Hermann Hesse - The Glass Bead Game

The works of Hermann Hesse have the rare capacity to force the reader to reappraise his or her attitudes to life and the world around them.

Of Hesse's novels, The Glass Bead Game, which I recently read for the second time, is one of the longest and most intricate, but the questions which it poses can be very readily distilled. The story basically revolves around the character of Joseph Knecht and his life of study and teaching.

Knecht enters the "pedagogic province" of Castalia, and becomes well-versed in the book's titular pastime, although a detailed knowledge or grasp of the game's niceties is by no means essential to an understanding or enjoyment of the novel.

Essentially, the theme of the novel is the tension between the abstract and the worldly, between the ethos of rarefied,contemplative study and that of the more "sordid" and instinctive life outside Castalia. This conflict, and the conclusions which spring from it, are explored with reference to the author's fascination with Eastern concepts of duality, transitoriness, renewal and rebirth. Certain characters in Knecht's orbit are held to be symptomatic of the existing set-up, or precursors of the future.

The heart of the argument, as I understood it, is to what degree "esoteric" academic and cultural pursuits such as the Glass Bead Game have any value for the real world, but equally how much such undertakings contribute to man's reason and enlightenment, bestow practical applications , and therefore lead to a more peaceful and just world.

Of course, this intellectual "elitism" was in effect subsidized by the man in the street. Such "luxuries" would clearly be jeopardized when emergencies such as war arose. As I deciphered it, part of the message here was that Castalia should try to inculcate Castalian principles and values in society proper.  This presumably on the theory that a more stable society would help to ensure the survival of Castalia in some shape or form, by nurturing a more conducive social and economic climate.

Some of the passages which ruminate about intellectual and cultural developments remind me of Thomas Mann. Some of this was tough going when compared to the purely biographical bits, but they are important in the overall.

The Glass Bead Game works on more than one level. It is easy to dwell on the societal ramifications of the Castalian set-up and its relations with the outside world, but the effects on individuals are equally pertinent. The suffocating impact of the secluded existence, being cut off from "real life", as well as the nagging sense that their talents are not being used for the general good, or indeed for an individual's own spiritual well-being.

An abiding trait of Hesse's writing is that he touches the very essence of life, our make-up and our equilibrium, the soul and what animates it. He makes such things seem so elementary and tangible, but also induces a yearning for self-discovery in those of us who have found the equilibrium elusive and troublesome.

The Hesse works regularly take place in remote settings or situations, but the characters are invariably wrestling with universal turmoils and concerns. Hermann Hesse has been a major influence on my life, and my outlook, in recent years.  Just a few pages are sufficient to rekindle that feeling of serenity and hope, like a reconnection with some semblance of love and truth, if only fleetingly.

In a broader way, the story supports the notion that we benefit from a change of scenery, encountering different people, points of view, and atmospheres, and that we should not prolong phases of our life which have begun to decay and pall, and should move on. Of course, this is easier said than done for most people, and most would not rationalize such impulses in the "exotic" manner favoured by Hesse. We should also try not to entirely estrange ourselves from things which appear alien.

My feeling is that Hesse relied on the sensitivity and perspicacity of his readers to constantly juggle these levels of meaning, and to discern them in the first place. Otherwise, his writing would not possess its unique flavour and vitality. What first drew me to Hesse, when my life had been to a dark place, was the weight placed on self-discovery and enlightenment.  But knowing what we do about the man, it is apparent that he had an eye for wider social commentary, in addition to chronicling the journeys of individuals, the latter often serving as metaphors for the former. Matters of some moment were indirectly addressed in a digestible and "non-threatening" form, but the point was undeniably there.

The Glass Bead Game is grandiose by Hesse standards, and the occasional geopolitical tangent is atypical of the author's usual approach. Its depth renders it more demanding and draining on the reader's faculties. Contained within The Glass Bead Game is a conventional Hesse novel, but it is more "fleshed out".

To some less discerning observers it might seem that the story "tails off" or fizzles out, but one must remember that this is not a conventional novel, Hesse had said what he meant to say, and of course the manner in which the main bulk of the tale concludes encourages the reader to assess the possible interpretations. A whole vista of possibilities should really open up.

Admittedly, this book does not quite leave me with the warm and buoyant sensations engendered with some other Hesse works, but this is counter-balanced by the amount, and variety, of food for thought which it serves up. Thoughts about ourselves, our place in the world, and our responsibilities.

Steppenwolf - Hermann Hesse

I am gradually working my way through some of Hermann Hesse's most celebrated works.  Having been inspired by Siddhartha, and immersed in The Glass Bead Game, I next turned my attention to Steppenwolf:

In fairness, Steppenwolf seems to have been subject to a myriad of interpretations down the years, and Hesse himself commented that the book had been very much misunderstood by many people. At the risk of being accused of misunderstanding the many messages myself, I have attempted to dissect some of the themes which are touched on or probed.

Through the main character, Harry Haller, the novel takes a look at to what degree some people have split personalities (in Haller's case between "man" and "wolf"), but also the notion that we have multi-layered personalities.

Within the context of all this, we also delve into the conflicts and tensions between individualism and bourgeois existence, and see how a solitary and single-minded approach to life and culture can often become a blind alley, where resentment and bitterness might fester and thrive.

As Haller continues on his journey, he meets people who introduce him to frivolity and decadence. Touching on the issue of multi-layered personalities once more, it is hinted that we should value some levity as an emollient. Alien worlds are much more welcoming and accommodating than we might have imagined. Other people are fascinated by the strengths of the loner or the thinker, and they themselves may yearn to fill in some of the gaps in their own development.  There is no shame in these "compromises", as greater rewards may lie ahead...

