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Paradox
Definition of Personification
Personification is a type of figurative language in which non-human things are described as having human attributes, as in the sentence, "The rain poured down on the wedding guests, indifferent... read full definition
Personification is a type of figurative language in which non-human things are described as having human attributes, as in the sentence, "The rain poured down... read full definition
Personification is a type of figurative language in which non-human things are described as having human attributes, as in the... read full definition
Key Examples in The Magic Mountain
Part 4, Chapter 10: The Thermometer
Explanation and Analysis—Apollo Belvedere:
Hans employs an allusion and personification in a scene in which he accompanies Joachim to his medical exam, administered by Director Behrens and Doctor Krokowski. After Joachim undresses, Hans reflects upon his cousin’s bare body:
He always was concerned about his body, much more than I, or at least in a different way than I, because I was always the civilian, and more interested in a nice warm bath [...] And now his body has stepped to the fore, but in a totally different way, declaring its independence and putting on airs—by means of illness. He’s lambent, still toxic, and doesn’t seem to get any sturdier, no matter how much he wants to be a soldier in the flatlands. Look at him, a perfect adult male, an absolute Apollo Belvedere, to a T. But inside, Joachim is ill [...]
Related Themes:
Part 5, Chapter 7: Research
Explanation and Analysis—Life:
Mann employs extensive personification in a passage in which Hans, after reading a series of books about biology and anatomy, imagines that his own "life" has taken the form of a “voluptuous” woman.
Unlock with LitCharts A+He beheld the image of life, its voluptuous limbs, its flesh-borne beauty. She had loosened her hands from the back of her neck, and her arms—she spread them wide now, revealing the inner surface, especially the tender skin at the elbow with its blood vessels, two large bluish branching veins—her arms were of inexpressible sweetness. She bent toward him, bent down to him, over him, he sensed her organic aroma, sensed the lacelike pounding of her heart. He felt an embrace, hot and tender, around his neck [...] He felt the moist suckle of her kiss on his lips.
Related Themes:
Part 6, Chapter 8: A Good Soldier
Explanation and Analysis—Death:
Director Behrens, hoping to sooth Luise as the death of her son grows closer, invokes a common notion of death as a personified, male figure:
Unlock with LitCharts A+If at the very end he is unable to sleep, his passing will nevertheless be swift, imperceptible—it won’t even matter much to him, you can be sure of that. It’s always that way, really. I know death, I’m one of his old employees. He’s overrated, believe me. I can assure you there’s almost nothing to him. The drudgeries that do on occasion precede death can hardly be credited to him, since they just prove that someone is alive and kicking [...] But if anyone ever did come back, they could not tell you much about death, since we don’t actually meet him.
Related Themes:
