DEATH IN VENICE

Inspired from an actual event in Thomas Mann's life, the novel like any of his works deals with the themes of conflict of polarities, homoeroticism, conception of art and the artist and psycho-analysis of protagonist. Characterized by excessive usage of symbols and leitmotif, along with intense language and ominous title creates morbid atmosphere and prepare us for tragic event in the novel. Novel involves philosophical examination of the ideas and protagonist, undertaken in a detached ironic tone

SUMMARY:

Gustav von Aschenbach is an aging German writer of fastidious self-discipline who believes that true art is produced only in "defiant despite" of corrupting passions and physical weaknesses.

When Aschenbach has the urge to travel, he makes subsequent trip to Venice which is the first indulgence he has allowed himself in years as he believes that he might find artistic inspiration from a change of scene. Aschenbach allows the weary Venetian atmosphere and gently rocking gondolas to lull him into a defenseless state. At his hotel he notices an extremely beautiful fourteen-year-old Polish boy named Tadzio, who is visiting with his mother, sisters, and governess. Initially, Aschenbach's has only aesthetic interest in the boy and believed that boy will act as source of inspiration for completing his work.

Aschenbach spends days on end watching Tadzio play on the beach, even following his family around the streets of Venice. Cholera cripples the city, and although the authorities try to conceal the danger from the tourists, Aschenbach soon learns the facts about the fatal epidemic. Since, he cannot bear to leave Tadzio so he stays on in Venice. He becomes progressively daring in his obsession of the boy, gradually becoming more and more demeaned, until he finally dies of the cholera, degraded, and a slave to his passions, stripped of his dignity.

THEMES:

At the opening of the novel, Gustav von Aschenbach, while possessing a latent sensuality, exists as a man who has always held his passions in check, never allowing them expression either in his life or in his art. Aschenbach is in a state of such imbalance that could not long remain stable, nor could it produce truly inspired art. However, having kept his passions under such tight control for so long, once Aschenbach begins to let down his guard against them, they rise up in redoubled force and take over his life. Once Aschenbach admits sensual beauty into his life, represented by the boy Tadzio, all of his moral standards break down, and he becomes a slave to beauty, a slave to desire; he becomes degraded. Thus, Aschenbach undergoes a total displacement from one extreme of art to other, from austere form to sensual form, from apollonian nature to Dionysus nature. Thomas Mann believed that both extremes are dangerous which is shown through the character of Aschenbach. When he repressed his desires, he was physically weak and when he gave way to his passions, he died. Mann believed that art that art that is not genuine, deceitful and meant to conceal truth is artificial and will do no good.

Aschenbach love for boy is highly obsessive: he is satisfied by just watching the boy playing, following him through streets of Venice even being aware that boy is not aware of his love. Even the threat of imminent death, he is ready to stay in Venice for the boy.

The story is highly symbolic in nature like Aschenbach’s psychological repression stands as a symbol for bourgeois Europe’s repression, his death symbolizes death of old hierarchy in coming war, cholera infecting Venice symbolizes illness in Aschenbach’s mind, red color represent passion and many other. Venice like Aschenbach stood upright with great effort built on lagoon but is moving back into sea similar to his degradation.

Novel is semiautobiographical – Thomas Mann also ‘suffered’ from homoerotic feelings, fell in love with a Polish boy in Venice in 1905 when he felt similar restlessness as by author.

Thomas Mann didn’t wasted a word, every minute detail is presented beautifully. To fully grasp the meaning and appreciate the work, at least two readings are required.

By:

Vishal Verma

2009CS10224