Liked (Thomas Mann)

Fallen is the first major story Thomas Mann from the year 1894th

content

At a gentlemen's evening in the painter 's studio, Meysenberg , the “ very young, blonde, idealistic” economist, Laube, raved about the legitimacy of women's emancipation and was particularly outraged that in illegitimate contacts the man was seen as “dashing”, as a “cursed fellow”, while women are seen as “outcasts, ostracized by society”, just as “fallen”. The oldest of the group, 30-year-old Doctor Selten , tells a story:

At 19, 20 years is the - anonymous - "hero" of the story, a "consummate good guy" who "have no wife touched", has come out of his North German home in the southern German university town of P., around there medicine to study. Very soon he falls in love with the actress Irma Weltner , who is generally considered to be virtuous , a "childishly delicate figure" with "pious, funny, gray-blue eyes" and "indescribable hands with delicate blue veins". At first he adores her for a long time from afar, in the evening "from the parquet square in the Goethe Theater", at night in sleepless, longing thoughts.

On the advice of his superior, cynical friend Rölling , he sends her a touching, naive letter along with a bouquet . After he has not received an answer, he finally visits her personally one lilac May morning. Irma Weltner receives the unknown "hero" and treats him with friendliness, although of course "there is always a little theatrical note in her laughter".

As a result, a relaxed relationship develops, Irma allows the protagonist several visits. He takes a "position at her feet", obeys "every whim", it shows "the entire social preponderance of women of twenty years over men of the same age". Nevertheless, "lost the world (about him), and loud pink clouds and Rococo - Cupids which fiddle," he floats "by the week". He expresses his emotions in the kitschy poem “When the evening glow has faded”, but also in numerous exalted letters home. While people in town tear their mouths over the liaison, Rölling scolds his friend as a slipper hero .

After having found Irma "crying" one day, the still nameless hero meets an "old, worthy gentleman with a snow-white mustache" on a surprise visit. At his embarrassed idea, the old man rumbles at him angrily. He does not accept the assertion of the young man's right to be present and describes his opponent as “totally superfluous”, as a “stupid boy”. Irma, embarrassed, stays out of the action, whereupon the protagonist throws the “unhappy old man” out of her apartment.

He finally realizes that it was not a relative of his loved one when he discovers a wad of banknotes on the bedside table ; "Something horrible" then "reaches up into him with bony, gray fingers" and grips him "inside the throat". In the face of her admirer's desperation , Irma struggles to explain that she is at the theater, where everyone is doing it. They have had enough of “the saint”, that is not possible with them, they have to leave that to the rich people. The scent of lilac continues to penetrate from outside .

This not only has Dr. Rarely located throughout the narrative, but also flows out of a vase in Meysenberg's artist studio after its end. Laube does not see himself refuted by history in his apology for emancipation . Seldom sums up: "If a woman falls out of love today, she falls for money tomorrow" and reveals that the previously unknown protagonist was himself - an episode from his "wanted" youth.

interpretation

To the title

The succinct title Fallen is ambiguous. Superficially, it's about the "fall" a woman suffers in illegitimate relationships, be it for love or for money. But also Dr. Rarely has he "fallen" through his bitter youthful experience, namely from the initial sphere of idealism to the level of a more realistic worldview. The unbiased reader can, however, initially interpret the word as a noun, and in fact, Selten has to take a liking to Irma before he can make her a pleasure and fall out of his illusions himself. The reader can experience a similar (disappointment) here as the young, inexperienced Selten.

Character names

The names of the main characters are probably not chosen by chance: the young Selten is at first shy , timid and modest as "seldom" a young man; his more daring friend Rölling must first draw his attention to the fact that he can also adore Irma up close and even achieve practical success with his attentions. The name Laube also suggests a weird escape from the world.

Irma Weltner meanwhile - the first name is derived from the old high German "irmin", which also means " world " - has to do with the world because of her job . But not only does she stand on the boards in the theater that mean the world , she also leads the young man to the realization of what the - social - world of her time is like, and to his bitter conclusion.

Autobiographical

Dr. There are seldom unmistakable features of its author, Thomas Mann . He too had moved from northern Germany ( Lübeck ) to a “southern German university town” ( Munich ), had frequented bohemian circles there, had heard lectures and wrote poetry , but had “never touched a woman”. Selten's shyness is also considered a trait of Thomas Mann's character, especially in his youth, as can also be found in many of his characters, such as Detlev Spinell from Tristan .

Contemporary history

The group of gentlemen in Meysenberg's studio has features of Schwabing bohemianism , which Mann came into contact with in his early years in Munich . In addition to the topics of conversation and food, the detailed equipment of the studio with exotic objects of art from all eras and cultures is also significant.

Heinrich Laube (1806–1884), a liberal writer and fraternity member , is said to have served as a model for the figure of the idealistic young student Laube .

The issue of women's emancipation gained significantly in importance at this time. The grandmother of Thomas Mann's future wife Katia , Hedwig Dohm, was an important champion . Significantly, the conditions that Laube denounced have largely long since disappeared: in large parts of the population, illegitimate relationships are considered nothing to be dishonorable - for none of those involved.

Worldviews

In favor , Mann contrasts two opposing worldviews in an exemplary way: Idealism is represented by the young and little experienced Laube. The slightly older Dr. With a view to the reported key experience , rarely represents a kind of nihilism such as can be found in the works of Arthur Schopenhauer , which were widely read by Mann at the time . A "decision" is not made, of course, both gentlemen are right against the background of their individual life experiences.

Lilac motif

A central motif of the story is the lilac . A lilac bush grows Irma world Listeners house, lilac fragrance is above Selten's visit as a continual theme and accompanied the end even the return of the single narrative to frame action . In general, lilac is a "romantic" plant, a plant for those who are newly in love. Accordingly, Selten's romance with Irma begins in May, when the lilac bushes are in full bloom. On a more abstract level, the plant stands for seldom sometimes a little naive idealism.

Work history

At the end of March 1894, Mann had moved to Munich , in April he had accepted an unpaid volunteer position with a fire insurance company , which he gave up again in August. During this activity, Gefallen was created , his first major work, the conception of which goes back to Mann's high school years in Lübeck . He sometimes wrote it while he was working, secretly at the high desk.

In October, Fallen was published in Die Gesellschaft magazine. The story was a success with the audience and opened the doors to Munich literary circles for the 19-year-old. Praise came in particular from the influential writer Richard Dehmel , who spoke of "soulful prose" and not only encouraged the author to publish a volume of novels, but also asked for contributions to the magazine Pan , which he oversees.

Thomas Mann's first work was later judged more critically - especially in view of the numerous passages standing on the threshold of the trivial . Reference should be made, for example, to the kitschy poem “When the evening glow has faded”. Although it is put in the mouth of the young Selten, it should certainly reflect the level of Thomas Mann's early poetry, which is hardly preserved today. The author shared the criticism, by the way: In the considerations of an unpolitical man , Thomas Mann describes the story as a "fruit that tightens your mouth with immaturity". Not least because of this, it is now regarded as an informative document of the literary development of a world-class writer.

expenditure

• Thomas Mann: All the stories. Volume 1. Fischer-Taschenbuch-Verlag, Frankfurt 1987, ISBN 3-10-348115-2