The first few chapters of the book indicated to me that this was going to be different in themes and feel to the other Hesse works which I had previously enjoyed. However, it turns out that many familiar Hesse themes formed the central thrust of it, albeit in different settings and with an intriguingly vibrant new take.
Duality, self-discovery and matters of consciousness all loom large here, seen through the prism of the central character, Emil Sinclair, and his encounters with various "mentors", including Max Demian.
One of the primary messages of the book seems to be that in order to achieve a realization of "self", one must sample and inhabit both the world of bourgeois order and that of "darker forces". Hesse appears to contend that traditional religious instruction does not incorporate the "other" world, and to argue the point he invokes the figure of Abraxas, who harmonizes good and evil, and symbolizes the concept of "one-ness".
The Cain and Abel metaphor is used to good effect early in the story, and later Demian's mother Eva becomes an important symbol of the ideal for Sinclair. The "sparrowhawk" and egg symbols are also clever and powerful.
The later chapters also contain some observations about modern-day life, and its corrosive effect on thinking, spirituality and individuality, leading to staleness, complacency and indolence. Hopes are expressed that the status quo will be changed by those embarked on the journeys of discovery identified here.
For me, the threads of Demian are less clearly defined and seamless than some of Hesse's other novels, and less immediately comforting and inspiring. However, those readers who persevere with it will not only be challenged, but also rewarded.
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