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Title: The search for salvation foiled by the duality in our existence
Review: The author through Goldmund and Narcissus finds duality everywhere: "...either a women or a man, a wanderer or sedentary burgher...", "...either a thinker or an artist...". There seems to be no in between for Herman Hesse: "All existence seemed to be based on duality, contrast." , "...no one could...experience freedom as well as order, combine instinct and mind." This may or may not be the most valid or practical view of life but duality and contrast create tension and that's what you need for a good story. And if you are a gifted writer an appealing tale can be told about two monks struggling to resolve this eternal tension. That is what Hermann Hesse did (and much more that I have failed to mention).
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