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1-Page Summary of Steppenwolf
Ein merkwürdiger Mieter
An anonymous narrator describes his encounter with a 48-year old stranger who calls himself “the Steppenwolf” and lived in the attic of a house belonging to the landlord’s aunt for ten months. The narrator, an ordinary man, describes the tenant named Harry Haller as fascinating oddball, highly intelligent but reclusive and lonely scholar. One day he disappears without notice leaving behind something that looks like a diary or journal. The editor publishes it because he feels that it sheds light on Harry’s personality and provides greater detail than what was recorded by others about him. In his eyes, Harry is broken down man whose mental illness prevents him from finding acceptance in mainstream society due to too much intelligence and giftedness for such an environment. He considers Haller to be one of those people born during the interwar generation (1918–1939) who exist between two eras; they are not happy either with their past or future generations—a “lost generation”—which leads them into neurotic lives filled with inner conflicts resulting from being unable to reconcile opposite tendencies within themselves: love/hate; passion/prudence; dreaminess/stoicism; etcetera.
Harry Haller has only one visitor at times—an attractive young woman whom he eventually loses after she storms out of his place while shouting at him angrily for some unknown reason. On another occasion when someone knocks on his door, no one answers so we can assume that this person has left just like most other visitors did before her arrival except for perhaps those rare ones who were able to get along well enough with Harry to stay longer than expected as if they had found something worthwhile in each other despite all odds against them which makes us wonder whether there could have been more between them instead of nothing because both characters couldn’t find anything better elsewhere or maybe they didn’t even try anymore because why bother?… And then he leaves without saying goodbye…and we’re left wondering where did our protagonist go? Where will he end up next time? What will become of him now? Will anyone ever hear from him again? Is this really how life works sometimes?!
Harry Hallers Aufzeichnungen
Harry Haller’s writings are called “Only for the Mad”. They describe his personal tragedy: the loss of his reputation, wealth, and his wife, who kicked him out of their house after he went insane. Since then, he has lived a secluded life in which he is on a spiritual quest. He believes that this lifestyle will help him get better. However, as time goes by and Harry becomes more isolated from society and begins to think about its meaning and purpose in life (as well as his own), his thoughts become darker and more depressing. He loses sight of what makes life worth living. In fact, it seems like an unbearable existence to live in a small attic apartment with no real friends or family around him—he thinks they’re all dull people anyway! As someone who was raised with bourgeois values but possesses artistic sensibilities himself, Harry feels alienated from both worlds; one because it’s too traditional/conservative while the other is too conformist/uncreative for him. His only comfort comes from reading books by great poets —they seem to understand what he’s going through. But at night, when all alone, Harry drowns his sorrows in alcohol at local bars.
One night, Harry believes he sees an entrance on a wall. Above the entrance is a sign that flickers and says: “Magical Theater – Admission Not For Everyone – Only for the Mad!” However, in the next moment, this message disappears. Confused by his own perception of things, Harry continues walking and meets a fairground salesman who throws him a cheap booklet with the words: “Tractatus about Steppenwolf. Only for the Mad.”
