The Magic Mountain

The Magic Mountain

by

Thomas Mann

Head Nurse von Mylendonk Character Analysis

Nurse von Mylendonk is the head nurse at the Berghof. She has a harsh, frank personality that rubs many residents the wrong way; Settembrini, for one, quite dislikes her. She carries a bag of thermometers available for purchase around the sanatorium, and she sells one to Hans toward the end of his first three weeks at the Berghof upon examining him (Hans has fallen ill just before he’s scheduled to head home) and discovering that he hasn’t checked his temperature since arriving at the sanatorium.
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Head Nurse von Mylendonk Character Timeline in The Magic Mountain

The timeline below shows where the character Head Nurse von Mylendonk appears in The Magic Mountain. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 4, Chapter 10: The Thermometer
Death and Illness  Theme Icon
East vs. West  Theme Icon
...channels” of the sanatorium and get some medical staff to examine Hans. That Friday, the head nurse , von Mylendonk (the one Settembrini doesn’t like)  comes to Hans’s room to determine what’s... (full context)
Coming of Age  Theme Icon
Death and Illness  Theme Icon
East vs. West  Theme Icon
After Head Nurse von Mylendonk leaves, Hans takes his temperature, waiting for seven minutes, as Joachim does. The time passes... (full context)
Part 5, Chapter 2: “My God, I See It!”
Death and Illness  Theme Icon
Abstract Ideals vs. Lived Experience  Theme Icon
...has been busy lately, recently receiving many new residents, and so it’s a week before Head Nurse Mylendonk orders Hans to report for X-rays. Hans doesn’t mind that it took so long—he knows... (full context)
Part 6, Chapter 5: An Attack Repulsed
East vs. West  Theme Icon
Abstract Ideals vs. Lived Experience  Theme Icon
Later, James meets the head nurse when she drops by his room to tell him that he’ll have to wait his... (full context)
Part 6, Chapter 8: A Good Soldier
Coming of Age  Theme Icon
Death and Illness  Theme Icon
Abstract Ideals vs. Lived Experience  Theme Icon
...Joachim to get his sore throat examined and get something to alleviate his suffering. The head nurse comes by Joachim’s room later, peers down his throat, and confirms that he’s come down... (full context)
Part 7, Chapter 5: Mynheer Peeperkorn (Conclusion)
Death and Illness  Theme Icon
East vs. West  Theme Icon
...Clavdia and Peeperkorn’s living quarters and finds the door to Peeperkorn’s parlor wide open. The head nurse , Krokowski, and Behrens are all gathered around Peeperkorn’s bed. Clavdia is there, too, but... (full context)