Narcissus and Goldmund

... is pure philosophsy, to be more precise - spirituality. It delves into the concept of the union of the mind and the heart. It is a story about two different people who represent the two sides of any individual. Narcissus is a thinker who believes in focussing on discovering the truth by reasoning. Goldmund belives in exploring - exploring all that he comes across, feeling it, and learning from that feeling and experience. They both go their own different ways in spite of their bonding and love for each other. But in the end they do unite.

There seems to be a conflict throughout the book about which path is the better one. But in the end it is disclosed that neither can stand alone and neither is the path to truth indepnedently. The 'other' has to be understood for the truth to be discovered. Goldmund after making his last statue, leaves the cloister, to explore more of his feelings, his youth. But he faces rejection from the one he had loved the most. What he relaizes at that time is his 'reasoning'. He had always appreciated everything that the world had to offer but at this point he understands the flimsiness of the world. He is satisfied and accepts death. However, his last words to Narcissus question him on how would he die? Because Narcissus had rejected the world but had not seen and felt its beauty. This door for him had been openend by Goldmund. He had to now know the world completely before he could be satisfied. The last line reaffirms that the two aspects of a being have to unite and that the story was indeed about the Narcissus and the Goldmund of one being.