Max Demian, who is a new student at Sinclair’s private school, is a few years older than Sinclair, but they cross paths when Demian sits in during Sinclair’s lesson on Cain and Abel. On his walk home, Demian approaches Sinclair to discuss the moral of Cain and Abel’s story. To start their conversation, Demian asks Sinclair about the emblem above his family’s front door, which Demian believes to be a sparrow hawk. The traditional lesson of the biblical story is that Cain is an evil sinner whereas Abel, whom Cain murders, represents goodness and pure intentions. Demian offers Sinclair an alternative perspective: He claims that Cain, who is stronger than Abel, “murdered the weaker one” (23). Sinclair questions this interpretation, but Demian leaves before they can finish the conversation. Sinclair spends his time reflecting on this conversation, noting that “this whole topic of Cain and the murder and the mark was the starting point for all [his] efforts at knowledge, all [his] criticism and doubt” (25).

Demian is mysterious at school, and many of the students, including Sinclair, question his religious beliefs and his wide knowledge base. Sinclair observes that Demian acts like an adult rather than a kid. During this time, Kromer continues to blackmail Sinclair, and he asks Sinclair to bring his older sister to their next meet-up.