The novella’s protagonist is a respected German writer named Gustav von Aschenbach—the “von” having been added when he was granted a noble title for his literary achievements. The events of the novella span the final weeks of Aschenbach’s life and focus on his internal conflict and character development as his rigidly disciplined way of life is thrown into chaos by his overwhelming sensual passion for the young boy Tadzio. The free indirect narrative style presents events through Aschenbach’s subjective perspective, cementing his experiences and internal conflicts as central to the novel. In many ways, Aschenbach is modeled on Mann’s own experiences and desires, so this character functions as a vessel for Mann to explore themes and conflicts that loomed large in his own life.

Aschenbach functions in the role of the archetypal tragic hero in that the story’s plot traces his fatal downfall from a position of prestige and prosperity to an ignoble death. His fall has the hallmarks of a Classical Greek tragedy; it is precipitated by Aschenbach’s flaws and actions—his relentless pursuit of Tadzio—but is nonetheless presented as inevitable.