Thomas Mann, the esteemed German author, is perhaps best known for his masterpiece work, "The Magic Mountain." Born in 1875 in Lübeck, Germany, Mann was raised in a prominent family, with his father being a successful merchant and senator. He showed an early interest in literature and began writing at a young age. Mann's literary career took off with the publication of his debut novel, "Buddenbrooks," in 1901. This family saga was well-received and earned him the recognition of being a rising star in German literature. However, it was "The Magic Mountain," published in 1924, that solidified Mann's place as one of the greatest authors of his time.
However, it was "The Magic Mountain," published in 1924, that solidified Mann's place as one of the greatest authors of his time. "The Magic Mountain" is a complex and multi-layered novel set in a sanatorium in the Swiss Alps. Mann explores themes such as time, illness, and the nature of human existence through the experiences of the main character, Hans Castorp.
By virtue of being a woman, you are already a witch
In Wiccan lore, this time of year is known as Samhain; according to "A Witches’ Bible" by Janet and Stewart Farrar, it’s a time of “psychic eeriness,” when the veil between the living and dead is very thin. It’s supposedly a time when things that aren’t usually meant to be seen nonetheless appear, when we remember that we’re all going to die someday — so we might as well say what we want and feast and party.
In society at large, too, the veil is lifting. We are seeing how things really are, and many people are increasingly unafraid to look injustice in the face and call it what it is, no matter what that makes others think.
In the past year, it’s dawned on many women and gender non-conforming people more explicitly than ever before that we piss people off. We didn’t have to do anything to justify their animosity, just ask for kindness and rights we already had. We have always been suspect for wanting abortions, for seeking asylum, for wanting to protect our land and for needing health care and maternity leave — but increasingly we are outright vilified for it.
And in the process of that vilification, we have learned what witches have always known: even if things seem fine, they’re not. We have always been witches.
I don’t know if the witches we burned (and still burn) were actually casting hexes and draining blood sacrifices under a full moon; for the most part, I don’t think they did any of that. Any text about a witchcraft trial of yore is full of accusations of possession and casting illness but, reading between the lines, those women were often punished for being suspicious — for acting in opposition to how the dominant society thought a woman should act. They were mean; they were un-Christian; they were in some legal entanglement that made life hard for others; they were not white.
They were witches because something about their existence pissed people off.
Though there are those who claim witchiness as a religious identity, in western society "the witch" is more an identity to which people have turned when times are tough, as a symbol of unruly strength. The witch is a woman who lives apart, and knows how to thrive when she is not accepted by society. And in a patriarchal, capitalist society, women are inherently not accepted. For a while there, that was easier for some to ignore. But in the year since Donald Trump was elected, it’s far more obvious to many that the problems facing women in this country didn’t begin when Trump was inaugurated.
Women began tapping into their inner witches before Trump was elected, though; the desire for witchy things, from dark fashion to women forming actual covens, grew with this generation’s mainstream recognition of feminism. A woman who questions authority and refuses to conform was an easy identity to latch onto: As early as 2015, my "Basic Witches" co-author, Jess Zimmerman, declared witchcraft the new misandry, foreseeing a future in which we turn from being angry at men to ignoring them. We haven’t quite gotten there, but that’s the promise that being a witch provides: One day, your life and thoughts won’t be ruled by men.
I don’t remember the moment I realized I was living in a society stacked against me, but I know there was a before and after: Before, a man calling me a bitch for pushing him off me when he shoved his hands down my pants at a bar, the endless questions about why I didn’t change my name when I got married. My existence pissed people off, and I wasn’t even trying.
By virtue of being a woman, you already are a witch. You might as well embrace it.
Women today find themselves thinking about witches, I believe, because witches have nothing to lose. A witch knows people hate her and, even if it does get to her sometimes, she finds a way to live honestly and joyfully in the face of that. At a moment in which we stand to lose abortion access, health care, wildlife preserves, job protections and more, channeling our inner witches is enticing. If we speak out and fight back we risk, what, ostracization? Unpopularity? We were already there.
Being a witch doesn’t require you to put faith in a system or larger structure, which is enticing as all of our structures repeatedly let us down. Instead, a witch need only have faith in herself. She may have a coven or she may work alone, but she allows herself to feel joy and pain and anger and sadness as she fights. She is the avatar of the whole woman, the one not constrained by how we should act or care. She is, in a certain way, our best selves.
Jaya Saxena is a freelance writer and editor whose work has appeared in ELLE.com, The New Yorker, The Daily Dot, and more. She is also the co-author of Basic Witches.
And in the process of that vilification, we have learned what witches have always known: even if things seem fine, they’re not. We have always been witches.
The novel is widely regarded as a symbol of the decline of European civilization in the years leading up to World War I. Mann's writing style is characterized by its depth, intelligence, and attention to detail. He was known for his meticulous research and his ability to create nuanced and lifelike characters. His prose is dense and thought-provoking, often incorporating philosophical and psychological ideas. Mann was a master of symbolism and allegory, using these literary devices to convey deeper meanings in his works. In addition to "The Magic Mountain," Mann wrote many other notable works, including "Death in Venice" and "Joseph and His Brothers." He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1929 for his outstanding contribution to German literature. Throughout his life, Mann was deeply engaged with political and social issues. He was a vocal critic of the rising Nazi regime in Germany and eventually moved to the United States in 1933 to escape persecution. He became a prominent figure in the German exile community and continued to write and speak out against totalitarianism. Thomas Mann's legacy as a writer and intellectual is profound. His works continue to be studied and admired for their literary merit and their exploration of important human themes. Mann's ability to capture the complexities of the human experience and his dedication to using literature as a means of highlighting social and political issues make him a truly remarkable author..
Reviews for "Unveiling the Deep Philosophy within The Magic Mountain Author's Novels"
1. John - 1/5 stars - I really struggled to get through "The Magic Mountain" by Thomas Mann. The author's writing style felt overly complicated and pretentious, making it difficult to connect with the story and characters. The book is filled with lengthy and complex descriptions that often added little to the plot or character development. I found myself constantly re-reading pages in an attempt to understand what was going on. Overall, I was disappointed by this novel and would not recommend it to others.
2. Alice - 2/5 stars - "The Magic Mountain" by Thomas Mann was a tiresome read for me. The author's extensive use of symbolism and philosophical themes made the story feel convoluted and inaccessible. I found myself constantly questioning the purpose and relevance of certain passages, which took away from my enjoyment of the book. Additionally, the characters lacked depth and failed to elicit any real emotional connection from me. While I appreciate the ambitious nature of the novel, I ultimately found it to be an unfulfilling reading experience.
3. David - 2/5 stars - I had high expectations for "The Magic Mountain" by Thomas Mann, but unfortunately, it fell short. The narrative felt slow-paced and dragged on unnecessarily, making it difficult for me to maintain interest. The book's focus on abstract ideas and intellectual musings overshadowed any engagement with the characters or their personal journeys. Furthermore, the reliance on overly academic language and complex theories made the novel feel pretentious and inaccessible. Overall, I found "The Magic Mountain" to be a disappointing and tedious read.