Der Steppenwolf Themed Illustrations
I tried to draw some illustrations for the book "Der Steppenwolf." I still remember encountering this book in my favorite bookstore. The title of the book caught my eye, but I didn't look at the content too closely. Half a year later, I stumbled upon a YouTube video introducing it, and the content crazily attracted me. I watched many videos discussing this book, and ultimately, I decided to read it myself!
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I'm usually not a reader, so it took me a long time to read it. Although I already knew some parts of the content from YouTube, I still discovered many new aspects that were even more profound and shocking. Some parts struck a chord in my heart, making me sad; some resonated deeply with me, and in some places, I trembled as I read. Even though the book was full of despair most of the time, when I finished reading, I thought it was truly a therapeutic novel. Hermann Hesse, the author, used a magical journey to slowly integrate fragmented parts into a complete person, and to help the protagonist, who is someone in two worlds, to reintegrate into real life, bridging the gap between black and white.
This book changed some of my extreme thoughts. I began to think that when I hate some people or something, it doesn't mean I'm not allowed to be them. Actually, it's killing parts of me. Maybe I can view things from this perspective. I'm sure I only understood a part of the book, but I've started to reexamine my worldview. I think this is a book that can be reread at different stages of life.
Design characters in novels
Harry Haller and Steppenwolf
Harry is the main character of the novel. He is a man around 50 years old, afflicted with severe physical and mental illnesses. His appearance is neglected and worn-out.
He feels melancholic and has contemplated suicide. His basic attitude is rather pessimistic. Yet, he possesses a mysterious charm in the eyes of others that arouses curiosity.
He is torn between two identities, believing that besides his human self as Harry, there resides a wolf within him. The wolf symbolizes instinct and wildness. While civilized values are significant to Harry Haller, he also feels disdain towards them. The human and wolf aspects of Harry are in constant conflict, tracking and humiliating each other. The wolf lives a life of solitude and lacks interpersonal relationships.
Additionally, he is an intellectual; he feels a connection to early geniuses like Goethe and Mozart. He feels a sense of alienation from his time, sensing an inability to fit into the contemporary era.
Harry's life is profoundly lonely and isolated. He often leaves home at night to get drunk in small taverns, battling for dominance with his inner wolf, lamenting everything until a series of magical events unfold.
Harry is the most multifaceted character throughout the book. He harbors disgust towards the world yet is self-righteous and passionate about certain things. Despite his inner disdain for people, he often wears a mask of hypocrisy upon encountering them in the next moment.
Hermann and Hermine -
In the second part of the novel, the protagonist Harry Haller meets Hermine, and from her smile, he is reminded of his close friend from his student days - Hermann, who bears a striking resemblance to both of them. Even when Hermine dresses in men's clothing, she looks almost identical to Hermann.
In reality, Hermine, the female counterpart of the protagonist, is his mirror image, representing the complete self, leaning towards a more feminine aspect.
Maria and Pablo -
Maria is Hermine's friend and colleague. Harry meets Maria through Hermine. He finds Maria uneducated and superficial, yet he still finds her very attractive. He has a sexual experience with her and eventually falls in love with her. This is a completely new experience for him. He never thought he would fall in love with an uneducated woman.
Maria's relationships with men are unstable; she tolerates them. She enjoys receiving gifts from Harry.
Pablo, on the other hand, is a charming South American and the owner of the "Magic Theater." Harry meets Pablo through Hermine, just like Maria.
He enjoys playing the saxophone. Unlike Harry, Pablo lives in the here and now; he is almost Harry's shadow side. Harry sees Pablo as a temperamental dancer with little education or knowledge. However, Harry and Pablo indulge in drug use together.
Pablo is a significant character in the novel "Steppenwolf," as he exerts a strong guiding and influencing presence on Harry from the outset.
Drawing comic strips of some of the plots
Two consecutive drawings were made, depicting a segment thereof. The segment describes the protagonist's experience after the end of a dance party, being led by a friend into a place called the "Mirror Theater: Sanity Lost to Enter." In the mirrors, Haleral sees himself transformed into a bloodthirsty wilderness wolf. The theater is filled with countless doors and rooms, where Haler splits into numerous versions of himself, ranging from young to old. Each door is inscribed with a cryptic phrase, tempting Haler to enter.
I have illustrated a scene depicting the protagonist, Harry Haller, aimlessly wandering the streets, contemplating whether he is a wolf or a man, feeling unable to find a place for his identity, feeling like he doesn't fit in anywhere. No matter which side he leans towards, he feels like he's only halfway there.
