Book Reviews : STEPPENWOLF

Abstract

Hermann Hesse’s Steppenwolf is an existentialist novel portraying the alienation of modern man through Harry Haller, whose spirit is torn between two poles: the “human” seeking meaning and beauty, and the “wolf” embodying savagery and solitude. The narrative presents two main groups of ideas: (1) philosophies of life’s meaning, including nihilism, existentialism, and absurdism; and (2) Freudian depth psychology, which explores the mind’s darker drives. These concepts align with four branches of philosophy: metaphysics, ethics, aesthetics, and epistemology.

The story’s structure reflects the “opposites” between moral aspiration and moral decay, between animal instinct and human reason, with the “Magic Theater” symbolizing the subconscious and the gateway to self-enlightenment. Steppenwolf is not merely the record of a desperate man, but a mirror of humankind’s struggle with inner conflict. It engages fundamental questions about existence, moral values, and the freedom to choose in a purposeless, irrational world. The text also invites interpretation through Buddhist and Taoist lenses, such as detachment from attachment, awareness of impermanence, and acceptance of opposites in the yin–yang sense.

Ultimately, Steppenwolf is both an account of inner battle and a spiritual journey, calling readers to turn inward in self-exploration while deepening their understanding of the outer world beyond reason.