The Magic Mountain â€� Reader Q&A

Questions About The Magic Mountain

by Thomas Mann

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Answered Questions (16)

What Is The Most Important Quality Of This Novel Which Make It Such a Epic Literary Work ?

Mark Hebwood I was asking myself this same question the entire time I was reading it. I think this novel is best enjoyed as a reading experience in itself, just asâ€¦m´Ç°ù±ðI was asking myself this same question the entire time I was reading it. I think this novel is best enjoyed as a reading experience in itself, just as a piece of music is enjoyed in itself. I do not believe this novel is about anything, it is certainly not a novel of ideas, as some critics have claimed. Thomas Mann himself advised contemporaries to read it like an orchestral symphony, to follow common themes, and just let the narrative play. And I think if you try this, this actually works - so my answer would be that Mann wrote a piece of literature that can be "listened to", and that's all it needs to be.(less)

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I have the H.T. Lowe-Porter translation (in English). however, when we finally get to the conversation in the "Walpurgis Night" chapter, it is all in French. does anyone know why this is, and could anyone summarize what is said?

Mark Hebwood It's in French in the original German, too. This is a stylistic device - in the 19th century, French was the language of the educated classes, and it â€¦m´Ç°ù±ðIt's in French in the original German, too. This is a stylistic device - in the 19th century, French was the language of the educated classes, and it was entirely normal for other European nationals to converse in that language (compare, for example, the opening scenes in Tolstoi's War and Peace, or certain - shorter - passages in Buddenbrooks). Mme Chauchat is an educated Russian and speaks better French than German, and that is why Hans Castorp conducts his first ever conversation with her in French. But it is more than just form, it is also a stylistic device. If you examine the scene, you'll see that the HC's French contributions become longer and longer, until he delivers an impassioned monologue about his love for Chauchat, and the relationship between love, death, and the human body in general. That monologue is almost a page long, and by that time statements in German, which still shot through the French up till then, were totally crowded out. The idea here is, I think, to emphasise the "otherwordliness" of the scene, HC often makes reference to a dream, a realm in which he loses his inhibitions, and declares his love for Chauchat.(less)

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where I can read it ??

Andras Cser Amazon Kindle now has he Porter translation available for $1.99. No more excuses...ðŸ˜€

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I am on Chapter 2. Consul Tienappel is described as an uncle of Hans' deceased mother. Consul has 2 sons, Peter and James. They should, then, be Hans' mother's cousins. Why, then, is James described as Hans' uncle? What am I missing? Thx.

Virtuella I call my parents' cousins aunt or uncle. This is common Germany.â€¦m´Ç°ù±ðI call my parents' cousins aunt or uncle. This is common Germany.(less)

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When was it first understood how TB is transmitted? Confused as to why there would be visitors, etc, if it was understood in the early 1900s. Did Hans Castorp have TB before his visit, or did he contract it at the sanitorium (or do we not know)?

Jane Trucksis I got the feeling that Hans never had TB, but Behrens is always looking for the slightest reason to get more patients. He finds "moist spots" on his lâ€¦m´Ç°ù±ðI got the feeling that Hans never had TB, but Behrens is always looking for the slightest reason to get more patients. He finds "moist spots" on his lungs, makes him out to be a sick man.....but then at the exam at which Joachim tells Behrens he's leaving, he tells him to go ahead, he's healthy enough, does a cursory exam of Hans and tells him to leave, too. We do not really know, but it seems more like Hans has convinced himself he's sick because he doesn't want to go back to "the lowlands" and work.(less)

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