I first read Narcissus and Goldmund in junior college in the 1970s and fell in love with the lush, lyrical prose and the symbolism of the piece. It is a novel featuring a young man named Goldmund who creates art, loves many women, and lives life to the fullest, ripest extent possible. In contrast is Narcissus, initially his teacher during the short time Goldmund is at university. Narcissus is the serious one, scholarly, austere, and existing more remotely through his intellect and books.
Neither one is a purportedly normal, middle of the road type of person. Goldmund is Dionysian, wild, emotional, and carefree. Narcissus is Apollonian, controlled, intellectual, and regimented. Goldmund symbolizes what is considered the feminine aspect of human nature, and Narcissus the masculine. Goldmund represents the impulse in mankind to create art. Narcissus exemplifies the drive to seek the divine. Goldmund thrives on artistic expression and human communication, Narcissus on scholarly pursuits and religious order. Goldmund’s god is immanent, while that of Narcissus is transcendent. The world undoubtedly needs both types. Like his name, Goldmund is golden, robust, and charismatic, while Narcissus is dark haired, lithe, and more withdrawn. I’m not sure if Hesse actually describes them that way, but that’s how I remember them.
As men, Narcissus and Goldmund admire and appreciate one other, while each adhering to his own fated, intrinsic nature. They are together at the beginning of the book, going their own ways in the middle, and meeting again at the end. I always remember the poignancy of Goldmund’s words to Narcissus: “Without a mother you cannot live. Without a mother you cannot die.”
Many thanks to my literature teacher at that time, Ms. Johnson, later Ms. Frazier. She introduced me to Hesse, Kafka, Sartre, Dostoyevsky and others. Eventually leaving the literature field, she became a successful family therapist.
If you haven’t read Narcissus and Goldmund, please consider making it one of your modern classic reads for 2015. It’s well worth it. What’s your favorite Hesse novel?
Cheers & Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic with Paranormal Fantasy Romance
Sadly, I have never read anything by Hermann Hesse, but I do admit the book sounds intriguing. It’s wonderful when we have a teacher who influences our lives by introducing us to literature that makes a lasting impression. My first encounter with J.R.R. Tolkien came through the personal recommendation of a high school English teacher. I discovered Dickens, Bradbury and T.H. White, through teachers who knew I had an interest in reading. Seeing your post, brings back memories of many old books I read back in the day. It makes me want to hunt them up again and crack open the pages.
I’m glad you had teachers who spurred a love of reading and helped you find good books. It makes a huge difference.
This isn’t a book to be read as a teenager, in my opinion.(So Mae, you can try it now). I read it as it was among the compulsory books for Universal Literature seminar. I’ve almost forgotten about it. It should be read, like many books, at 40 or 50, when the world is seen in a different way than we see it when we are very young. The world we see through the eyes of Goldmund is a world that seems straight out of a fairy tale. And, as your topic is Hesse, I’d like to remind you about Behind the Wheel, another food-for-thought book. Thanks for reminding me of the student years, the smell of the library and the carefree years, Flossie!
I actually was a teenager when I first read it– 18 I think, as I was in junior college. I like all of Hesse’s books, including Beneath the Wheel. It’s been a long time since I read that one. Don’t we wish for more time to read??!