Point of View

The novel is told entirely in third person. The author delves into the thoughts of both Goldmund and Narcissus, allotting segments of the book to each of them, although the majority of the story concerns Goldmund's adventures outside the cloister. Consequently, Goldman's view of life is the one that is given the most thorough attention in the novel. Nevertheless, the ideas and concerns of Narcissus are a vital counterpoint to those of Goldmund, and Hermann Hesse depicts these thoughts in the chapters at the beginning and end of the story. Another way he shows the difference in perception between his two protagonists is through conversations between them. In those scenes, he often does not go into the thoughts of either character, using instead a dramatic viewpoint that allows them to express themselves through speech. The opinions and emotions of other characters in the book are depicted...