Steppenwolf is a two-parter. You get a preface that tells you that what you're about to read is probably fiction, but then you get the body of the work and it sounds like the narrator is pretty convinced of what he's talking about. Who's right? Is it possible for both of them to be right?
Besides that, there's also a whole deal about all the different lives that people can lead by releasing their mind (and the rest will follow). The protagonist gets to relive many different lost chances in his life, creating several versions of the same reality.
Questions About Versions of Reality
- Do you think that Harry really kills Hermine at the end of the book? Why or why not?
- Is the narrator of the preface right that most of Harry's records are a fiction?
- Which of the magic theater rooms is your favorite? Why?
Chew on This
When Harry kills Hermine he is actually trying to kill himself, since everything that happens in the Magic Theater is in his head anyway.
Harry kills Hermine because he wants to fulfill his promise to her.