Death in Venice Reflective Statement

and restrained cause Aschenbach to have qualities of an apollonian man. Slowly as the novel unfolds, the reader sees these Apollonian traits disappearing, which ultimately causes death for Aschenbach. After taking a stroll one day, Aschenbach realizes that he needs a break and vacation from his controlled life. This realization is the first step to his apollonian traits fading, because it is out of the ordinary for him to want a break.  After Aschenbach decides to leave for Venice, the reader slowly sees his apollonian side die out. He stays at a hotel in Venice and is attracted to a boy, Tadzio, also staying at the hotel. He becomes so captured by this boy’s beauty and sensuality that he eventually abandons his art and places his focus only on Tadzio. Aschenbach abandons his morality and dignity and as this happens, the reader sees his apollonian side completely die. This death parallels to another death, Aschenbach’s actual death. He dies in Venice because as an epidemic of cholera spreads, he refuses to leave Tadzio. When the reader first glances at the title, Death in Venice, they probably think that it only is a physical death. There is the physical death of Aschenbach, but this death is caused by the death of his apollonian side, work ethic, and morals. In contrast, as his apollonian side dies out, his Dionysian side grows. This is the side of uncontrolled behaviors and impulsiveness. Aschenbach’s impulsive decision to remain in Venice due to a young boy shows that his apollonian side has died out and soon his actual death is to come. The two parallel each other because ultimately the death of his apollonian side is the cause of his actual death. He becomes a completely different person full of Dionysian qualities, and dies in the city with no dignity or morality.