More on chapter 4

[bearsnotice]

Perhaps Mann is presenting the metamorphosis of Goethe from the unknown but ambitious writer of “The sorrows of Young Werther”, the romance novel that made Lotte unwillingly famous, into a Foustian character as in his play based on the 15th century German novel.

Adele tells Latte, Goethe dominated the room (in her mothers Salon) simply because everybody took the key from him; he tyronnized over the company, not so much because he was a tyrant as because others submitted to him and positively forced him into the role. So then he played the part. He ruled them.” Adele continues “l just observed/realized that our German society actually takes pleasure in bowing down. It likes to spoil its favorites and superiors, and force on them the exaggerated pose of authority until both sides suffer and nobody gets any pleasure from it.”  Page 133.

The laboring poor outside Latte’s window, those who have nothing to give but time to gaze their full.”  (From chapter 5 page 181…Mann sets up many clues and expectations for the coming chapter).

As Goethe’s Foust play was inspired by Johan Georg …written by Goethe entirely in rhyming verse;  some have called it the story of the alienation of man in the modern world..an unsuccessful man who sells his soul to the devil in exchange jor unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasure.

Can we see Mann comparing Possible similarities here with Hitler of his own time?