<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The present paper focuses on the ailments of modern man, whether we consider the physiological aspect, or whether we refer to the metaphorical, ontological dimension, and performs a comparative analysis between the work of M. Blecher and the novel <italic>The Enchanted Mountain</italic> by Thomas Mann. Illness - the overarching theme of the novels - receives numerous valences, from the most noble to the most detestable, but what remains common to these texts advanced for analysis is the existential crisis, the inner void that the characters experience acutely. The universe that both the Romanian and the German author create is permeated by the specter of death, which, without being tragically experienced, rather gives off a strange fascination, and ends up creeping into the thoughts, habits and belongings of the characters, becoming a kind of obsession that convulsively controls everyone, but which they paradoxically ignore, with just as much indifference. On a macro level, the smoldering malaise can be assimilated on the level of all mankind, as if foreshadowing the dire fate of humanity in the upcoming period.</p>
</abstract>

The present paper focuses on the ailments of modern man, whether we consider the physiological aspect, or whether we refer to the metaphorical, ontological dimension, and performs a comparative analysis between the work of M. Blecher and the novel The Enchanted Mountain by Thomas Mann. Illness - the overarching theme of the novels - receives numerous valences, from the most noble to the most detestable, but what remains common to these texts advanced for analysis is the existential crisis, the inner void that the characters experience acutely. The universe that both the Romanian and the German author create is permeated by the specter of death, which, without being tragically experienced, rather gives off a strange fascination, and ends up creeping into the thoughts, habits and belongings of the characters, becoming a kind of obsession that convulsively controls everyone, but which they paradoxically ignore, with just as much indifference. On a macro level, the smoldering malaise can be assimilated on the level of all mankind, as if foreshadowing the dire fate of humanity in the upcoming period.

Reprezentări Ale Maladivului La M. Blecher Și Thomas Mann

Lucian Blaga Yearbook

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Reprezentări Ale Maladivului La M. Blecher Și Thomas Mann"}

The present paper focuses on the ailments of modern man, whether we consider the physiological aspect, or whether we refer to the metaphorical, ontological...

Reprezentări Ale Maladivului La M. Blecher Și Thomas Mann

Published Online: Feb 01, 2023

Page range: 129 - 144

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/clb-2022-0009

Keywords
illness, characters, novel, Blecher, Mann

© 2022 Andreea Piloiu, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Reprezentări Ale Maladivului La M. Blecher Și Thomas Mann

Published Online: Feb 01, 2023

Page range: 129 - 144

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/clb-2022-0009

Keywordsillness, characters, novel, Blecher, Mann

© 2022 Andreea Piloiu, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
illness, characters, novel, Blecher, Mann