), Toronto Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 1990, p. 899. 18. Nirvana. The instauration Book Encyclopedia, (Vol.14). Toronto World Book, Inc., 1987, p.332-333. 19. Twentieth Century Authors. New York The H.W. Wilson Company, 1942. 20. The Works of Hermann Hesse. Toronto The Publishing Company Ltd., 1980.