Being and Meaning in Thomas Mann’s Joseph Novels

Charlotte Nolte

Being and Meaning in Thomas Mann’s Joseph Novels

Charlotte Nolte

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Thomas Mann (1875-1955), German novelist

2 other titles

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MHRA Texts and Dissertations 44

Bithell Series of Dissertations 22

W. S. Maney & Son Ltd for the Modern Humanities Research Association and the Institute of Germanic Studies

1 January 1996

ISBN: 978-1-839546-82-2 (Hosted on this website)

Open Access with doi: 10.59860/td.b7bbcca

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The premise of this book is that the theme of being and meaning in Thomas Mann’s novel tetralogy Joseph und seine Brüder unites the novel’s stylistic and thematic structure. The author demonstrates persuasively how these leading ideas are worked out in detail, pervading plot-structure, symbolism, characterization and narration. Through a subtle series of analyses - of the concepts of time and identity underlying the novel, its image-patterns, the changing psychology of its characters, above all Joseph’s process of individuation and the narrator’s changing behaviour - patterns of overlap and discrepancy between being and meaning are brought out in such a way as to unite many parts of the novel into an overall coherent structure of meaning. The analysis makes use of Jungian theory to explain the mythical dimension and the emergence of consciousness from it. Jungian concepts are applied deftly and offer real insights into the early psychology of myth and its late psychologizing by mythologists, as presented in the novels. There is much fresh thinking here to stimulate a fuller understanding and enjoyment of Mann’s representing of the biblical Joseph story.

This book, originally published in paperback in 1996 under the ISBN 978-0-901286-63-5, was made Open Access in 2025 as part of the MHRA Revivals programme.

Contents:

i-xvii, 1-171	Being and Meaning in Thomas Mann's 'Joseph' Novels Charlotte Nolte Complete volume as single PDF The complete text of this book.	Read

i-vii	Being and Meaning in Thomas Mann's 'Joseph' Novels - Front Matter Charlotte Nolte doi:10.59860/td.c8c8a01 Front cover, Contents, Preface, and Bibliographical Notes.	Read Cite
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1-29	Introduction Charlotte Nolte doi:10.59860/td.c04e7be A Critical Assessment - Myth and Enlightenment; Aspects of Psychological Theory; Myth and Symbol - Being and Meaning. Thematic Aspects - Seinand Bedeuten; Philosophy; Psychology: Consciousness and Identity; Myth and Psychology; The Dialectic of Myth and Psychology. Introduction to the Novel.	Read Cite
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30-60	Chapter 1: Central Pairs of Opposites Charlotte Nolte doi:10.59860/td.c15dc05 Two Central Symbols - The Moon: Symbol of the Unconscious; Lunar Grammar and Matriarchal Consciousness; Joseph and the Moon; The Sun; The Night-Sea Crossing and Osiris; Atum- Rê, Amun- Rê, and the Concept of Trinity. Darkness and Light - The Dialectic of Darkness; Light and the Changing Concept of Sacredness. Geist and Seele - Geist and the Tree of Life; The Soul, the Tree of Knowledge, and the Well.	Read Cite
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61-76	Chapter 2: Motifs and Metaphors Charlotte Nolte doi:10.59860/td.c26d04c Die Rollende Sphäre - Spheric and Linear Concepts; The Ouroboros; Leitmotif and Narrative Structure; Geschichte as a Central Metaphor; The Veil; Illusion and Deception - the Veil of Maya; The Motif of Dressing and Undressing - Tearing the Veil.	Read Cite
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77-98	Chapter 3: Psychology of Characters Charlotte Nolte doi:10.59860/td.c37c42f Mythical Consciousness, Identification, and Imitation in the World of Jaakob - Jaakob and Esau; Lea's Sons: Collective Action and Individual Responsibility. The Women in the Novel. The Great Mother - Mut-em-enet as a Personal Figure; Mut-em-enet as a Transpersonal Figure; Beknechons and Dûdu: The Terrible Father.	Read Cite
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99-127	Chapter 4: Joseph and the Process of Individuation Charlotte Nolte doi:10.59860/td.c48b876 Introduction: The Puberty of Ego-Consciousness; Identity, Individuality, and Persona; Ich und die Mutter sind eins; The Destruction and Burial of the Harvest-God; The Active Fight of the Hero. The Father - The Son of the Father; The Symbolism of the New Year and the Djed-Column; Osarsiph and Adôn: the Living ' God' Replaces the Dying 'God'. 'Ich Bin's': Mythical Formula and Self-Recognition.	Read Cite
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128-50	Chapter 5: The Narrator and Narrative Aspects Charlotte Nolte doi:10.59860/td.c59acbd Introduction - Narrative Perspective and Style - The Initial Role of the Narrator; Joseph as Narrator; The Continuing Role of the Narrator. Narrative Self-Consciousness. The Concept of Fest and Celebration.	Read Cite
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151-59	Conclusion Charlotte Nolte doi:10.59860/td.c6a9d1c The Novel's Concept of Reality: Metaphor Versus Fact.	Read Cite
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160-71	Being and Meaning in Thomas Mann's 'Joseph' Novels - End Matter Charlotte Nolte doi:10.59860/td.c6c4f23 Bibliography, Index, and back cover.	Read Cite
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Bibliography entry:

Nolte, Charlotte, Being and Meaning in Thomas Mann’s Joseph Novels, MHRA Texts and Dissertations, 44 (MHRA, 1996)

First footnote reference: ³⁵ Charlotte Nolte, Being and Meaning in Thomas Mann’s Joseph Novels, MHRA Texts and Dissertations, 44 (MHRA, 1996), p. 21.

Subsequent footnote reference: ³⁷ Nolte, p. 47.

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Cite this volume in MHRA author-date style

Bibliography entry:

Nolte, Charlotte. 1996. Being and Meaning in Thomas Mann’s Joseph Novels, MHRA Texts and Dissertations, 44 (MHRA)

Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Nolte 1996: 21).

Example footnote reference: ³⁵ Nolte 1996: 21.

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This title was first published by W. S. Maney & Son Ltd for the Modern Humanities Research Association and the Institute of Germanic Studies but rights to it are now held by Modern Humanities Research Association and the Institute of Germanic and Romance Studies.

Permanent link to this title:

www.mhra.org.uk/publications/Being-Meaning-in-Thomas-Manns-Joseph-Novels
www.mhra.org.uk/publications/td-44