The literary works of German-language author Hermann Hesse (1877–1962) have not been approached queer-theoretically within academia until now. In Hesse’s debut novel Peter Camenzind (1904), the protagonist Peter grows up in a quiet mountain village. When he is older, Peter leaves the village in order to experience the world. On his journey towards maturity he is acquainted with Boppi, a figure who is mostly characterized by physical disabilities. Initially Peter expresses ableist feelings of repulsion for Boppi, but gradually, he develops feelings of responsibility and affection for the man. Peter and Boppi become close friends and roommates, and Peter, profoundly moved by his disabled companion, cares for him for the remainder of his life. This classic bildungsroman became the first of several novels by Hesse wherein a male homosocial friendship is in the center of the narrative. In this paper a queer reading of Peter Camenzind is offered, focusing on homosocial desire within Peter’s and Boppi’s relationship while simultaneously drawing on Robert McRuer’s and Merri Lisa Johnson’s concept of “Cripstemology”. The paper looks closely at how “thinking from” and “being with and near” disability is expressed in the novel, as well as how expressions of disability are connected to the text’s queerness. With an ambition to emphasize the significance of queer/crip kinship, tropes of vulnerability and responsibility in Peter Camenzind will be examined by adding ethics-philosopher Emmanuel Levinas’ thoughts on responsibility for the Other to the paper’s theoretical framework. Addressing Boppi’s disability within the context of vulnerability, the paper aims to offer suggestions on how to re-formulate conventional understandings of the concept of vulnerability. Because of his disability Boppi can be perceived as a vulnerable figure. He is dependent on Peter as a caretaker but Peter, due to his sense of responsibility, can be seen as equally dependent. Conclusively the paper argues that Boppi’s vulnerability, when viewed within the context of queer companionship, can be interpreted as a facilitator for homosocial intimacy and romance. It is Boppi’s vulnerability that makes the homoromantic relationship of Peter Camenzind possible and in effect, the concept of vulnerability comes to signify affection and union rather than weakness or failure.