Razors, pills, pipes… Harry Haller, the protagonist of Steppenwolf, has thought of all sorts of ways to bring about his own end. He's obsessed with suicide, even though he is afraid of doing it. In fact, he's even made a pact with himself that when he turns fifty he'll let himself go ahead and do the deed. Mortality is a negative, self-inflicted idea in Steppenwolf.
Questions About Mortality
- Why is death so attractive to Harry?
- How does Harry's desire for death evolve throughout the novel?
- Is there any way that Harry gets strength from his suicidal nature?
- How do the other characters conceive of mortality?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Harry is a weak figure because he cannot figure out how to live in the world and wants to die.
Harry is strong because he knows that he can always kill himself later, which gives him strength to hang on just a little longer.