Narcissus and Goldmund (ISBN 0-312-42167-2) is a novel written by the German author Hermann Hesse and was first published as Narziß und Goldmund in German in 1930. It was the novel directly after Der Steppenwolf, which won Hesse critical acclaim. Narcissus and Goldmund was, at the time of its release, considered Hesse's literary triumph and international success (though now the earlier Siddhartha is more widely read). A novel (from French nouvelle Italian novella, new) is an extended, generally fictional narrative, typically in prose. ... Cosette Dwyer is an amazing author. ... Hermann Hesse (pronounced ) (2 July 1877 – 9 August 1962) was a German-born poet, novelist, and painter. ... Year 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Steppenwolf. ... Siddhartha is an allegorical novel by Hermann Hesse which deals with the spiritual journey of an Indian man called Siddhartha during the time of the Buddha. ...

Synopsis

Narcissus and Goldmund is the story of a young man, Goldmund, who wanders around aimlessly throughout Medieval Germany after leaving a Catholic monastery school in search of what could be described as "the meaning of life", or rather, meaning for his life. Narcissus, a gifted young teacher at the cloister school, quickly makes friends with Goldmund, as they are only a few years apart, and Goldmund is naturally bright. Goldmund looks up to Narcissus, and Narcissus has much fondness for him in return. After straying too far in the fields one day, on an errand gathering herbs, Goldmund comes across a beautiful woman, who kisses him and invites him to make love. This encounter becomes his epiphany, and he then knows he was never meant to be a monk. Goldmund is filled with the desire to experience everything, learn about life and nature in his own hands-on way. With Narcissus’ support, he leaves the monastery and wanders around the countryside, setting the scene for a story that contrasts the artist with the thinker, Dionysian and Apollonian. It spans many years, detailing specific incidents where Goldmund learns important things, and he often muses on these experiences and the ways of life. This page is about the Germanic empire. ... Monastery of St. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... St. ...

Themes

In this novel the influence of Friedrich Nietzsche's theory of the Apollonian versus Dionysian spirit is evident. The polarization of Narcissus's individualist Apollonian character stands in contrast to the passionate and zealous disposition of Goldmund. Hesse, in the spirit of the Nietzsche's The Birth of Tragedy, completes the equation by creating Goldmund as an artist (an Apollonian endeavour), and highlighting the harmonizing relationship of the main characters. Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (October 15, 1844 – August 25, 1900) (IPA: ) was a German philosopher. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The Birth of Tragedy (Die Geburt der Tragödie aus dem Geiste der Musik, 1872) is a 19th Century work of philosophy by Friedrich Nietzsche. ...

Goldmund is presented as completely rounded character as he comes to embody both Apollonian as well as Dionysian elements, thus capturing Nietzsche's conception of the ideal tragedy. Goldmund comes to embody the entire spectrum of the human experience, lusting for the gruesome ecstasy of the Dionysian world yet capturing and representing it through artistic Apollonian creativity. In general usage a tragedy is a play, movie or sometimes a real world event with a sad outcome. ...

Like most of Hesse's works, the main themes of this book seem to be the struggle between man and nature, as well as the union of polar opposites. Goldmund represents art and nature and the “feminine mind”, while Narcissus represents science and logic and God and the “masculine mind”. These "feminine" and "masculine" qualities are drawn, of course, from the Jungian archetypal structure, and is quite reminiscent of some of his earlier works, especially Demian. Throughout the novel, Goldmund increasingly becomes aware of memories of his own mother, which ultimately results in his desire to return to the Urmutter (primordial mother). Michelangelos David is widely considered to be one of the finest artistic portrayals of a man. ... Galunggung in 1982, showing a combination of natural events. ... Carl Gustav Jung Carl Gustav Jung (July 26, 1875 – June 6, 1961) was a Swiss psychiatrist and founder of the neopsychoanalytic school of psychology. ... Archetype is defined as the first original model of which all other similar persons, objects, or concepts are merely derivative, copied, patterned, or emulated. ... Demian: The Story of Emil Sinclairs Youth is a Bildungsroman by Hermann Hesse, first published in 1919, but a prologue was added in 1960. ...