In my own view, tadzio caught aschenbacht's attention due to the fact that tadzio has every quality aschenbach has been chasing his whole life. Perfection, life, and love all this time aschenbach is renowned as a Perfectionist as reflected in his works, he chases love because his family has been taken from him and now he is also deprived of life due to his sickness, all of these are qualities of tadzio. The moment aschenbach finally touched tadzio, he performed for the last time with Perfection, life, and love in his music yet, Once he achieved it he could never get enough of it therefore through the end of his life he chases it until his death. Aschenbach describes each and everyone of us, we chase so many things just to end up dying as we see it get further out of reach from us, spending our whole life not appreciating what we have.

Very good summary, Juan! But, the deeper question for Mann, in this book, that you haven't discussed, is the question of the springs of artistic creativity. It's a major theme in many of his books and short stories and a minor theme in all the rest. Tonio Kroger is one and another is Fiorenza. Mann identifies himself, his artistic posture, as, above all, an ironist--a master of the ironic. The deeper message of Death in Venice, is the artists struggle to keep a middle ground between Form and Life, between stillness and movement, to hold commerce between tradition and revolution, between what has been and what might be. The struggle for the artist for the ideal Form must always, if it is to have vitality, allow the chaotic, the poetical to have a voice. The quintessential expression of this is found in Aschenbach's statement about the writer's ideal: "Writers are the happiest with an idea which can become all emotion, and an emotion all idea."  And on the next page he opines: "Who can explain the stamp and nature of an artist? Who can understand this deep instinctive welding of discipline and license?" The theme, as I see it, of DinV is the struggle of the artist to maintain a balance between the Formal and the Living, Culture and Chaos, the Traditional and the Revolutionary, the Moral and the Amoral, between the Intellect and the Senses. Tadzio was both at the same time for Aschenbach; he was classical beauty personified (Form) , and the temptation of the sensual (Life). As such, a perfect point of dialog between the two worlds of the artist. Juan, you clearly express the aesthetic of the story, its beauty as literature, but without a recognition of this underlying message the arrow of the story misses its mark. It's meant as a warning or sorts, a reminder that the abyss is there, and living a creative life has everything to do with walking along the edge of the abyss (between the intellect and the senses)--but it is also possible to succumb to its siren song, to lose our life in the abyss of the sensual.

Terrific summary and analysis of Death in Venice. It would be interesting to discuss Visconti’s treatment of the book

Excellent analysis!!!

Thank you so much for this beautiful review. I stumbled upon that book when I was fourteen and it has been one of my favourites since then. It introduced me to Thomas Mann that I’ve always liked more than Hesse although I must admit I’ve also devoured Hesse’s novels as a teen. It’s a shame Death in Venice is mostly perceived through the lens of sexual abuse nowadays when in reality it’s so much more. As you rightly said, everything happens in Aschenbachs mind, and there is no real contact between the adult and the teenager. Classic culture permeates each idea and thought going on in the protagonist’s mind. I simply adore Mann’s meticulous descriptions, and very much enjoy his complex way of writing. Being from a German speaking country, I count myself very lucky to be able to read Mann in the original version, and I can affirm that reading Death in Venice is pure music and joy.

Thankyou; I will be buying a copy of this book and watching the 1971 film version. I was prompted to explore Thomas Mann’s work by it being mentioned in Heart The Lover by Lily King.

Hola Juan! No sé si todavía miras los comentarios es este tu otro canal. Di con el buscando un buen review de este libro que acabo de leer y con el cual quedé fascinada. Ojalá podamos tener otro review en tú canal actual. Es una novela intensa, con una prosa exquisita y un tema muy controversial. Gracias por compartir tus opiniones y conocimientos con nosotros.

Good review I've seen  the movie which is beautiful to look at but I 've been curious about the novel

I finahed reading it in arabic 10 days ago and its fantastic . But you explain to me more thing that i didint look at it .. thank you and i love your explaination

AND a channel update?! Christmas came early boys.

Doctor Faustus by Mann is also a great novel, it's a take on a modernist composer who could be Schonberg who invent a tonal music and is seen as losing his soul, very prophetic novel

It makes so much sense to prioritize so you don't burn out.  Since becoming aware of Booktube, I've sometimes thought in passing that it would be fun to have a channel, and then I think about how much time all that editing must take!  I would have no time left to read, lol!
I also just read Death in Venice this year (I read The Magic Mountain a couple years ago, and Buddenbrooks a few decades ago...), just before reading the new fictionalized biography of Mann by Colm Tóibín, The Magician, which I really enjoyed.  If you haven't read it, I'd recommend.

Just want to say how much joy and appreciation I have when I watch your reviews - you have inspired me to read so many books, from madame bovary to Pedro paramo, and from Faulkner to Wharton. In fact, I read death of Venice when I saw your haul on books by Thomas Mann! Completely understand your decision to cut back on this channel but just wanted to say a massive thank you

Thank you so much for this illuminating explanation of this book.

Thank you for your efforts.

Bravo! Excellent review, but also good for you for recognizing your limits.

Great analysis

I appreciate all the hard work you put into your channel and am glad you are prioritizing your mental health. Can't wait for the next review, have a good day!

😘😘❤

Thanks.  Came across a reference to this book in Alexander Poznansky’s Last Days of Tchaikovsky.  The composer died of cholera and visited Venice.