Beneath the Wheel

Interesting Facts

• The book tells the story of a talented teenager, Hans Giebenrath, who cannot withstand the pressure of the educational system and society.
• The work is a critique of the educational system that suppresses individuality and the creative potential of students.
• The main character, Hans, enters an elite seminary but fails to meet expectations and eventually returns to his hometown.
• Hermann Hesse drew on his own experiences in a monastic school to create the character of Hans and describe his experiences.
• The book touches on themes of loneliness, internal conflict, and the search for life's meaning, which are characteristic of many of Hesse's works.