Roof Beam Reader
Adam Burgess
Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse
Hermann Hesse’s Steppenwolf is a haunting and profound exploration of the human condition, touching on themes of spirituality, sexuality, despair, and hope. At its core, the novel is a deeply introspective examination of the self, and the ways in which we construct and deconstruct our identities in response to the world around us.
One of the key concepts explored in the novel is the idea of non-self, or the notion that our sense of self is an illusion constructed by our minds. This idea is closely related to the Buddhist concept of anatta, or no-self, and is a central theme in the novel. Through the character of Harry Haller, Hesse portrays the struggle to reconcile the self with the world, and the deep sense of isolation and despair that can arise when this reconciliation is not possible. In Harry’s case, he has created an alter-ego, “the Steppenwolf” to separate himself into two pieces, the human and the animal, and part of his journey is learning that, as Whitman wrote, we all “contain multitudes.”
The novel also touches on the concept of interbeing, or the idea that all things are interconnected and interdependent. This idea is explored through the character of Hermine, who teaches Harry to embrace his own sexuality and to connect with others in a more meaningful way. Through this exploration of interbeing, Hesse suggests that true happiness and fulfillment can only be found through meaningful connections with others, and a deep sense of empathy and understanding for the world around us.
Spirituality is another central theme in Steppenwolf, and Hesse explores the ways in which our beliefs and values can shape our identities and our place in the world. Harry’s struggles with his own sense of spirituality and his relationship with others are a reflection of the broader existential questions that the novel grapples with, and the deep sense of meaning and purpose that we all seek.
According to Hesse’s introduction to later editions, many readers have left the novel sensing only hopelessness and assuming that Harry’s journey is a failed one, but on the contrary, I found the final moments of the novel to be hinting that Harry, while not having “succeeded” in the traditional sense, has learned a lot about himself and his place in the world; perhaps most importantly, he has learned to hope. It is this changed perspective that points to a new life for Harry when everything before it had foreshadowed only doom.
Ultimately, Steppenwolf is a deeply moving and thought-provoking novel that speaks to the very heart of what it means to be human. Through its exploration of non-self, interbeing, spirituality, sexuality, despair, and hope, Hesse presents a profound meditation on the human condition, and the struggle to find meaning and purpose in a complex and often confusing world. In many ways, this one reminded me of Melville’s Garden of Eden, and I may some day need to put the two in conversation.
Steppenwolf is Book 4 completed for my #TBRYear10 Challenge.
Roof Beam Reader 
Pingback: May Check-in #TBRYear10 – Roof Beam Reader