

Even though the glorification of individualism and seclusion in Demian, especially its tendency to heap indirect praise on the reader, can be overbearing at times, it overall comes across as a very earnest coming-of-age story. Learning to chase one's dream no matter what, seeking answers to one's questions within oneself yet staying in conversation with like-minded people, and seeing through the fate of humanity because that's all we can do are all great messages. It's easy to see why this book would have had such a positive reception in 1917, right around the time people were desperate for answers to the Great War, but it arguably remains relevant to this very day.
Even though the glorification of individualism and seclusion in Demian, especially its tendency to heap indirect praise on the reader, can be overbearing at times, it overall comes across as a very earnest coming-of-age story. Learning to chase one's dream no matter what, seeking answers to one's questions within oneself yet staying in conversation with like-minded people, and seeing through the fate of humanity because that's all we can do are all great messages. It's easy to see why this book would have had such a positive reception in 1917, right around the time people were desperate for answers to the Great War, but it arguably remains relevant to this very day.