Thomas Mann Mario and the magician

The ending of Mario and the Magician - the waiter marion is drawn in from the sidelines - we of course have waited through the whole story to learn what role he will play - and the magician - the avatar of a fascist leader - hypnotized the shy and reluctant Mario and elicits from m or surmises info about the woman he loves from afar and then compels m to kiss him in front of the whole audience. This kiss that m plants on the magician's cheek is the ultimate and unbearable humiliation. Mario returns to his place in the crowd pulls out a pistol and assassinates the magician. A few observations - first this is another hint at Mann's ambiguous sexuality - the homoerotic drive and the unbearable shame of the exposure or public expression of this drive. Second - what to make of the political stance of the whole story? On one level it's a frightening examination of the mechanism of fascism - the mind control the stirring of the crowd the appeal to secret desires and fears the references to local and national pride and xenophobia the emphasis on will and on obedience the character of the beguiling charlatan - but ultimately isn't it also saying that the Germans (and italians) were the victims of a greater force and not responsible for their decisions and actions?

Sent from my iPhone