Sinclair in Hermann Hesse's Demian

Throughout his development from a boy to a man, Sinclair faces challenges along the way that test his morals and family values. He soon encounters the two different realms of beliefs and ideas- the realms of light and dark.

In his youth, the boundaries set forth by his parents created an innocent child, protected from the dangers of this outside world. This "light" side was "a realm of brilliance, clarity, and cleanliness, gentle conversation, washed hands, clean clothes, and good manners". Such an orderly lifestyle thus created a conscience in Sinclair that was centered around the importance of love, wisdom, and honesty. However, because of his maturation and development into a teenager, Sinclair conscience soon begins to clash a new way of life that encompasses a mixture of intriguing, menacing, and mysterious things.

Sinclair's initial experience with this "dark side" is in his youth when he wants to be seen as a man and therefore lies. Trying to impress Franz Kromer and other boys, Sinclair invents a long tale about robbery he has committed, which later gets him into a difficult and troubling situation. Furthermore, the "dark side" of Sinclair begins to appear when he dreams of him killing his father. Such an ominous idea would never have been thought of in his childhood and proves his loss of innocence.

The two opposing realms are also present in his lifestyle and thoughts in his college years. Sinclair's decisions to attend parties and drink resemble the dark side and eventually lead him into becoming an alcoholic. These dark tendencies begin to disappear once he discovers Beatrice. Although he never talks with her, it is apparent that she brings out the best in him because of the change of his actions and personality. Beatrice is clearly the cause of Sinclair's new interest in painting- a hobby that becomes a critical factor in expressing his emotions. The unique qualities that Sinclair greatly admires about Beatrice attract him towards the "light" side of the wisdom, virtue, and beauty of women.

After reaching adulthood, Sinclair gives into the temptations of a "hooker" and is swayed to the dark side once again. Such a decision proves that he is growing out of his fear of women. This different appearance of a woman is clearly unlike the "light" and beautiful perception of Beatrice that Sinclair has. However, although taking a step towards the "dark" side, Sinclair overcomes his fear that he has with females. As seen with Beatrice, his fear of socializing with women is erased and he is now able to act on his feelings of love and attraction.

As seen through these past steps, one can acknowledge that the struggles that Demian experiences between these two different realms only make him more responsible man and a step closer to individualism. In the conclusion of the novel, Sinclair does not sway to one realm but rather realizes that "Dark" and "Light" belong together and needed to define each other.

1) http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/demian/

2) http://www.answers.com/topic/demian-novel-2

3) www.wikisummaries.org/Demian

4) Demian by Hermann Hesse