Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
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Research Article

The Feminist Criticism and Value of the Female Figure Hermina in Der Steppenwolf

Qiangyi ZhuSchool of Foreign Languages, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

After the World War II, the novel Der Steppenwolf makes Hermann Hesse’s works go viral. Der Steppenwolf has a profound influence around the world. Till now, the research related to Hesse’s works is quite fruitful. However, there’s still inadequacy when discussing about female images in Hesse’s works. This paper is mainly based on a feminist interpretation of Jungian Psychology. Through textual analysis, this paper makes feminist criticism toward the female character Hermina of the book Der Steppenwolf. This paper at the same time, discusses the feminist value of Hermina, thus to have a more vivid interpretation of the figure Hermina. The female character Hermina presents female’s being confined under the masculine discourse, and its position as the other in Der Steppenwolf. On the other side, the character Hermina also realizes the breakthrough against the opposition between traditional binary gender, and shows the complexity of gender.

Keywords: Der Steppenwolf; Hermina; feminism; Hesse
Published: May 17, 2023
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/3/20220465
Volume: CHR Vol.3
pp. 485-490
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