Reflections on Hermann Hesse’s masterpiece “The Glass Bead Game”

The First World War (1914-18) has led Europe into a complete chaos, materially and morally. While working hard to rebuild social order after the war, European intellectuals at that time asked what caused all the war’s cruelty. Many people on the continent lost faith in humanity because of what they had witnessed during the war. Some solemnly pondered what humankind should do to prevent similar tragedies from happening again. Some became determined to spend the rest of their lives fighting for freedom and justice, some strove to remind people that we human beings have the moral obligations to create a better world.

Swiss-German writer Hermann Hesse (1877-1962) was one of the greatest novelists of his times who reminded intellectuals that they had a special role in history. In his last major work The Glass Bead Game (German: Das Glasperlenspiel, aka Magister Ludi) published in 1943 during the Second World War, Hesse created a unique world where the Castalian Order, a prestigious society of scholars and intellectuals, dominates the production and discussions of arts, sciences, and philosophies. Members of the order participate in the Glass Bead Game, an intricate game that challenges players’ knowledge in arts, mathematics, sciences, and philosophies. The order regards themselves as superior due to their intellectual prowess, often disconnect themselves from the everyday struggles of ordinary people.

In the novel, Joseph Knecht, a young character recruited to play the game, eventually became the “Magister Ludi”, the Latin word for game master. Knecht recognises the flaw of the order and strives to bridge the gap between the intellectual and ordinary worlds. He realises that intellectuals should not turn a blind eye to issues of the larger human society, and intellectual pursuits should not be chased for their own sake but also for the betterment of society. Knecht finally resigns from the order and becomes the teacher of a boy. They go swimming together and Knecht was never seen again.

In a sense, higher institutions today are still seen as ivory towers and us intellectuals as bead game players. I read Hesse’s masterpiece over forty years ago, but one quote from the novel still comes to my mind when I think of our obligations to society: “As players, we become custodians of the past, creators of the present, and architects of the future.” A few years after the novel was published, Hesse wrote: “All culture and intellectual life has two functions. One is to give certainty and encouragement to the many, to comfort them, to give meaning to their lives. The second is more mysterious and no less important: to enable the few, the great minds of tomorrow and the day after, to mature, to shelter and care for their beginnings, to give them air to breathe.”

When the novel was published in 1943, people didn’t know that they had to suffer two more tormenting years before the Second World War finally ended. As the war was nearing its end, intellectuals began to think about how to rebuild human civilisation destroyed by the two world wars. Hesse’s masterpiece tells us that scholars worldwide shoulder the responsibility to pass on what we have inherited from our mentors, teachers, and other great minds in human history to our students. More importantly, we should not only pass on to the next generation with various kinds of knowledge, but also inspire them to think about the meaning of life and give them a moral compass to guide their future actions.

Dr Bill Yeung Chi-ho from the Department of Science and Environmental Studies told me the other day that when he worked in the UK, he fell in love with the American sitcom The Big Bang Theory for it not only makes him laugh but stimulates him to think about what physics is and what being a physicist really means. Bill said physics is the study of fundamental principles about the physical world and it is the unquenchable curiosity and persistence to reveal these fundamental truths of nature that define one as a physicist. If you want to know more about why he likes watching The Big Bang Theory and stories about great scientists like Galileo Galilei and Peter Higgs, don’t miss his sharing in this issue of FLASS FORWARD.

Dr Deng Wenjing from the same department is a seasoned environmental scientist. In recent years, she has spent most of her research efforts on the study of air-borne endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and their effects on people’s health. Her research has influenced the government’s policy formulation on indoor air quality. Her works help enhance the protection of public health and improve people’s well-being. Apart from her recent research projects, she also shares tips on how to keep a productive research career and the joy of impacting society through research works.

Many of you know that the Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies (SSPS)*, and one of its predecessors the Department of Social Sciences (SSC), have been managing the internship programme for its students since 2012. Over the years, some 1,500 undergraduate students from the department have taken up internships at different companies under the programme. Ms Wallis Kwok Wai-ling, Dr Gordon Chan Yiu-ming, and Dr Lawrence Ho Ka-ki from the programme management team tell us the history, objectives, and success stories of the internship programme in the feature page of the newsletter. Two former interns share what they have learnt from the internships and how the experiences have helped them in their career development.

Our alumni achievements are one of the best testaments of how well we have taught them. Mr Desmond Chan and Ms Olivia To, both graduates of Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Global and Environmental Studies programme, have reached milestones in their careers in sustainability. In May, they came back to give a talk to current students on how to prepare for their future career. They thanked their teachers at SSPS who have not only equipped them with knowledge, but nurtured them with a right attitude to face challenges in life. Because of there are young souls like them who are dedicated to making the world a better place, I remain hopeful about our future.

In April and May, the Department of Cultural and Creative Arts (CCA) organised two spectacular concerts to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the University and showcase the multiple talents of the department. It is a pity that due to organisational restructuring, CCA will leave us to join another faculty at EdUHK. I thank everyone at the department for their contributions to the faculty. While I will miss the joy of music and the beauty of visual arts they bring to FLASS, I wish them wholeheartedly success in the years to come.

 

Shortly after the Second World War ended, Hermann Hesse was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1946 to honour his contributions to the literary circle and intellectual world. In German, Knecht means servant. Was Hesse suggesting that intellectuals are servants rather than masters because their principal role is to use their knowledge to advance society, expose mistakes and leave a positive impact in the world? In the gospel of Matthew (20:28), Jesus said: “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Perhaps, how to be a good servant is something for us to reflect upon now.

Professor Li Wai-keung

Dean of FLASS

Note*: The Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies (SSPS) was formed in July 2023 by merging the former Department of Social Sciences (SSC) and Department of Asian and Policy Studies (APS).