Most of the book is a description of Goldmund’s restless journey as a wanderer. Narcissus helps Goldmund realize that cloister life is not for him and when Goldmund learns the pleasures of sex from a gypsy woman he knows that Narcissus is right and he immediately flees the cloister. But Goldmund does not possess the intellectual detachment of Narcissus and love and art and seduction are things which he cannot deny himself in order to become a monk. Goldmund’s father tells him that he must dedicate his life to God in order to make up for his mother’s sins. Goldmund’s father drops him off at the cloister with the intention of Goldmund being a pupil and eventually taking a vow to become a monk. Goldmund has been raised solely by his father and his father has done everything in his power to erase Goldmund’s memories of his gypsy mother. But this all changes when a young boy by the name of Goldmund is dropped off at the cloister by his father. He is a cerebral man who values the intellect but his emphasis on the rational also prevents him from having any real friendships or meaningful love in his life. Narcissus is a very talented scholar and it is evident that he will one day serve the church and even become the Abbot of the cloister. Narcissus is a teacher’s assistant in the cloister of Mariabronn and fully intends to take his vows as a monk. It is a coming-of-age story, a commentary on existential philosophy and a beautiful description of a life long friendship. This is one of those classic books that is very difficult to review and do it justice because there are so many ideas contained within the book. Please visit their blogs for more great German Literature in translation and to see the full list of blogs that are participating.

This is my first contribution to German Literature Month, hosted by Lizzy’s Literary Life and Beauty is a Sleeping Cat.

Hermann hesse narziss en goldmund