Posted by len on April 22, 19103 at 16:01:13:
In Reply to: Re: Help me understand Dr. Faustus posted by Joanna on November 03, 19102 at 02:31:12:
: : I am having a difficult time understanding dr. faustus. If someone could briefly describe a summary of themes or something I would appreciate it.
: : Thank you
Unfortunately, I am not an expert on either Thomas Mann or Dr. Faustus, however, I do know a couple of things which may be of use to you. The character of Dr Faustus, as I am sure you know derives from central European myth, and is most exceptionally articulated by the German poet Goethe. As I say, it is an old and familiar theme, philosopher sells his soul to the devil in order to obtain knowledge about the nature of the Universe, and receives only the most illusory wisdom, the most futile, absurd and frankly hopeless kind of knowledge. In some retailings of the myth, his soul is torn to pieces and carried off to the underworld. (See Christopher Marlowe's "Dr. Faustus") and in some he repents and has his soul restored, depending no doubt on the religious predisposition of the author. For Thomas Mann, who seemingly never quite recovered from Nietzsche, the figure of Faust is decidedly attractive. Mann had some peculiar notions regarding the 'demoniac' aspects of the artwork; and the motifs of the Dionysiac and the Apolline which he weaves so deliciously into the narrative of Death in Venice illustrate a similar theme. I believe that Mann was preoccupied by the character as much as the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche, whose antithetical relation to the Enlightenment, has proved so fruitful a subject of debate for thinkers as diverse as Michel Foucault, and Theodor Adorno, who collaborated in certain parts of the writing of Dr. Faustus; he was in exile in California with Thomas Mann during and after the second world war, and he advised Mann on those aspects of musical theory which the latter was not an expert on. Some say that the Mephistopheles or devil character in Faustus is an affectionate and humourous portrait of Adorno.
It has been a long time since I read the novel so my memory isn't quite as lucid as I would like it to be. Thus, I am unable to offer you anything too specific. However, I believe that if you focus your research for a while on the authors I have mentioned, particularly Nietzsche, you should find a great deal of useful information. If you are interested, I could recommend a well written biography of Nietzsche which provides some tremendous insights into the philosophy and the character of Friedrich Nietzsche. His personality might seem irrelevant to you, but of all the authors I have read he strikes me as the most egoistical and at the same time the most gripping. Regarding some of the little devices Mann is found of using in order to point you in the right hermeneutical direction, pay attention to the descriptions of the characters of Aschenbach, in Death in Venice,and Nietzsche the biography I mentioned.
Speaking of which, the title of the biography is
"Nietzsche in Turin" and the author is one Lesley Chamberlain. Good luck. I hope you enjoy it. If you require more detailed references regarding the authors I have mentioned please e-mail me and I will construct an accurate bibliography for you. Len
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