10 Signs You Might Be Von Aschenbach From Thomas Mann's "Death In Venice"

Idolizing any young boys at the beach lately?

1. You find yourself with a sudden urge to travel.

Via milanocard.it

Does the appearance of a strange man set your wanderlust a flame?

Do you suddenly feel overwhelmed by the constant rigor and restriction you put on yourself?

Do you feel like a vacation will solve all of your problems?

Hmmmmm....

2. You are the epitome of internal monologue.

Via i.imgur.com

You spend the entirety of a novella detailing nothing but your thoughts.

"These were no insurmountable hindrances, what immobilized him were the scruples of listlessness, which masqueraded as an insatiable discontent. Discontent had already been considered by the adolescent as the character and innermost nature of genius and he had sought to restrain his emotions because he had realized that they are too easily contented with approximations and half-hearted perfection. Was that repressed sentiment now avenging itself by leaving him, by refusing to carry his art and by taking away all his delight with form and meaning?" (Mann 4).

3. You fit the tortured artist persona.

Via wordpress.com

You have suppressed all of your passion and sensuality, not even allowing it be expressed in your art.

And because of it, you might explode.

Or just be mistaken for a creeper. A major creeper.

4. You are tormented by ideas of age and mortality.

Via 101fundraising.org

The thought of getting old... unbearable.

5. You have feelings for, or even an infatuation with, a young boy.

Via lustralboy.com

"The boy was absolutely beautiful. His face, pale and of a graceful reserve, surrounded by honey-colored curls, with its straight nose,lovely lips, earnest expression, sweet and godly, all recalled Greek statues of the noblest era; but despite the pure and consummate form, his features exerted such a unique personal charm that the observer felt he had never encountered such perfection in nature or in the arts" (Mann 19).

6. You find yourself prone to stalking.

Via cdn.buzznet.com

And not modern day Facebook stalking, but actual physical-following-someone-around-type-stalking.

7. You are pretty good at detective work.

Via blogger.com

Venice is keeping this disease under wraps and you're going to get to the bottom of it. Or something like that.

8. You are willing to risk your life as well as the lives of others due to obsession.

Via tumblr.com

If at first you were justifying it to yourself, that's not the case anymore.

"He considered a cathartic and decent deed. He could approach the pearl-wearing woman after dinner and talk to her like this: 'Please allow this stranger, madam, to give you advice and warning, kept from you by selfishness. Depart, depart right now, with Tadzio and your daughters! Venice is diseased!' Then he could place his hand upon the crown of that tool of a taunting god, turn around and flee from this swamp. But he immediately felt he did not really want to take that step.It would lead him back, give his soul back to himself; but when one is frantic, the last thing one desires is to be oneself again" (Mann 46).

9. You're thinking about getting a makeover.

Via cdn4.teen.com

Time to break out the makeup? Trying to look younger?

10. But, it doesn't really work out all that well.

Via wordpress.com

"His eyes had been trained on the stroller, his head leaning against

the chair, but now his head rose to meet the glance and then sunk back onto his

chest as if in a deep sleep. But to him it seemed as if that pale and lovely Hermes

out there was smiling at him, beckoning him; as if he, taking his hand from his

side, was pointing at and floating into that promising immensity. And as he was

used to do, Aschenbach followed him" (Mann 53).