Steppenwolf is all about one man trying to sort through his identity. He feels like he's divided into two selves: his animal, wolf side, and his human side. The two selves are at war, see-sawing up and down in his soul and making him act like a total madman. He learns a lesson, though, that his identity is made up of many more than just two souls: the possibilities are endless.
Questions About Identity
- How does the novel challenge the idea of a singular identity?
- What is the relationship between the mirrors in the magic theater and identity?
- Do you think that Harry's identity somehow changes in the novel?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
When Harry breaks the mirror he loses his identity completely.
When Harry breaks the mirror he gains thousands of new identities.