Essay on Death In Venice - 1006 Words

Emma Fisher Brother Williams English 251 Transformation from Apollonian to Dionysian Writers often bring mythology into their writing to give the storyline and characters more depth and complexity. In Death in Venice by Thomas Mann, Mann uses the gods Apollo and Dionysus and the struggle between opposites to demonstrate the ultimate downfall of the novella’s main character, Aschenbach. Often times, a writer creates a character as a representation of the Apollonian character and another separate character representing the Dionysian character of the novel. Thomas Mann chose to have the same character, Aschenbach, demonstrate the extremes of both ends of the spectrum, beginning as overly Apollonian and slowly becoming overly Dionysian which†¦show more content†¦Up until this point, Aschenbach had lived his life as an Apollonian in extremity and laments of the monotony and mundanity of his life thus far. He feels a sense of â€Å"wanderlust, pure and simple, yet it had come upon him like a seizure and grown into a passion† (3). Aschenbach, still hi ghly Apollonian in nature, then corrects himself saying that his wish of spontaneity is not a passion but rather â€Å"no more than a hallucination† (4). He reaches an internal crisis with his celibate, stringent life and seeks respite from the exhaustion of the pressures that come with his particular lifestyle. Aschenbach wishes to find a better balance of pleasure and rationality in his life and makes the first impulsive decision of his life to take a vacation. With this decision, Aschenbach begins his journey to Venice seeking equilibrium between the Apollonian and the Dionysian. When beginning his voyage to Venice he comes across a Dionysian character who is loud and lascivious in nature. Aschenbach is immediately taken aback at his â€Å"grotesquely easy-going† (12) and suggestive antics but later in the novella, becomes this man whom he despises (13). From when he was first introduced, Tadzio is a symbol of artistic beauty of which Aschenbach is deeply intrigued. Aschenbach originally attempts to convince himself that his fixation with the young boy is purely aesthetic admiration, however it is apparentShow MoreRelatedDecadence in Death in Venice1635 Words   |  7 PagesThe premise of decadence was tremendously popular in late 19th century European literature. In addition, the degeneracy of the individual and society at large was represented in numerous contemporary works by Mann. In Death in Venice, the theme of decadence caused by aestheticism appears through Gustav von Achenbach’s eccentric, specifically homoerotic, feelings towards a Polish boy named Tadzio. Although his feelings spring from a sound source, the boy’s aesthetic beauty, Aschenbach becomes decadentRead More Death in Venice Essay: Love for Tadzio or Venice?796 Words   |  4 Pages Aschenbach: In love with Tadzio, or Venice? nbsp; Thomas Manns Death in Venice presents an artist with a fascination for beauty that overpowers all of his senses. Aschenbachs attraction to Tadzio can be viewed as a symbol for his love for the city of Venice. The city, however, is also filled with corruption, and it is this corruptive element that kills him. nbsp; Aschenbach first exhibits his love for Venice when he feels that he must go to one of the gay worlds playgrounds in theRead More Essay on Exploring Death in Death in Venice1498 Words   |  6 PagesExploring Death in Death in Venice      Ã‚  Ã‚   Death in Venice by Thomas Mann, is a story that deals with mortality on many different levels. 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Manns symbolism is not as straight-forward as most authors, however, and the reader is forced to dig deep in order to determine the true meaning of any given passage. This pseudo-hidden symbolism forces the reader to be acutely aware of its presence from pageRead MoreAnalysis Of The Death Of Venice By Thomas Mann1801 Words   |  8 PagesTadzio as an Illuminator In Thomas Mann’s Death In Venice, Tadzio is likened to the sun and thus represents an illuminating force for knowing what is truly good and just and by consequence represents a â€Å"higher truth.† This quest for knowledge on what is good becomes apparent as Aschenbach becomes more and more infatuated with Tadzio, not in a romantic sense, but rather a sense of seeking what he believes is right, a platonic relationship which ultimately sparks Aschenbach’s demise. Aschenbach’sRead More Appeal to Aesthetics in Death in Venice Essay2043 Words   |  9 PagesIn the late 19th century decadence was a tremendously popular theme in European literature. In addition, the degeneracy of the individual and society at large was represented in numerous contemporary works by Mann. In Death in Venice, the theme of decadence caused by aestheticism appears through Gustav von Achenbach’s eccentric, specifically homoerotic, feelings towards a Polish boy named Tadzio. Although his feelings spring from a sound source, the boy’s aesthetic beauty, Aschenbach becomes decadentRead More Essay on Art as a Reflection of Life in Death in Venice1204 Words   |  5 PagesArt as a Reflection of Life in Death in Venice      Ã‚  Death in Venice explores the relationship between an artist, namely Gustave von Aschenbach, and the world in which he lives. Aschenbach, destined to be an artist from a young age, represents art, while his surroundings represent life. As the story unfolds, Aschenbach endeavors on a journey in an attempt to relinquish his position in society as an artist. Aschenbach wants to experience life, as opposed to merely reflecting upon it, as heRead More Gustav von Aschenbachs Death in Venice Essay4018 Words   |  17 PagesGustav von Aschenbachs Death in Venice Prior to his encounter with Tadzio, Gustav von Aschenbach in Death in Venice is not an artist to be creatively inspired by sensuous beauty. Rather, his motivation derives from a desire to be accepted and appreciated by his audience, his whole soul, from the very beginning, [being] bent on fame. [1] Nor does Aschenbach create in moments of ecstasy: being called to the constant tension of his career, not actually born to it (9), he is able to write only