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A review by dukeofmars
Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse
5.0
Authors love duality. Light and dark. Good and evil. Or in the case of Steppenwolf, a man and a wolf.
The reason authors love them, I believe, is because it allows for discourse. The writer, singular, becomes two: one personality to languish in his pains and troubles, and another to yell and shout at him, to teach lessons and impart wisdom from the heavens. Impartiality is achieved by remaining oneself while becoming another.
There are many dualities in Steppenwolf besides the man and wolf, but perhaps the most interesting duality is the concept Hesse leverages against duality itself: the multitude. There are infinite facets to a man. Sometimes the road to salvation requires exploring more than two of them.
The reason authors love them, I believe, is because it allows for discourse. The writer, singular, becomes two: one personality to languish in his pains and troubles, and another to yell and shout at him, to teach lessons and impart wisdom from the heavens. Impartiality is achieved by remaining oneself while becoming another.
There are many dualities in Steppenwolf besides the man and wolf, but perhaps the most interesting duality is the concept Hesse leverages against duality itself: the multitude. There are infinite facets to a man. Sometimes the road to salvation requires exploring more than two of them.