Hesse writes powerfully and beautifully on the conflict between the Apollonian (understanding form, order, restraint, conforming, the world of the intellect/mind) and the Dionysian (experience passion, frivolity, lust, expression, the world of images/symbol/beauty). He develops his own skills, sacrificing the wild experiences and settling down to work (at least for the duration of the work) and he creates a sculpture of great merit. He seeks out the artist and becomes his apprentice. After being profoundly touched by the beauty of wooden statue of the Madonna, the artist within himself awakens giving a new purpose and direction for his life. He has fantastic adventures, experiences the best and worst of humanity surrounded by the Black Plague and in the mist of all these hardships, he finds meaning and beauty. Goldmund then wanders the world in search of adventure, love and self-discovery. We follow the lives of both of these men, and in their contrasting experiences. The men separate to following their own paths. Goldmund is unhappy in the monastery, and Narcissus tells him 'be yourself, try to realize yourself' and encourages him to find his own way. Narcissus lives a life of constraint but one that has purpose for him. The story is about finding one's way and being true to one's inner nature.

They appear to be complete opposites each seeks to bring meaning to their existence Narcissus seeks peace and salvation (purity of mind) within a religious life in a monastery, while Goldmund is burning with the desire to experience life and throw himself into the world. The meet in a monastery (after the death of Goldmund's mother). This novel is about two medieval men with a very deep friendship but with very different temperaments. It is very Existential in some ways, but touches on the mystical in the arts with a more profound effect than the more 'metaphysical' manner of the earlier novels. It has drama, insight, poetic vision and covers a wide range of experiences. Like all of Hesse's novels, it is about the the pursuit of the meaning of life, but here the writing is less self-conscious, simpler in some ways, but deeper in the exploring the range of human experience.

But of all of Hesse's work, it is Narcissus and Goldmund that moved me most deeply and it is the novel (of Hesse's) to which I have returned to most often. I read and reread all of his better known novels and found them all worthwhile. In my college years, Hermann Hesse was one author considered required reading by my peers. My favorite of Hesse's novels, wonderfully read.

Narziss en Goldmund by Hermann Hesse