A Comparative View of the Literary Worlds of the Heinrich Mann and Thomas Mann Brothers

Abstract

This study examines the literary worlds, personalities, worldviews, the ways in which the works deal with the subjects and their places in German literature of Heinrich Mann (1871-1950) and Thomas Mann (1875-1955), who are representatives of two different movements in contemporary German literature. Heinrich Mann is one of the representatives of Expressionism and Dadaism in contemporary German literature. Thomas Mann has emerged as someone who has produced works mature enough to represent the German novel in world literature within the New Objectivism movement. Heinrich Mann heavily criticized the Wilhelm II period in his works. Thomas Mann is known for his treatment of classical European novel art in his works. Despite being born and raised in the same environment, both writers were very different from each other in terms of temperament, perspective and worldview. The political atmosphere of the First World War greatly affected the mentality of both brothers. Both writers were supported and encouraged by their families in their advancement in the field of literature. Music had an important place in the family atmosphere of the Mann family, and Wagner deeply influenced the family's taste in music. For this reason, both writers grew up under the influence of a musical atmosphere. From a literary perspective, Thomas Mann has been like a shadow in front of his older brother Heinrich Mann. His prominence and recognition in the literary field with his style has, in a way, caused the fame of his older brother Heinrich Mann to be blocked and his fame to be overshadowed. This situation was unfortunate for Heinrich Mann. Although these two brothers, whose temperaments and mentalities were opposite to each other, represented two different aspects of German literature, they also formed an interesting whole. In fact, as a common feature of both brothers, they wrote their literary works based on autobiographical elements and foundations.