On The Theme Of "Disease And Death" In Thomas Mann's Novels

Thomas Mann(1875-1955),a well-known German writer and Nobel Prize winner in literature,was known as one of the most famous writers of the 20 th century.If you want to count the writers who have had a huge impact on the history of German literature,Goethe is number one,and Thomas Mann is second.Thomas Mann was influenced by a variety of ideas throughout his life.His philosophical and political views had also undergone drastic changes;however,what had remained constant throughout this period was his reflection on the national identity of Germany and the reflection on the fate of the German nation.The Magic Mountain was first published in 1924,and after more than two decades later,a book was declared “the repentance of the whole life" by Thomas Mann was also published,that's Doctor Faustus:The Life of the German Composer Adrian Leverkuhn As Told by a Friend.During these two decades,Thomas Mann went from Germany to the United States,as well as escaped from the influence of Nietzsche,Wagner,and Schopenhauer.At the meantime,his thought changed from "sympathy for death" to "embrace life." The characters in his writings always have many similarities,and there are always those themes throughout his works: meditation about illness,death and life.Hans Castorp in The Magic Mountain and Adrian Leverkuhn in Doctor Faustus are two similar and inconsistent figures.Their resemblance lies in the "love" of disease and death,as well as the artistic and philosophical views that are deeply influenced by German Romanticism.So both of these roles are individuals that are separated from the surrounding environment and they have similar physical and mental illnesses.The first half of the article lists the "diseases" of the two,and focuses on the analysis of the meaning behind those diseases.At the same time,from the perspective of two different groups-the perspective of the “human” group in the works and the perspective of the group of artists,this article analyze the meaning of "disease" and come to the conclusion that "disease is a disease" or "disease is a medicine".The second half of the article puts forward a proposition set by the writer Thomas Mann,that is from "sympathy for death" to "towards life." In The Magic Mountain,this proposition was only presented and discussed.Hans Castorp didn't put it into practice.Its declaration of "noble people" was also pale,fully embodying the writer's thoughts of “pursing the death joyfully,but looking back on life awkwardly.” In Doctor Faustus,Adrian completed this proposition,but he sacrificed his life and soul in the way of a theological gambling and martyrdom.But its far-reaching significance lies in that Adrian completed this proposition and pointed out the possibility of finding "good" from "evil";while pointing out the possibility of embarking on the path to light;for Thomas Mann,it's also his reflection on the tragic destiny of Germany,and the hopeful future he pointed out for the “despised”German.