A classic novel is a piece of literature that has universal themes, both literal and metaphorical, to which virtually everyone can relate. Readers may not agree with certain aspects of the theme, but nonetheless understand and respect them. The theme itself should be a lesson of some type in which the audience can derive great knowledge and wisdom. The author should have a distinct and unique style of writing. Lastly, the book must be exquisitely unique even in relation to its genre. Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse is a classic.
In the book Steppenwolf, the main and most universal theme is to not take life with seriousness and austerity, but rather with joy and serenity (Hesse). Harry Haller, the protagonist, has for much of his adult life wanted to be immortal; a metaphor Hesse uses to symbolize a highly intellectual state of mind that belongs to a ‘timeless reality’ (Hesse). Harry’s main argument, and also his contradictory reason for self-loathing, is that he firmly believes it is impossible to become immortal if one is bourgeois (Harry believes one should think and be more philosophical); thus he hates everything about the bourgeois, but deep down he secretly thinks himself as bourgeois due to his adolescent and young adult years of literary fame (Hesse). Because of this contradiction, he suffers…until Hermine (Harry’s bourgeois counterpart) explicitly points it out to him:
“Oh! How stiff you are! Just go straight ahead as if you were walking . . . Dancing, don’t you see, is every bit as easy as thinking, when you can do it, and much easier to learn. Now you can understand why people won’t get the habit of thinking. . . .” (Hesse)
This quotation is important because, in the context of the book, it is the first time Hermine reveals to Harry his own hypocritical misconceptions about becoming immortal {(SparkNotes Editors), (Hesse)}. It also relates back to the main theme of the book; to not live life with serious gravity.
Hermann Hesse wrote Steppenwolf between 1923 and 1927 while staying at a health resort in Switzerland (Sobel). During his time there, he made a few observations about the ever-expanding technological world (Sobel). He disliked how the bourgeousie elevated technology as well as civilization’s ever-growing dependence on it (Sobel). The line from the song Extraordinaire; “To be out of the ordinary, you don’t need technology!” by Joel Plaskett would satisfy Hesse as it summarizes his thoughts at the time. Hesse’s thoughts can be easily seen as the bases of Harry Haller’s dislike of the bourgeousie. What makes Hesse such a brilliant writer as well as what makes the book a classic piece of literature is Hesse’s in-depth relation to the story – and more specifically to Haller. Some have said, and even the synopsis on the back of the book hints at as well, is that the book is an autobiography disguised as a story {(Shaw-Sutten), (Hesse)}.
Regardless of what the book’s exact genre, there is a large amount of similarity to that of gothic literature even though the book was written decades after the gothic era ended, which suggests Hesse was influenced by such books. The whole book is told, much like Frankenstein, as first-person records of what has already happened (technically the whole book is Harry Haller’s journal) (Hesse). Also the parallel of the gothic ‘forbidden knowledge’ in Steppenwolf is the state of mind of the immortals. Another reference is that even though Harry can consciously think about the immortals, he only gets to see them during dreams or out-of-body experiences. Examples from the book include his dream about talking to Johann Van Goethe and when he talks to Mozart at the end. The whole idea of conflicting souls is also present. Harry perceives himself as having two souls; one of a man and one of a wolf of the Steppes – thus his self-given nickname name Steppenwolf. What is ground-breaking about this piece is that in most gothic works the protagonist/fallen hero, eventually never gets what he/she desires and the story somewhat resembles that of film noir, but in Steppenwolf he does implicitly achieve what he wants. The final words of the book are as follows:
“I understood it all. I understood Pablo. I understood Mozart, and somewhere behind me I heard his ghastly laughter. I knew that all the hundred thousand pieces of life’s game were in my pocket . . . I would traverse not once more, but often, the hell of my inner being. One day I would be a better hand at the game. One day I would learn how to laugh. Pablo was waiting for me, and Mozart too.” (Hesse)
The book Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse is a classic piece of literature. The main theme is clear and everyone can relate to it, as well as learn from it. Hesse is deeply connected with the philosophy within the book, easily showing his wisdom. The book is extremely unique by being both a pseudo-autobiography as well as a one-of-a-kind variation on a gothic work.
