On Female Inspirators In Hermann Hesse’s Middle Period Of Creation

Hermann Hesse (1877——1962) is a famous German writer of the20th century. He was born in Germany and migrated to Switzerland in1923. Hesse had written a lot in his life, including poetry, prose, novels, comments and so on. His novels are most famous among all the writings. Hesse’s creation was influenced by romanticism, eastern thought and analytical psychology. He devoted his life to the revelation of people as individuals, which was discussed as " nach Innen" in his middle and late period of creation.This thesis is based on four novels——Demian:Die Geschichte von Emil Sinclairs Jugend, Siddhartha, Steppenwolf, Narziss und Goldmund——in Hesse’s middle period of creation and focuses on the female images in these four novels. The intension and meaning of female images has great changes in the four novels compared with Hesse’s other ones. The role of female images to be discussed in this thesis can be summarized as " inspirator". The female images in the four novels are divided into three categories, each of which is discussed with one chapter in order to find out the connotation and different forms of the "inspirator".Chapter one focuses on Kamala, the female image in Siddhartha. Kamala plays a key role in the life of protagonist Siddhartha. Kamala is the instructor of Siddhartha in secular society, teaching him love skills and how to enjoy the secular society. Moreover, Kamala represents "love", which begins with the love between men and women and comes to the love of parents and sublimates to universal love on all living creatures. The continuity and the development of "love" would be incomplete without Kamala. Chapter two discusses Hermina, the female image in Steppenwolf. The protagonist, Harry Haller, divides his individuality into "human nature" and "wolf nature", which reflects Hesse’s own spiritual exploration. Hermina saves Haller when he is on the verge of suicide. Hermina is the Anima of Haller and his another ego, whose communication with Haller enriches the understanding of himself. Hermina is a dancer in reality and teaches Haller how to dance thus makes him change lifestyles and attitudes towards life. Finally Hermina leads Haller to the "immortals" in the magic theatre, who show him how to use humor and laughter to face the real life.Chapter three works on Frau Eva from Demian and Mother Eva from Narziss und Goldmund. Frau Eva, as the dream lover and unknown guide of Sinclair, helps him complete his growth. Protagonist Sinclair first realizes "Evil" in his heart and forms correct understanding of the meaning of "Evil" with the help of Demian, Frau Eva’s son. Then Frau Eva begins to appear constantly in Sinclair’s dreams, leading him to find his inner self. Mother Eva in Narziss und Goldmund is the guide of protagonist Goldmund’s wandering life. Goldmund begins to experience the boundless universe, followed by Mother Eva’s call. Goldmund feels the impermanence of life after tasting love, pain, death, etc. Mother Eva’s face changes constantly during Goldmond’s wandering life, becoming a symbol of the opposite things in life which are inseparable, like pleasure and pain, love and death.In the end the thesis summarizes the general characteristics and meanings of female images in the four novels and point out the limitations of the application of female images. Hesse’s thought of "nach Innen" is a dynamic and continuous process. It is just a periodical exploration for Hesse coming to the help of female images.