I'd have to agree with you. Hesse's references of relationships between men in his works, such as Siddartha and Glasperlenspiel, are of a philosophic nature; that is, both have a love for wisdom - Erosophy, if you will. Both associate the highest good to coupling with the idea of the good, making close comparisons with the coupling of a man and woman. The highest summit to which philiosophers aspire is coupling with the idea of the good, to make love to wisdom. W can attribute this idea to the words of Socrates in PLato's Republic.

I tihnk that all Hesse characters were looking for their anime(probably Hesse himself). If someone don't know anima is wemale part of the male(opposite is animus). relationship with mother can much affect on how anima will be. For more information read Carl Gustav Yung: "man and his simbols"

Goldmund _loves_ Narcissus. Heterosexual sensuality serves as a screen for the unfulfillable, disembodied passion Narcissus, the austere savant, represents; and Goldmund's long journey, with its accumulation of amorous adventures, culminates with the return to the monastery with Narcissus, the creation of the statues, and death. In youth, Narcissus awakens Goldmund to his desires; Narcissus, like the Mother, awaits him at the end of his travels. Thus Narcissus is superimposed over Goldmund's ultimate, and tragically unattainable, love object. We could read this as a metaphor for the desire of the artist to realize his abstract, ideal vision which can only be fully grasped by the mind. Indeed, in their exchanges, Narcissus always keeps the intellectual upper hand over Goldmund, and Goldmund passionately wants to please Narcissus by learning Greek, the twists and turns of philosophical argumentation, etc. But he never gets there, Narcissus will always treat him like a charming but inadequate child. Narcissus himself, the brilliant logician, falls in love with his own image, not Goldmund--"your dreams are about girls, mine are about boys" he tells Goldmund, but then rejects Goldmund, sending him, sexual threat that he is, out into the wide world to seek his destiny. Narcissus, when we see him later, has become the pure embodiment of a cultural ideal; while Goldmund's seriatim of adventures are but an echo of his brief but emotionally intense period with Narcissus, so intense as to leave him one day "lying in the garden as if dead."

Delicious as it is, I think there is a tragic and unsatisfying dimension to Narcissus and Goldmund that comes through in Hesse's reworking of the Narcissus and Echo myth. Heterosexual encounters are embedded (excuse the pun) within a larger homosexual love affair that never actually happens and is so elusive we can forget it's there--were it not that it drives the whole novel. Heterosexual desire might be a metaphor for art, homosexual desire intellect; but the love story can't quite transcend being a love story and remains very much about sex, and yes, the unspeakable kind.

I believe Hesse's interaction between males is that of a higher level. In the novel Demian the caracters communicate on a 'higher level' of sorts - almost spiritual. The physical interaction and communication is nothing more than a charade or social excuse and their understanding is on another plain. Initally this is not so, as throughout this novel Demian's knowledge and sence of self is increasing and it is not until towards the end of the piece that the realisation becomes apparent and desire for knowledge and greater understanding is realised. This level of understanding allows communication beyond that of standard society and may appear at face value as homosexual or unconventional due to their lack on inhibition and their indepth understanding of each other. But my belief is that the bond goes deep than physical (homosexual) but is more spiritual. - The ability to communicate without words...
My two cents worth!

Nicely put. I have not read Demain; however, in both Siddartha and The Glass Bead Game, Hesse presents the same type of elevated relationship between males. The river boat man and Siddartha are a good example of that deep and profound spiritual bond. There is, undoubtedly, a strong sentiment bewteen the two but not what would be considered homosexual. Joseph Knecht and the music master share that relationship. It seems that Knecht connects with just about everyone in some spiritual sense. I agree that Hesse's work gravitates heavliy towards the spiritual and not the physical - to entertain thoughts about certain things that are niether demonstable nor probable - to entertain those things as existent.

All these postings are enlightening... It's been about three years since I've read the book and I think I might just pick it up again!

Lolita,

I agree that there is something forbidden about the love between Narcissus and Goldmund, it is the most powerful real love of Goldmund's life, the most enduring, and the least physical. The only dynamic individual love that Narcissus experiences is his relationship with Goldmund.


To perceive of a love beyond that of the physical may be difficult; yet, that is the true love that is expressed in Narcissus and Goldmund. Although Goldmund experiences his life in the arms of passionate women, he does not love any of these women whom he sleeps with in a possessive sense. He loves the passion, the women are each appreciated individually, but it is the elixir of the chase, the sweet release of conquest, and the dance of attraction that Goldmund really loves; not any particular woman that he can grasp. He holds dear to his idea of the universal mother, of which all women are part of but no one woman can rival. Consequently, his drive for adventure and travel is greater than his need to settle down. He exemplifies the intuitive nature. Interestingly, women seduce him, he is almost passive at times, always the gentleman and the lover, never the aggressor. He desires the soul of sensuality, and translates this transient quality into his successful works of art.

On the other hand, Narcissus denies his sexuality, and lives among boys and men. Narcissus loves the ascetic life, and though he may have feelings of lust as well, he denies them. His relationship with Goldmund is that of the teacher, he is the dominant personality, and the aggressive partner. If, at any time, Narcissus had approached Goldmund, a lesser love story would have been written.

You got it right in the head:what is sex when you are looking for what is trascendent and eternal?Sexuality in the long run it's nothing else than wasting time.

How naive to think that there is no under current theme of homosexuality in Hesse's stories. If he were writing today I have no doubt it would be addressed more openly and expanded upon, although personally I enjoy the "closeted" tone of his works.

I'm so sorry that i can't speak English enough to express everything about Hesse wich is overfeelin me everyday.
I'll try with one word,Hesse has to been a selfsexual,I mean there's no sex indication for him,he has to been both:a man and a woman in one spirit,the human spirit.