Demian is a puzzling figure. He is obviously very important but only in terms of his relationship to Sinclair. Serving in the novel as a Christ-like figure who leads Sinclair in his quest, Demian is also the spokesman for the philosophical influence of Nietzsche upon Hesse. Demian seems, at times, like a real character with supernatural qualities. At other times, he seems more like a figment of Sinclair’s imagination or perhaps his subconscious rather than as a real person. He is probably somewhere in between. He does, however, serve as Sinclair’s daemon, or inner voice, possibly only through his inspiration, which serves to activate the deeper recesses of Sinclair’s mind. The reader should not be discouraged if he finds that Demian defies logical explanation. Hesse intended Demian to be this way.