Chapter Three

Summary

Goes to Pola.
Leaves the island for Venice
Aschenbach and the illicit Gondolier
The Hotel Excelsior and observations of the guests.
The polish family and the ‘entirely beautiful boy’.
Aschenbach to leave Venice
Confusion with the luggage.
Aschenbach stays.

Character

Aschenbach appears more sinister in this chapter. He becomes fixated with Tadzio- a young polish boy. This is obviously very strange, taking into consideration Aschenbach’s sex and age. We are introduced to the character Tadzio. Although there is no exchange of speech between himself and Aschenbach, much of the chapter focuses on pure description of him.

Themes & Motif

Greek mythology becomes more apparent as he likens Tadzio to a god on numerous occasions. Acceptance is also a theme particularly as Aschenbach realises how he feels for Tadzio and there is a ‘calm acceptance’ of this. Contrast is used in this chapter. We see the contrast between Aschenbach and Tadzio, and most clearly in the contrast between Tadzio and his sisters.

Personal Response

I find Aschenbachs’ fixation of the young polish boy quite disturbing, this helped along by the lengthy descriptions in which he describes him with almost female like physicality’s. Something seems to have changed Aschenbach, perhaps the move to the Venetian setting.