The perception of time and its reflection on literature in the work of Thomas Mann's "Der Zauberberg"

The concept of time has occupied humanity since the beginning of civilization. And its controversial position continues because it cannot be agreed on. This term has many different definitions in the fields of philosophy, physics, sociology, theology and cultural history. Thomas Mann is one of the most important authors in German literature and his novel, Der Zauberberg, which is one of the major works of the twentieth century, deals with time in two ways. The novel is, on the one hand, an epoch novel because it tells about time of the novel, but on the other hand it is a time novel that deals with time itself. This work examines how the novel addresses the concept of time. To create a perspective of time, the descriptive method was first used to determine the meaning and perception of time in cultural history, starting with the ancient civilizations. The time as understood in the Bible has also been worked out. The research method used focuses on the work as well as on the author. Narrative time and narrated time in literary studies and the place of time in sociology and physics were also explored. This is followed by the philosophical history of the concept of time, because philosophy is the place where one ponders time. After these conceptions of time were worked out, the concept of the novel was examined and, in the subsequent analysis, time was observed as it is treated in the novel. While the circular nature of the ancient conception of time is striking in the analysis, the theory of relativity is also relevant. But the most important thing is the metaphysical time. The conception of time, as Mann processed it in his novel, is primarily based on Plato. But the influences of Augustine, Kant and Schopenhauer can also be seen in connection with Mann's synthetic attitude. There was also the contrast between this metaphysical time and the sociological time.