In order to decode and unpack the multiple meanings of Demian, a reader must first learn to challenge his or her own projections of events and characters in order to understand the book as it is intended to be read. This means reading closely, and in turn “seeing past” the reader’s initial understanding of the piece. Realizing the text in terms of its hermeneutic code, a reader will come to understand the underlying enigma presented, and how this unanswered question is postponed and built-upon as the book progresses. Specifically, this enigma is introduced early in the text through Sinclair’s initial interactions with Demian, including the apparent conclusion of Sinclair’s troubles with Kromer. While Demian himself is presented as a shrouded mystery by Sinclair, the true mystery or “enigma” is the connection shared between both Demian and Sinclair.
Though the events with Kromer shape not only Sinclair as a person but also influence his continued friendship with Demian, and even act as a sort of foundation for their relationship, the two never share a word about it. Not only this, but Sinclair, as the narrator, refuses to extrapolate or give reasons as to why this topic goes unapproached. Looking past the provisional reading of the text, a reader may be able to question these motives, and in turn become more wary and in tune to the intentions of Sinclair as a narrator and not just a character. This is further exemplified when Sinclair reveals on page 67 his withholding of an instance of the two boys meeting on vacation. He openly admits this was done out of “shame and vanity” (p67) and causes the reader to further question not only his motives, but his credibility. Additionally, when meeting Demain in this recollection, Sinclair flinches instinctively. This mirrors the actions of Kromer when coming face to face with Sinclair, and should immediately shoot off flare signals in the reader’s mind. Moving forward, Demian in this passage goes on to explain to Sinclair,
“Whatever it is inside you shaping your life knows already. It’s so good to know that there’s something inside us, and that it knows everything, wants everything, and does everything better than we do!” (p69).
Although this quote can be taken as metaphorical, a reader in tune to the messages being communicated will understand that it contains a deeper, much more literal translation. These questions surrounding the connection between Demian and Sinclair develop and intensify as the two fall in and out of eachother’s lives, each time presenting a new dynamic between the two.
Brief glimpses of light are shone on this dynamic as time proceeds and Sinclair grows. However, that curtain is never pulled back for quite long enough for the reader to make out the obvious. Instead, it must be collected and discovered piece by piece, as Sinclair discovers it for himself. The moment of disclosure does not occur until the final scene when the reader and an injured Sinclair are both presented with and forced to accept the undeniable truth that He and Demian are one and the same.
Upon reading Demian for the first time I should have read closer instead of turning my brain off and enjoying the narrative. If I had not done that I would have seen right away in the beginning of the book when the narrator himself discusses other narrators. Sinclair talks about how authors
“tend to take an almost godlike attitude toward their subject, pretending to a total comprehension of the story…” (Demian page 1)
Sinclair makes it very apparent in the opening that this is not perfect narration so when we are shown Demian the character we are being show Sinclair’s flaws right in front of us and not just another character to introduce. We always trust what the narrator is telling us because of this godlike complex we are all accustomed to and this time around with Hesse’s novel we are sucked into the story so well we don’t even realize another story is being told between the lines.
When I read Demian for the first time, I did not closely read the text, instead I projected my own judgements, which influenced my overall understanding of what the author is trying to say. Me as the reader, placed judgement on the book before being able to truly understand the text, which interfered with my overall understanding. An example of a symbolic code in Demian can be found when Sinclair is in class at university and the topic of “Abraxas” is discussed. The teacher, Doctor Follen, explains that
“We can think of the name [Abraxas is] referring to something like a deity whose symbolic task is to untie the divine and satanic.” (75)
In this case, the word Abraxas is given the meaning of a type of god in the context of Demian, but also stands for the binary of negative and positive that Sinclair explores within himself throughout the novel. As a reader, this could help to further understand the meanings of the themes. This is also similar to the fact how the character of Demian can be seen as a symbol of the text and Sinclair is the reader.
I believe that there are multiple hermeneutic codes in Demian. One of the more prominent was the unspoken events of Sinclair and Demian’s past with Franz Kromer. There were multiple instances where Sinclair wonders why Demian never mentions Kromer. After the incident, Sinclair mentions Kromer six times. When he and Demian reconnect while in university, Sinclair says,
“We recalled our school days, the confirmation class, and the meeting that hadn’t gone well during the school break too– the only thing we didn’t discuss was the earliest, closest bond between us, the Franz Kromer story” (109).
That was the final time that Sinclair mentioned Kromer before Demian finally discussed it as well. This interaction is the best example of hermeneutic code. We see Sinclair first replace Kromer with Demian as his most powerful influence, but then Demian disappeared from his life. Then Sinclair realizes that there is a bond between himself and Demian that formed since the incident with Kromer. Sinclair feels that he owes Demian something– the formulation of the enigma. Then Sinclair is about to mention the incident to Demian but but realizes that he shouldn’t because they haven’t so much as acknowledged it in years. And so on, until we reach Sinclair’s closure on Demian’s death bed. Demian asks,
“Do you still remember Franz Kromer?” (135).
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