This work explores themes of modernism in literature through the works of James Joyce, Thomas Mann, W.H. Auden, Christopher Isherwood and Jose Louis Borges. This work employs a close, textual analysis of selected texts of prose and poetry by abovementioned modernist writers.
The author discusses "Ulysses" by James Joyce, "Disorder and Early Sorrow" and "Maria and the Magician" by Thomas Mann, "Sally Bowles – The Berlin Stories" by Christopher Isherwood, "Musée des Beaux Arts", "In Memory of W.B Yeats", "September 1, 1939" and "Refugee Blues" by Wystan Hugh Auden and "The Secret Miracle" by Jorge Luis Borges.
Table of Contents
1. James Joyce`s Ulysses
2. Thomas Mann
2.1 Disorder and Early Sorrow
2.2 Mario and the Magician
3. Christopher Isherwood
3.1 Sally Bowles – The Berlin Stories
4. Wystan Hugh Auden
4.1 Musée des Beaux Arts
4.2 In Memory of W.B Yeats
4.3 Refugee Blues
4.4 September 1, 1939
5. Jorge Luis Borges
5.1 The Secret Miracle
Objectives and Topics
This work explores the intersection of modernist literature and the historical turbulence of the early 20th century. The central research question examines how various modernist authors—including Joyce, Mann, Isherwood, Auden, and Borges—captured the socio-political decay, the rise of totalitarian ideologies, and the resulting existential crises of their time.
- The manifestation of stream-of-consciousness and experimental narrative techniques in modernist prose.
- Political and societal critiques hidden within fictional narratives and poetry.
- The impact of economic instability and the rise of fascism on individual artistic expression.
- The role of the author as a witness to and critic of history.
Excerpt from the Book
Mario and the Magician
Mario and the Magician is another Mann’s novella, which symbolically captures a political atmosphere by the end of 1920s Europe and more specifically a rise of toxic ideologies with a particular emphasis on the issue of manipulation with masses. It is also possible to see Mann's story as the allegory about fascist dictator Benito Mussolini and his rise to power in Italy in around 1925 (Bance, 111). The role of the charismatic leader manipulating with masses is embodied by the magician Cipolla, who is depicted as disgusting, immoral, rude and narcissist deceiver, who gradually manages to get on his side more and more people from the audience through performing various tricks dealing with illusions and in particular hypnosis.
"You are free to draw or not to draw. However, if you draw, you will draw the right cards-the more certainly, the more wilfully obstinate your behaviour." One must admit that he could not have chosen his words better, to trouble the waters and confuse the mind. The refractory youth hesitated before drawing. (Mann, Mario and the Magician 16)
As a result of Cipolla's cunning performance, the majority of the audience starts to ooze admiration and respect regarding Cipolla's character and thus he staunchly continuous to push his grand show to the hilt. The last "victim" of Cipolla's happens to be a young waiter Mario, who becomes hypnotised and Cipolla convinces him to be local girl Silvestra - his secret love interest. Henceforth, Mario kisses Cipolla's as if Cipolla would be his beloved one, but once Mario wakes up from the hypnoses, he becomes frightened upon realisation what truly happened and kills Cipolla. Consequently, the fact that the crowd calls the police to apprehend Mario implies that even “the dead Cipolla" still executes a certain amount of symbolic power over the audience.
Summary of Chapters
James Joyce`s Ulysses: This chapter analyzes the stylistic complexity of the final chapters "Ithaca" and "Penelope," focusing on the interplay between scientific detachment and stream-of-consciousness.
Thomas Mann: This section investigates Mann's novellas, highlighting how personal experiences and allegorical narratives reflect the social and economic decline of the Weimar Republic and the rise of fascism.
Christopher Isherwood: This chapter explores how Isherwood’s Berlin stories capture the decadence and mounting political tension of 1930s Germany through the lens of a cabaret dancer.
Wystan Hugh Auden: This analysis examines how Auden’s poetry reflects his evolving disillusionment with European politics and his critique of human indifference to suffering during the outbreak of WWII.
Jorge Luis Borges: This chapter discusses how the story "The Secret Miracle" allegorizes the struggle for artistic legacy and the crisis of the individual writer under the threat of impending death during Nazi purges.
Keywords
Modernism, Ulysses, James Joyce, Thomas Mann, Fascism, Stream of Consciousness, Weimar Republic, Political Allegory, W.H. Auden, Totalitarianism, Existentialism, Literary Criticism, 20th-century Literature, Narrative Techniques, Cultural Decay.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overarching theme of this publication?
The work examines how prominent modernist writers reflected and interpreted the societal, political, and cultural shifts in Europe between the 1920s and the 1940s.
What are the central thematic fields covered in the analysis?
The main themes include political manipulation, the impact of totalitarianism on personal identity, the function of the artist, and the intersection of public history with private, interior lives.
What is the primary research goal of this document?
The primary goal is to demonstrate how literature serves as a critical mirror to the "dishonest decade" of the 1930s and the subsequent descent into global conflict.
Which scientific methods are utilized in the work?
The author employs literary analysis and close reading of canonical modernist texts, supported by contextual historical research and academic references.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The body analyzes works by James Joyce, Thomas Mann, Christopher Isherwood, W.H. Auden, and Jorge Luis Borges, specifically focusing on their treatment of themes like exile, loss, and social manipulation.
Which keywords define this collection?
The key concepts include Modernism, totalitarianism, stream-of-consciousness, political allegory, and artistic legacy.
How does the analysis of "Ithaca" contribute to understanding Joyce’s work?
The analysis shows how the "catechistic" style of the chapter serves both to provide comic relief and to underscore the ultimate failure of purely scientific attempts to define human truth.
What does the figure of Cipolla represent in Mann's "Mario and the Magician"?
Cipolla is analyzed as a symbolic representation of fascist dictators like Mussolini, illustrating the dangerous power of charismatic manipulation over the masses.
Why does Auden link the "drowning man" to the "dreadful martyrdom" in his poetry?
Auden uses these images to critique the collective indifference of society toward the suffering of others, specifically regarding the rise of Nazi atrocities.
How does Borges' "Secret Miracle" address the artist’s fear of death?
The story explores the conflict between a writer’s creative aspirations and the physical reality of impending execution, suggesting that the "finished" masterpiece is an act of spiritual and subjective transcendence.
- Citation du texte
- Dr Martin Mares (Auteur), 2017, Modernism in literature through the works of Christopher Isherwood, James Joyce, Jorge Luis Borges, Thomas Mann and W. H. Auden, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/505146
