Thomas Mann’s novella Death in Venice, which was published in 1912, is regarded as one of the most influential works of German literature in the twentieth century. Literary scholars from all over the world have studied the book from different approaches. One strand of literary criticism that flourished over the last decades and gained prominence in the discourse on Death in Venice is the field of masculinity studies. Scholars like Michael Kimmel, Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick and R. W. Connell had a significant influence on the theorization of masculinity studies and its practical application over the last years. Drawing upon their findings, contemporary literary critics like Esther K. Bauer (2015), Karsten Essen (2007) and Daniel Marshall (2015) analyzed Death in Venice and shed light on the novella’s representation and negotiation of masculinity. In their applications of masculinity studies to Thomas Mann's renowned work these scholars either give a general overview on the composition of masculine gender roles in the novella or focus on specific parameters of masculinity, in particular the aspect of homosexuality.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Theoretical Background: Work Ethics and Masculinity Studies
- From the Apollonian to the Dionysian: Gustav von Aschenbach's Work Ethics in Relation to his Masculinity
- With a Clenched Fist and a Stiff Upper Lip: Gustav von Aschenbach and the Protestant Work Ethic
- Letting Loose: Death in the New Life of Leisure
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to explore the representation and negotiation of work ethics and masculinity in Thomas Mann's Death in Venice. It argues that the protagonist, Gustav von Aschenbach, experiences a transformation in his attitude towards work and that this shift is intrinsically linked to his evolving sense of masculinity.
- The relationship between work ethics and masculinity in the novel.
- The influence of the Protestant work ethic on Aschenbach's initial identity.
- The impact of leisure and idleness on Aschenbach's evolving masculinity.
- The role of societal expectations and personal choices in shaping masculinity.
- The connection between work ethics and individual freedom.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The first chapter introduces the topic and provides a theoretical framework for analyzing work ethics and masculinity. It draws on Max Weber's concept of the Protestant work ethic and Michael Kimmel's and R. W. Connell's theories of masculinity. The second chapter examines the representation of work ethics and masculinity in Death in Venice. It focuses on the protagonist's transformation from a disciplined and hard-working individual to a man who embraces leisure and hedonism.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of this work include work ethics, masculinity, Death in Venice, Thomas Mann, Protestant work ethic, hegemonic masculinity, leisure, idleness, and individual freedom.
- Quote paper
- Hans Niehues (Author), 2016, The Representation and Negotiation of Work Ethics and Masculinity in Thomas Mann's "Death in Venice", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/322470
