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Hans's Reviews > Narcissus and Goldmund
Narcissus and Goldmund
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Hans's review
bookshelves: philosophy, spiritual-development, hermann-hesse, favorites, german-literature
Aug 23, 2008
bookshelves: philosophy, spiritual-development, hermann-hesse, favorites, german-literature
Can I just say that I absolutely love Hermann Hesse. For me his words speak directly to my soul. I have never exclusively followed an author except Hesse. He is absolutely brilliant and his works are so nuanced to the point where they only mean anything to the reader unless they can relate in some profound way. I have now finished all of his major works and I must say "bravo".
All of his books are about the turmoil and duality of the human soul. He speaks my language. My next goal is to learn German so I can read his books again in his native tongue.
Goldmund and Narcissus is about that duality except in the form of two separate characters. One is a thinker the other a feeler, one values rationality and reason and the other values intuition. One lives in the world of abstract ideas and the other in the world of sensuality and the senses. One lives the life of a duty bound priest the other an Artist. Neither is held in higher regard over the other. Both struggle to find the meaning of their nature.
I especially enjoyed the part where Narcissus talks about when someone who is meant to be an artist tries to live the life of a thinker evil ensues. There is danger in trying to force themselves into that false role. He calls the artist-thinker a mystic. Thinkers and artists alike have their place in the world and neither should think they are superior to the other for they are antithesis of each other.
All of his books are about the turmoil and duality of the human soul. He speaks my language. My next goal is to learn German so I can read his books again in his native tongue.
Goldmund and Narcissus is about that duality except in the form of two separate characters. One is a thinker the other a feeler, one values rationality and reason and the other values intuition. One lives in the world of abstract ideas and the other in the world of sensuality and the senses. One lives the life of a duty bound priest the other an Artist. Neither is held in higher regard over the other. Both struggle to find the meaning of their nature.
I especially enjoyed the part where Narcissus talks about when someone who is meant to be an artist tries to live the life of a thinker evil ensues. There is danger in trying to force themselves into that false role. He calls the artist-thinker a mystic. Thinkers and artists alike have their place in the world and neither should think they are superior to the other for they are antithesis of each other.
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Reading Progress
August 23, 2008
– Shelved
Started Reading
July 6, 2009
– Shelved as:
philosophy
July 6, 2009
– Shelved as:
spiritual-development
July 6, 2009
–
Finished Reading
July 6, 2010
– Shelved as:
hermann-hesse
January 24, 2011
– Shelved as:
favorites
April 11, 2011
– Shelved as:
german-literature
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Stephanie
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Nov 23, 2011 10:55AM
Now in gathering place of the cloister, Narcissus and Goldmund meet. Their mutual action toward each other will manifest a certain type of space; for the spacing of friendship comes into being only through the action of human beings. 鈥淎nd then it happened that a new face appeared,鈥� Hesse writes, 鈥渁 new face did not pass unremarked and unremembered鈥� (8; 14). He is immediately associated with the strange, chestnut tree, emblem of uniqueness and fertility. 鈥淚 have never seen a tree like that,鈥� Hesse has Goldmund say, 鈥淲hat a strange, beautiful tree. I wonder what it is called鈥� (8, 13).
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Hesse does have interesting wording. "Friendship is one the structure of human being together that manifests an 鈥榠n between,鈥� a spacing from which human action emerges"
On the off chance you will find this comment, if you still desire to learn his native language and have not yet started to do so, a helpful free tool on iphones and google playstore called memrise helps you learn any language. Completely free (they have a premium version but it is not at all necessary) and is most definitely my favorite language help tool. (rosetta is awesome but its expensive)
Thanks, I'll look it up.
I relate to your comment about Herman Hesse's literature- I feel he is a rare gem that expressed his soul with words, and we feel his soul in the reflection of our own. Hesse's books are put forth into the world without care for individuals who can't reach a place within which they relate, for I feel as if his books are created for the individuals that already understand. I hope your journey with his native language is still on course.
