The Magic Mountain

The Magic Mountain

by

Thomas Mann

X-Ray Symbol Icon

X-rays represent Hans’s unhealthy and self-destructive fixation on death. Hans first sees his X-ray during a checkup with Dr. Behrens. The sight of his skeleton displayed so plainly on the screen before him forces Hans to acknowledge his mortality for the first time in his life. Though Hans has dealt with the deaths of loved ones, the revelation of his own mortality deeply unsettles him; indeed, he describes the X-ray image as a sight “which no man was ever intended to see […].” From that point forth, he  makes it his goal to understand and dignify death. But Hans’s project quickly consumes him to the point that his efforts to understand, dignify, and make peace with the inevitability of death end up debasing his life. First off, he regards his X-ray image as indisputable proof of both his illness and his need to remain at the Berghof in order to heal. In this way, the X-ray image precludes his return to the real world down in the flatlands and the life of purpose he might have created there, had not the threat of death distracted him. Hans also starts carrying his X-ray image in his wallet as though in place of an ID card, signaling death’s takeover of his identity. Later, he exchanges X-ray images with Clavdia Chauchat, representing death’s takeover of his relationships.

X-Ray Quotes in The Magic Mountain

The The Magic Mountain quotes below all refer to the symbol of X-Ray. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Time  Theme Icon
).
Part 5, Chapter 2: “My God, I See It!” Quotes

And Hans Castorp saw exactly what he should have expected to see, but which no man was ever intended to see and which he himself had never presumed he would be able to see: he saw his own grave. Under that light, he saw the process of corruption anticipated, saw the flesh in which he moved decomposed, expunged, dissolved into airy nothingness […] he beheld a familiar part of his body, and for the first time in his life he understood that he would die.

Related Characters: Hans Castorp, Dr. Behrens
Related Symbols: X-Ray
Page Number: 215-216
Explanation and Analysis:
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X-Ray Symbol Timeline in The Magic Mountain

The timeline below shows where the symbol X-Ray appears in The Magic Mountain. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 5, Chapter 1: Eternal Soup and Sudden Clarity
Coming of Age  Theme Icon
Death and Illness  Theme Icon
...Hans trusts Behrens, and there’s no point in fearing the worst until he has his X-rays done. Hans is still convinced he’ll be leaving here shortly. (full context)
Part 5, Chapter 2: “My God, I See It!”
Death and Illness  Theme Icon
Abstract Ideals vs. Lived Experience  Theme Icon
...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 there are many people here who... (full context)
Death and Illness  Theme Icon
East vs. West  Theme Icon
...the narrator asserts, the narrative is straying too far from the most pressing issue: Hans’s X-ray exam. (full context)
Coming of Age  Theme Icon
Death and Illness  Theme Icon
East vs. West  Theme Icon
Hans “descend[s]” into the basement laboratory for his X-rays. Joachim accompanies him. It’s busy downstairs, and lots of people are waiting. As Hans waits... (full context)
Death and Illness  Theme Icon
...Hans his “private gallery,” presenting a series of black plates that display a series of X-rayed body parts. Then he gets to work with the exam. (full context)
Coming of Age  Theme Icon
Death and Illness  Theme Icon
...healed spots on Hans’s lungs and the new ones. Hans confirms this, having seen the X-ray plates himself. And that settles it: he will take his rest cures, monitor his temperature,... (full context)
Part 5, Chapter 3: Freedom
Death and Illness  Theme Icon
East vs. West  Theme Icon
Abstract Ideals vs. Lived Experience  Theme Icon
Hans tells Settembrini about the nodules that Behrens saw on his X-ray the other day. Settembrini says something derogatory about the director, and Hans accuses him of... (full context)
Part 5, Chapter 5: Encyclopedia
Coming of Age  Theme Icon
Death and Illness  Theme Icon
Abstract Ideals vs. Lived Experience  Theme Icon
...laughs—something Settembrini never does. Settembrini then asks if Hans has received a copy of his X-ray yet, and Hans dutifully produces a picture from his wallet. Settembrini dubiously exams the image,... (full context)
Part 5, Chapter 9: Walpurgis Night
Death and Illness  Theme Icon
East vs. West  Theme Icon
...just as severe as Joachim’s. Hans asks if he can see Clavdia’s “transparent portrait” (her X-ray), having already seen her “exterior portrait.” She says she keeps it locked away in her... (full context)
Part 6, Chapter 1: Changes
Death and Illness  Theme Icon
East vs. West  Theme Icon
...to her, though he asked for a personal effect in return. She gave him her X-ray image, which Hans now carries around in his wallet. She promised to return (or intended... (full context)
Part 6, Chapter 3: The City of God and Evil Deliverance
Coming of Age  Theme Icon
Abstract Ideals vs. Lived Experience  Theme Icon
Hans pulls out the X-ray image Clavdia gave him before she left the sanatorium—he carries it with him in his... (full context)
Part 7, Chapter 9: Highly Questionable
Time  Theme Icon
Coming of Age  Theme Icon
...go on, though, Hans looks down at his knees and finds Clavdia’s interior portrait (her X-ray) resting there. Hans knows he didn’t bring it into the room with him. (full context)