as two representative parts of one individual. In this approach, when examined under a lens of Jungian theory, they might be said to represent the Jungian concepts of thinking versus feeling functions and sensation versus intuition functions.

Jung maintained that a whole person is the combination of all four functions and that such a person draws upon either thinking or feeling, sensation or intuition as need arises. In Jungian thought, each person has a dominant function that is well developed and also an "inferior," or weaker, function that is less developed and more unconscious. Personality transformation includes development of all four functions so they combine into a "well-rounded" whole approach to situations, relationships and events.

In Narcissus and Goldmund, Narcissus represents the thinking and intuitive functions while Goldmund represents the feeling and sensation functions. They start as separate but content identities, they find paradoxical disruptive attraction and discomfort from their uneasy friendship, they separate, then come together in the end as "friends again" who contradict and complete each other.

"It is not our aim to merge into one another, but to understand one another, to see and appreciate the other as he is: the other's contradiction and complement."

During their separation, Goldmund goes on an archetypal initiates' quest, with Narcissus filling the role of Mentor in the Mentor-Pupil relationship archetype (Narcissus may be seen as playing a dual role as both Mentor and Guardian since it is he who directs Goldmund to seek his childhood and his mother: "You forgot your childhood, it seeks for you..."). In another paradox, while Narcissus and Goldmund are interpreted as two sides of the same individual, Abbot Daniel fills the role of Mentor to both Narcissus and Goldmund, who are both representationally cast as Pupil.

  ...[T]here would always be one or another who was special, whom all loved or feared, who seemed to be chosen, .....
    Even now the cloister of Mariabronn had in its midst two persons who were out of the ordinary, one old and one young ... Abbot Daniel and Brother Narcissus [...]
    [Narcissus] soon sensed a kindred soul in Goldmund, in spite of their apparent contrasts ... [he] dark and spare ... [an] analytical thinker ... [Goldmund] a blond, radiant youth ... a dreamer ... the soul of a child ... something they had in common bridged these contrasts.

Friedrich Nietzsche based his philosophies around the concept of nihilism because he saw that the modern world was becoming a nihilistic society. Nihilism is the worldview that all values are groundless, and "nothing can be known or communicated" (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (IEP), "Nihilism"). Scholars disagree in interpreting Nietzsche as a nihilist himself or as a philosopher who was trying to prevent the rise in nihilism by reconsidering the "nature of human existence, knowledge, and morality" (IEP, "Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 - 1900)"). However, scholars agree that Nietzsche posited a plan for "'becoming what one is'" through perfecting one's instincts and reasoning abilities. Nietzsche further posited the plan would necessitate a continual battle between our psychological makeup and our intellect. Scholars have interpreted Nietzsche as arguing a type psychological egoism for, being inspired by the French Moralists, he argued that "all human actions are motivated by the desire 'to increase the feeling of power'(From The Gay Science, Book First, Sect. 13, as cited in IEP). Psychological egoism is a theory that essentially posits we are all motivated by self-interests. Hence, Nietzsche argues that we are always in a conflict between our reason and our sell-motivated, instinctual interest to increase in power. Therefore, to interpret one of the characters in Hermann Hesse's Narcissus and Goldmund through Nietzschean criticism, we would be looking at how a character displays a loss of values, a desire to act upon instinct, a desire to feel powerful, and is motivated purely by self-interests. Goldmund is certainly one character who demonstrates all of the above characteristics.

Goldmund can be described as being characterized by Hesse as one who favors indulging in the senses. He first indulges at the beginning of the novel to sneak away from the monastery to flirt with girls and kisses one. Later he has his first sexual experience with a gypsy while out picking wildflowers. Though she returns to her husband after their brief affair, the instance insights him to leave the monastery in pursuit of worldly pleasures. During his pursuits, he involves himself in many adulterous affairs and even murders both a thief and a rapist. Though he engages in adultery and murder, actions that contradict the values he was taught at the monastery, he feels no sense of personal guilt. Goldmund's lack of personal guilt shows us that, as Nietzsche argued, Goldmund is embracing nihilism by developing the belief all values are groundless and meaningless.

Yet, his pursuits of sensual pleasure ultimately do not leave him feeling happy and satisfied with his life. He particularly feels depressed by the end of the novel when he realizes he no longer has the youth and beauty necessary to attract women. Because he can no longer satisfy his desires for sensual pleasures, he suffers and seeks solace in the thought of death. Goldmund's dissatisfaction with his life reflects his failure to fulfill Nietzsche's plan to become one's true self by perfecting one's instincts and reasoning abilities. Since Goldmund gave way to all of his instincts, he failed to use his rational mind to perfect his instincts. Hence, his self-motivated instincts lost in the battle with his reason, leaving him ultimately unfilled and unable to become his true self.