One strand which I picked up, rightly or wrongly, during the period when Haller links up with Hermine and the saxophonist Pablo, is an assertion that the sensual, and the pleasures of the flesh, are just as worthy and valid as the intellectual.  Sensuality is a form of an expression, and a mode of living, just as "conventional" culture is.

This part of the novel was the most fascinating for me, as it began to steer the story discernibly in the direction of transcendence, a much favoured subject of Hesse.  The question began to form in my mind - "well, we've learned to welcome more joviality and hedonism into our lives, but where does this take us?".  There is a recognition that even those individuals who cultivate advanced tastes for both the individual and the sensual will be little appreciated, and that shallowness and mediocrity will still hold sway.  But will there still be some form of escape, or release, for the inquisitive and the curious?

Grandiose though the ending of Steppenwolf is, many matters are left wholly or partly unresolved for me.  There are references to immortality and eternity, and the almost obligatory allusion to a return to a child-like state, which is presumably in part what endeared this work to the post World War 2 "counterculture".

During the Masked Ball scene, intoxication appears to be put forward as a kind of release from the constant striving, suffering, indiscretions and effort of life, but even this is not sufficient for Harry Haller.

The subsequent hallucinatory scenes offer additional clues, and build on the premise of a multi-layered human being. The killing of Hermine by Haller (the Steppenwolf) provides persuasive hints that the animalistic side of him was still lurking, the irony being that she prevailed upon him to end her life in exchange for tutoring him in the ways of her social milieu.

So is life for most of us a never-ending struggle, characterised by our constant shuffling of the various pieces of our multi-faceted personality, and not finalised by even death itself?

Another thought which increasingly weighed on my mind as I progressed through Steppenwolf  was that rather than simply taking life too seriously, some of us fail to take some aspects of life, and our "souls", seriously enough. A balancing is desirable.

Even allowing for the outwardly downbeat ending, some optimistic notes are still struck towards the end of the story. We all have it within our power to change, but our "souls" need to be unlocked, and this may entail the assistance of others.

Not as linear as Siddhartha, or as enriching as The Glass Bead Game, Steppenwolf is nevertheless a work which will continue to provoke much thought and reflection among many people.

The Glass Bead Game - Hermann Hesse

Very recently, I finished reading this remarkable book, considered one of the landmarks in 20th century European literature. It was tough going at times, but rewarding, and these are my immediate thoughts and observations.

Like much of Hesse's work, The Glass Bead Game deals with issues of spiritual exploration and identity. However, it also examines man's relationship with his intellect and how he employs and applies it, and also questions of isolation and alienation. There is little doubt also that the political climate in Europe at the time of its conception, and Hesse's reaction to it, also influenced the work.

Upon finishing the book, my reaction was that I would need to read it again, more than once, in order to fully absorb the messages, metaphors and allusions contained in its pages. The events portrayed could be subjected to myriad interpretations, and I was conscious whilst reading not to derive from it an interpretation which the author perhaps did not intend. A fully coherent and considered understanding of the book is probably not feasible after just one read.

For what it's worth, my impression was that in addition to simply relating a compelling and enjoyable tale, Hesse was posing questions about the acquisition of knowledge purely for its own sake, and to what extent there is a responsibility to share such knowledge with "the real world" for the common good, and for benign motives.

Another strand which I picked up on was the tension between the "aristocracy" of academia, and the more mundane concerns of mainstream society, and to what degree these two factions, and their requirements, could be reconciled.

These questions, and others, formed the backdrop for the journey of the central character Joseph Knecht, and his various changes and "awakenings".  The author's interest in Eastern philosophies, in transcendence, meditation and "rebirth" are a constant throughout these episodes, as well as in the chapters listed as Knecht's own writings.

I would have to say that The Glass Bead Game is denser and more multi-faceted than one of Hesse's other works, Siddhartha, which I enjoyed immensely, but which is also much more straighforward in many respects.

The fact that The Glass Bead Game was Hesse's final full-length novel also I think lends weight to the notion that in it he was pulling together all of the strands contained in his other works, and making the statement he had always been striving for.

When I have read the book again, I will post my further comments.....

Hermann Hesse / Today's Football

Yesterday, I finally got around to reading one of Hermann Hesse's novels, the wonderful "Siddhartha", and my enjoyment of the book is tempered with regret that it has taken this long.

Oddly enough, I first really heard about Hesse through an unlikely source. Brian May of the rock band Queen, of whom I am a major admirer, used to name-check the author in interviews, and I often saw his works in my local library, but never got around to reading them, perhaps fearing that the subject matter would outstrip the capacity of my youthful mind.

In recent months, I have become more interested in Eastern philosophies, and my research led me to discover that Hesse himself was strongly influenced by these teachings. I have therefore purchased three of his novels, the aforementioned "Siddhartha", and also "Steppenwolf" and "The Glass Bead Game".

I can heartily recommend "Siddhartha", examining as it does a man's spiritual journey of discovery. Although the novel is relatively brief, it says much more than most much weightier tomes could ever do.

Once I have completed them, I will post my thoughts on the other two Hesse novels.

Just a quick note about today's football.  A plethora of goals in the Premier League, although many of these appear to have been the result of deficient defending rather than inspired attacking play.

The two most notable results occurred at St. James' Park, where Newcastle United recovered from a 0-4 half-time deficit to salvage a draw against ten-man Arsenal, and at Molineux, where Wolves overcame Manchester United 2-1.

On a slightly more personal note, well done to the mighty Leeds United, whose 1-0 home victory over Coventry City maintains their place in the Championship play-off places.