<p>Hermann Hesse's "Beneath the Wheel" is a thought-provoking and moving coming-of-age tale about academic pressures and an attempt for uniqueness in a conformist society. The novel is set in a strict early twentieth-century German boarding school and follows the lives of Hans Giebenrath, a gifted student who struggles with academic demands and cultural conformity. While attempting to grow intellectually, he is dealing with the emotional and psychological toll that this rigid system exacts.</p><p><br></p><p>Hesse's powerful prose dives into a young man's head, exploring the struggle between personal impulses and society demands. "Beneath the Wheel" is a touching examination of the sacrifices people make in pursuit of achievement and the cost they pay for abandoning their true selves.</p>