Der Steppenwolf, translating to The Steppenwolf in English, is the 1927 fictional classic of a self-discovery. The author, Herman Hesse, wrote this book during a period of isolation and suicidal thinking, which can be observed in the writing. Originally written in German, the novel is centered around Harry Haller, a reclusive man who had lost everything around him, and with a distaste for modern European culture. He had yearned to kill himself. His philosophy separates him into two halves, two different "beings'', Harry and the Steppenwolf, which he struggles to cope with. The inner conflict of bourgeoise ideals and societal nonconformity (the two halves) Harry had led to his mental fall. He had vivid dreams of having conversations with famous people in history. Heavy drinking in taverns at night. Purposeless romantic encounters. His soul versus his actions was contradictory and left him in low spirits. Live or surrender? The clash of these beliefs is present throughout the entire book, an example being his problematic lifestyle. Enlightenment seems far but happens almost unnoticeably, woven into the gritty setting. He often comes to a Magic Theatre, a bridge to a transcendent realm that uncovers his suffering. The novel is composed of his thoughts, actions, and descriptions from his perspective. A fictional autobiography. Initially, I didn't understand the premise, only the general idea. It seemed like a pragmatic, potentially sad novel. I didn’t expect The Steppenwolf to be quite magical. The spirituality glints in such a miserable setting. Hopeful. It took a deep analysis to get a feel for the book. Not a story that wasted my time, and it's something I can reminisce on and find insight into in my life.
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