Doctor Faustus Thomas Mann Summary

The novel doctor faustus was created by thomas mann in difficult times.

Doctor faustus thomas mann summary. Doctor faustus doctor faustus a well respected german scholar grows dissatisfied with the limits of traditional forms of knowledge logic medicine law and religion and decides that he wants to learn to practice magic. These notes were contributed by members of the gradesaver community. Knopf doctor faustus is a german novel written by thomas mann begun in 1943 and published in 1947 as doktor faustus. Mann s protagonist the composer adrian leverkühn is the flower of german culture a brilliant isolated overreaching figure his radical new music a breakneck.

The first pages of the work were written in 1943 when the truth about the collapse of a new national idea degenerated into fascism became apparent to everyone even germans. First english edition cover. Woods is a modern reworking of the faust legend in which germany sells its soul to the devil. Thomas mann s last great novel first published in 1947 and now rendered into english by acclaimed translator john e.

While in high school he studies piano and attends lectures by the musicologist wendell kretzschmar. Published in 1947 the novel was an artistic denial of the anti human ideal that germany set for itself in the 1930s and 1940s. The story is thought to have its earliest roots in the new testament story of the magician simon magus acts 8 9 24. Woods translator 4 08 rating details 9 821 ratings 543 reviews.

Das leben des deutschen tonsetzers adrian leverkühn erzählt von einem freunde doctor faustus. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. Other references to witchcraft and magic in the bible have always caused people to look upon the practice of magic as inviting eternal damnation for the soul. Doctor faustus thomas mann summary.

Friday 28 august 2009 00 00 thomas mann s doktor faustus is a work of exile written in the us 1943 1947 a bold and sometimes terrifying retelling of the faust legend through the life of a. The faust legend had its inception during the medieval period in europe and has since become one of the world s most famous and oft handled myths. The life of the german composer adrian leverkühn is told by his friend a doctor of philosophy serenus zeitblom. In the play the successful doctor faustus becomes dissatisfied with his studies of medicine law and religion and makes a pact with the devil he sells his soul in exchange for 24 years of absolute power.

Of course faustus immediately begins to regret his decision but lucifer keeps him occupied with magic and various cheap tricks. Leverkühn is born in 1885 near the fictional town of kaisersaschern germany. The story centers on the life and career of adrian leverkühn a preternaturally gifted man who is born into the germany of the second reich in the generation following the franco prussian war.