Demian

Sinclair’s reflective tone continues to emanate throughout the final chapter of the novel as he focuses on his final moments in Eve’s household. Spending his summer with Demian and Eve, Sinclair is at his most relaxed and feels immense peace in his life. His relationship with Eve serves as the basis for his peace, and he concludes that his “destiny […] wore this lovely, quiet face” (128). By referring to Eve as his destiny, Sinclair utilizes the concept of fate to deem that his existence and journey have turned out the way they were meant to. Overall, Sinclair views this time of his life as “fulfillment” and a “time of happiness” (129). By referring to it as such, Sinclair embodies a sense of completion. However, the impending war contradicts this image and implies that Sinclair’s self-discovery journey is not over.

The visions that Demian and Sinclair both experience in the prior chapter create a foreboding and mysterious tone because of the impending hardships that the characters will face, including the loss of Demian. Sinclair’s claim that he “would be seized with mourning for this happiness” illustrates that change is inevitable (128). However, this change is not realized until Sinclair loses Demian and fulfills his self-discovery journey. Although the novel does not explicitly state what happens to Demian, the end of the novel implies that he has died as a stranger lies where he once did. Demian’s death suggests that Sinclair no longer needs a guide in his life and that his process of individuation is complete. The loss of Demian represents the end of their material friendship, but it also symbolizes the completion of Sinclair’s individuation.

However, before Demian dies, Sinclair must undergo a final experience to fulfill his process of individuation and self-realization. This process includes a final, archetypal rebirth. Sinclair’s vision of Eve with the mark of Cain on her forehead coincides with an enemy attack that catalyzes the completion of his self-discovery journey. Sinclair sees the image in the sky as a “goddess” or mother giving birth to “thousands of shining stars” (134). This image refers to the idea that the world is looking to be reborn, which was discussed in the previous chapter. When the star hits Sinclair on the forehead, where the mark of Cain exists, his rebirth process, or the completion of his individuation process, begins to take its final form as well, emphasizing the theme of The Role of Dreams and Symbols in Understanding the Self.

Unlike the other chapters in the novel, Hesse refers to a specific event in history—the start of World War I—to temporally ground the novel. In the novel, World War I is a time of turmoil and chaos, but Sinclair’s peace continues to radiate within him as a result of the fulfillment of his self-discovery journey. When Demian kisses Sinclair, their souls come together and appear to converge as one, deepening the theme of The Influence of Mentorship and Friendship on Personal Growth. The kiss symbolizes the convergence of Sinclair’s conscious and unconscious selves, marking his complete acceptance of his true nature, including his shadow self. Following the kiss, Sinclair’s assertion that he looks “exactly like Him” suggests that Demian is integrated into Sinclair’s identity, or animus, allowing Sinclair to embody his true self.