The Magic Mountain

Main Ideas

• The theme of time as a dimension of human life and the changing perception of the world during different periods of existence
• Reflections on the meaning of life, illness, and death within the context of early 20th-century European culture
• The portrayal of the mountain sanatorium as a microcosm reflecting the diversity of European society and its issues on the eve of World War I
• Critique of bourgeois society and reflections on social justice through the interactions of characters from different social backgrounds
• The use of illness as a metaphor for the spiritual and social maladies of contemporary society
• Analysis of symbolism and mythology as a means of understanding humanity and the world
• Philosophical dialogues between characters about the nature of time, death, love, faith, and life's values