The Conflict between Art and Life in the Works of Thomas Mann: A Discussion Based on the Analysis of Tristan

Thomas Mann has repeatedly introduced a series of themes in his fictional works over decades, so much so that they can be considered the main concerns of his intellectual career. One of the most important of these themes is the conflict between art and life or the conflict between the artist's life and the that of ordinary citizens. This article contends that Mann's personal life and social-class origin have been the principal motivation for his sustained attention to this issue. He was born to a bourgeois family which, for generations, had earned a living through trade. That he chose a career in writing, against his family tradition, was probably one of the most essential factors that formed in his mind the recurring idea of contradiction between the artists and ordinary citizens’ life. In this article, art and life in Thomas Mann's works are examined by looking at Tristan. Analysis of this work reveals the conflict between art and life as well as the supremacy of life over art in Thomas Mann's thought. The work also reveals the motivation triggered by the author's personal history in creating the themes. Moreover, Tristan demonstrates some of the technical aspects of Mann's writing.