Rebecca SC French 602F2576 MA in German Studies - Rhodes ...

Illumination, das Aphrodisiacum des Hirns, nachdem es [ihn] mit Leib und Seel und Geist so gar
verzweifelt verlangte” This, of course, recalls Nietzsche‟s own “conscious attempt to contract
venereal disease as a kind of intellectual aphrodisiac” (Fetzer 1996: page unknown, my
emphasis).
Mann, from his readings of the letters of Hugo Wolf, found further inspiration for his musical
genius. (Mann, Th. 1949: 21, 28) Wolf (1860-1903), an Austrian musician and composer, was
known especially for his intensely expressive Lieder. He experienced several bursts of
extraordinary productivity, which, not entirely unexpectedly, are generally attributed to his
having become infected with syphilis.
Ludwig von Beethoven, another truly gifted and prolific composer and one who features
prominently in Doktor Faustus, was also rumoured to have suffered from syphilis. (Vaget 2006:
366) While this may be somewhat sensationalist, I find it interesting and quite relevant to my
research, since Mann relies so heavily on the legacy and legend of Beethoven and also makes
such clear connections between Leverkühn and other artists suffering from syphilis.
Although intertextually more present in the ideas and theories of music and culture Mann
conveys through the character of Wendell Kretzschmar, Leverkühn‟s music teacher, we find
references to the person of Theodor Adorno, most notably to his teaching style: “the permanent
accompaniment and interruption of the prelude through explanatory comments, captures
„Adorno‟s idiosyncrasy‟.” (Jendreieck in Cobley 2002: 48)
Thomas Mann‟s beloved grandson Fridolin, or Frido, as he was affectionately known, served as
the model for the character of Nepomuk, nicknamed Echo. (De Mendelssohn 1977: 115) This
young nephew of Leverkühn comes to stay with him for a few months, bringing light and joy to
the lives of all he encounters, but contracts meningitis and suffers an intensely painful death –
punishment to Leverkühn, perhaps, for not having heeded the conditions of his pact: love,
“insofern sie wärmt” (Mann, Th. 1948: 385) is forbidden him.
Doktor Faustus: Philosophical intertextuality
Unmistakably recognisable as influenced by Nietzsche are the parallels in opinions expressed by
some of the characters, as well as the narrative approaches and themes of the novel. Beddow
(1994: 8) refers to the theme of “disablement through excessive consciousness” which forms an
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