One of the most important figures of early 20th-century literature, Thomas Mann (1875-1955) is famous both for his fiction and for his critical essays. Mann’s fiction is characterized by subtle philosophical examination of the ideas and characters presented, undertaken in a detached, often ironic narrative voice; his stories often end tragically. The theme of the conflict between art and life appears throughout Mann’s work, his later works take on social, political, biblical, and even legendary themes. Death in Venice is not only representative of some of the issues treated in Mann’s personal body of work; it also reflects many of the most vital ideas discussed in literature during the time of its composition. Literature of the era also focused to a large extent on issues of homo-eroticism: like Death in Venice, uses a fictional character to serve as a mask for its own homosexual author.
Apart from the larger themes at work in the novel, Death in Venice was largely inspired by actual events in the life of its author. Mann had been on an island near Venice in 1905 during a cholera outbreak, and he later traveled to the city in May 1911, because, like his character Gustav von Aschenbach, he was exhausted by a difficult stage in his writing and felt the need for escape. On May 18 of 1911, Mann read the obituary for composer Gustav Mahler, who had died at the age of fifty; Mann based Aschenbach’s facial features on Mahler’s. Like Aschenbach, Mann was also homosexual: Although he was married and had six children, his wife is reported to have said that she married simply to have a family, and the publication of Mann’s diaries in recent years have illuminated his many homosexual relationships. Moreover, in 1965, it came to light that the story owed even more to fact than previously suspected: A Polish baron named Wladyslaw Moes identified himself as the boy whom Mann fictionalized as Tadzio. Upon reading the Polish translation of the book in 1923, Moes recognized himself in the portrayal of the boy: Moes’ family had gone to Venice for the sake of his health, and he must have appeared quite sickly; like Tadzio, Moes had slept late and engaged in carefully monitored exercise; Moes’ striped linen suit, red tie, and blue jacket with gold buttons are faithfully rendered in the novella; Moes had played with a rowdy boy nicknamed “Jasio,” echoing Mann’s Jashu. Moes even remembers seeing an older man staring at him raptly in the hotel elevator. Moes waited to publicize his story until after Mann’s death.
A famous elderly writer named Gustav Von Aschenbach (right) and a fourteen-year-old beautiful boy named Tadzio (left)
The novel was all about a famous elderly writer named Gustav von Aschenbach who had a great admiration to a 14-year-old beautiful boy named Tadzio that he met on Lido hotel in Venice, the same hotel where he checked in. Suddenly, he feels the heat and thick air in Venice so he plans to leave but he regrets parting from Tadzio so he stayed in the hotel. Aschenbach savors his time on the beach, where he can see Tadzio playing. Until he decided to introduce himself to Tadzio, the boy smiled at him which he allows himself to think, “I love you.” One day, Aschenbach notices the number of tourists is decreasing at a time when it usually increases and he hears rumors of a disease (cholera) spreading in the area. Instead of leaving, Aschenbach stayed in the hotel and becomes more obsessed with Tadzio. In fact, he begins to secretly follow Tadzio and his family through the streets of Venice, he also starts to wear makeup to hide his age and to make him more attractive to the boy and he doesn’t care anymore how his behavior appears to others. One day he loses track of Tadzio in Venice and becomes frantic and exhausted. He found out that the boy and his family leave the hotel by that time. Sitting on the beach, Aschenbach watches Tadzio playing and smiling at him. As Aschenbach imagines following the boy, he slumps in his chair. The famous elderly writer is carried to his room, and later his death is announced.
As a reader, I must say that this novel is very entertaining because of how the author tells the story, it makes me feel like I am in the story or I am part of the story and because of that I can’t help myself but to enjoy reading. Also, the story is quite awakening at the same time because it tackles several issues during those times which can also be seen up to the present like the issue about beauty, obsession, homosexuality and so much more that can surely inform, educate and raise awareness to the readers.
Honestly, the story line really hooked me up because I can never tell what will happen next and so I keep on diving to the story because every single detail in the plot really excites me.
In addition, in terms of the characters in the story, I can say that they are very much effective. Although everything that happened between Aschenbach and Tadzio seems so sad and tragic, I think that the readers can still learn so much things from them especially from Aschenbach who was a popular writer in his time who invested a lot of admiration, obsession and love to Tadzio which causes his sudden death. Reading the story made me realized how dangerous and toxic love is if not properly manage. Furthermore, the story is such a great reminder to people to have a sense of contentment and be happy for what you have because in the story, Aschenbach became obsessed with the beauty and innocence of Tadzio that leads him to his own downfall.
In conclusion, all I can say is this novel must be read by all. Surely, it will give you entertainment and awareness about the issues which have been observed before that can also be seen up to these days. If I were to rate this novel, I will give 10/10 because honestly speaking, it was really beyond excellent! I really had so much fun and I have learned from it. In fact, I really love it!
Reine Vincentius 