Essay on Relationship between Art and Life in Death in...

Relationship between Art and Life Explored in Death in Venice The novella Death in Venice by Thomas Mann examines the nature of the relationship between art and life. The progression of the main character, Gustave Von Aschenbach, illustrates the concept of an Apollinian/Dionysian continuum. Apollo is the Greek god of art, thus something Apollinian places an emphasis on form. Dionysus is the Greek god of wine and chaos, hence something Dionysian emphasizes energy and emotion. In The Birth of Tragedy Friedrich Nietzsche suggests that,... the continuous development of art is bound up with the Apollinian and Dionysian duality--just as procreation depends on the duality of the sexes, involving perpetual strife with only periodically†¦show more content†¦It is at risk of being toppled, leaving Gustaves carefully calculated, painfully civilized life in ruins. This event comes to pass during the time he spends in the city of Venice. In the course of Gustaves first day in Venice he notices Tadzio, a beautiful prepubescent boy. Tadzio is introduced into the story as a type of wild child with disgust for the very society in which Gustave has embedded himself This disgust for society, and also a type of exemption from its constraints, is evidenced in Tadzios appearance and actions. While his sisters are dressed with an almost disfiguring austerity...there [is] no trace of the same pedagogic severity in the case of [Tadzio]...No scissors had been put to [his] lovely hair... (25). When faced with a high class Russian family, which symbolizes the restraining customs of society, [Tadzios] brow [darkens],... his frown [is] so heavy that the eyes [seem] to sink in as they [utter] beneath the black and vicious language of hate (31-32). Tadzios freedom and capacity for such intense emotion allow him to represent Dionysus, and thus make him capable of upsetting Gustaves established way of life. Gustaves lackluster existence is disrupted as he becomes sensually attracted to Tadzio. At first he tries to justify his feelings by emphasizing Tadzios aesthetic qualities, such as can be found in Greek statuary, but is soon forced to accept the fact that his feelings run deeper than this.Show MoreRelated Henry James The Wings of the Dove Essay4845 Words   |  20 PagesHenry James The Wings of the Dove This paper will present briefly Henry James and his thoughts about the art of fiction that is presented by his same titled essay before thoroughly analyzing his novel: The Wings of the Dove. James’ ideas on his article The Art of Fiction will be applied to The Wings of the Dove and the narrative style that he uses will be indicated by certain quotations taken from the novel. James had read classics of English, American, French, and German literature andRead MoreEssay on Role of Women in Othello1742 Words   |  7 Pageswife of the protagonist, Desdemona, is the main female character. 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