Literature reflects many aspects of human nature. It can be seen as a collection of thoughts of humanity. The intangible is transformed from brainwave patterns to ink patterns. What leads to the writing of literature varies from author to author. In the case of Hermann Hesse it was about his personal life experiences. In the novels Demian and Siddhartha, HermannHesse was influenced by Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, both psychoanalysts. A personal crisis, which forced Hesse to undergo psychoanalysis with Dr. JBLang, led to the writing of Demian in 1919. His fascination with Eastern cultures and his trip to India in 1922 led directly to the creation of the novel Siddhartha. The underlying theme of self-discovery is evident in both novels. Self-discovery involves developing the mind, experiencing life, gaining wisdom, learning about oneself, achieving understanding and acceptance of that, and ultimately discovering one's identity. This theme of self-discovery was important to Hesse because he had experienced similar events in his life. He was born in Germany in 1877 and grew up in a Protestant family with the expectation of following in the footsteps of his ancestors and becoming a missionary. He didn't want to do it, also because he was interested in oriental religions. This personal crisis resulting from the questioning of fundamental beliefs affected Hesse profoundly. In Demian he writes: "There is only one true vocation for everyone: to find the path towards oneself". (Hesse, Demian, 1989, p.120) Through his struggles, he discovered that the road to self-discovery could only be experienced firsthand and could not be put on a sheet of paper. . New York: Funk & Wagnalls, 13/1972. Timpe, Eugene F. "Siddhartha of Hesse and the Bhagavad Gita." Comparative Literature, V.22 No.4, 1970.14. Walter, Soreil. Hermann Hesse The man who searched and found himself. London: Oswald Wolff, 1974.15. Wast, R.W. (ed.). New series by modern German authors. (Vol.2).16. Third edition of Benet's Readers' Encyclopedia. Toronto: Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 17.1987. "Hesse, Hermann." The New Encyclopedia Britannica Micropedia, (Vol. 5), Toronto: Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 1990, p. 899.18. "Nirvana". The World Book Encyclopedia, (Vol.14). Toronto: World Book, Inc., 1987, p.332-333.19. Authors of the twentieth century. New York: The H. W. Wilson Company, 1942.20. The works of Hermann Hesse. Toronto: The Publishing House Ltd., 1980.