Demian

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains depictions of alcohol misuse.

Hawks symbolize strength, courage, and a deep understanding of the world around them. The image of the sparrow hark above Sinclair’s family home represents Sinclair’s desire to break free of social constraints and form his own identity. The first person to introduce him to the sparrow hawk is Demian, who serves as a major influence in his life. After its introduction, Sinclair begins to look at the hawk as inspiration. The image of the sparrow hawk has been “painted and repainted over many times” (21), which indicates the hawk’s strength and courage have been muted. This reflects Sinclair’s desire to experience new aspects of life and break free from the confinement of the “bright world.” For Sinclair, this will take strength and courage as he attempts to navigate his own bodily and mental changes from childhood to adulthood.

The sparrow hawk takes on different forms throughout the novel beyond the coat of arms above the door, existing in Sinclair’s dreams and his painting. As the novel progresses, the image of the hawk gets clearer as Sinclair develops his identity and sense of self. At the beginning of the novel, he does not even realize the coat of arms exists above the door, nor does he recognize the image at all when Demian points it out.