Summary: Death In Venice is a book that follows the downfall of a man named Gustav Von Ashenbach who falls in love with a young man named Tadzio and stays in Venice to obsess over the young man’s beauty.
Register: At the beginning of the book you can get a great sense of Gustav’s low self-esteem because of his old age. There was a very ominous feeling to the way he described his life on page 7, “my life was on the decline” (7). Gustav seems to be upset with the restrained life he has led and wishes he could make changes to his past and is yearning for some kind of adventure.
I feel his negative attitude toward himself and his age, and perhaps his “wasted” life, shows when the old man boards the ship he is on. He describes this old man with such detail in a way that it seems his old age is bothersome to him. He states,
“He was old, there was no doubting it: he had wrinkles around his eyes and mouth: the matt crimson of his cheeks was rouge..the neck-scrawny, emaciated; the stuck-on mustache and imperial oh his chin- dyed; the full complement of yellow teeth – a cheap denature and the hands with signet rings on both forefingers, those of an old man” (29).
The fact that he took so much time to observe this old man shows the reader the actual disgust he has for people of old age. The words “scrawny”, “dyed”, “cheap” all portray a negative feeling toward this man and the age he resembles. However, on the other hand when Gustav encounters the young man he displays the complete opposite opinion. He obviously has a more positive outlook towards younger people and definitely shows more of a liking to the young man, Tadzio. He states,
“His face – pale and charmingly reticent, ringed by honey-colored hair, with a straight nose, lovely mouth, and an expression of gravity sweet and divine – recalled Greek statuary of the noblest period” (45).
Gustav is observing this young man in the same ways he previously observed the older man, however, he uses words such as “sweet” and “divine” to describe him instead of “scrawny” and “cheap” which shows a higher respect for younger age. Also, the fact that he compared the young man’s beauty to “Greek statuary of the noblest period” shows the highest respect. Previously in this class we have discussed how beauty is so highly valued and can be looked upon as representing nobility, which also concludes he thinks highly of this young man. I find this interesting because usually respect comes with age and wisdom and you respect your elders – however, in this case it seems he holds a higher respect for the younger man.
Gustav’s infatuation with the younger man could have to do with the fact that he is upset with his old age, as previously stated. Perhaps he is trying to live through the young man because he regrets how he has spent his life and where it is now – or perhaps I interpreted it wrong. I think this could really open the doors for some interesting class discussions.
allysonway 
Posted by barbarajohnston on March 12, 2012 at 8:44 pm
I like how you highlighted Gustav’s impression of the old man on the boat, because I think it’s a very significant moment in the book as well, and your textual evidence is well-placed and very relevant to the topic at hand. Perhaps you could have gone a little further in depth in describing Gustav’s attitudes about youth and aging–for instance, if he praises youth and abhors old age, how does this reflect on his own self-concept as an old man who falls in love with a young boy? Good job, overall! :]
Posted by robers57 on March 13, 2012 at 12:09 pm
You made some great observations on Aschenbach’s perception of age. I particularly liked the way you scanned the passages you quoted to do a very close reading of the text. This really supported your claims, nice work!
Great job on the post!
Posted by paredes5 on March 13, 2012 at 6:30 pm
It is interesting that you choose to use quotes from the onset of the novel to support your claim of Aschenbach’s low self esteem. Personally, I would have chosen quotes from further along in the text, and probably those in which Aschenbach is scrutinizing his reflection. While I think that these quotes would have helped make your case stronger, I also appreciate the different take I now have on the author’s intended purpose of the laughable old man on the ship. With the help of your register, I do see how Aschenbach’s criticism of the old man could also be taken as a criticism of his OWN aging. This is especially visible, if one reads the text as occasionally narrated by Aschenbach (as discussed in class). I can see how, looking back on his life after passing, Aschenbach would choose to criticize this old man for faking youthfulness so heavily after he himself also faked youth and suffered rather dire consequences. It is as if he himself is calling himself pathetic by calling the old man (who he later closely resembles) in this scene pathetic.
I appreciate all the buildup for your questions at the end, and I think your questions are great and would potentially hold some very interesting responses, however I would have liked to see you examine at least one of them in more depth.
Posted by idkandrew on March 19, 2012 at 6:14 pm
I loved your register. I liked how you started the analysis with an interpretation and symbolism of the title. Your textual evidence tied well with your observations.