As the son of a well-to-do father, Emil should be a happy child. However, he doesn’t feel that he belongs to his family, for its members are too different from him. It is as if they live in another realm, where the Bible and righteousness rule. Emil feels that he should try to adjust, but soon realizes that all his attempts are vain. When he gets involved in a difficult kind of relationships with a bully, Franz Kromer, who makes the boy do different errands for him and takes away his money, Max Demian, a new boy from his Latin school, helps him. Soon Emil realizes that his new acquaintance is an unusual person.
Under Demian’s influence, Emil starts understanding that the world is more complicated place than his father and teachers believe. When he gets to a boarding school, he suffers from a long period of absolute loneliness. Alfons Beck, one of the most popular boys in the school, introduces him to adult entertainments which include loud parties and alcohol.
Walking alone in a park, he sees a beautiful girl and gives her a name: Beatrice. He doesn’t try to learn any more about her; her mere image helps him to recover. This is the time when he learns about Abraxas, a beginning of a new life for Emil. He is reunited with Max Demian and meets his mother. Soon enough, Frau Eva becomes an ideal for him. When he tries to communicate to her telepathically, Max comes and announces that the war started.
Being injured and lying unconscious, he sees Demian. His friend says that from now, if he wants to talk to him, he should just think about him. Max also gives him a kiss from his mother.
