At the end of the 19th century, decadence was an extremely popular theme in European literature. Furthermore, the degeneration of the individual and society in general was depicted in numerous of Mann's contemporary works. In Death in Venice, the theme of decadence caused by aestheticism emerges through Gustav von Achenbach's eccentric, specifically homoerotic feelings towards a Polish boy named Tadzio. Although his feelings spring from a solid source, the boy's aesthetic beauty, Aschenbach becomes decadent no matter how overzealous his feelings are, and his obsession ultimately leads to his literal and existential destruction. This exemplifies how aestheticism is closely related to and often the cause of decadence. Although the narrative is more complex, the author's use of such vivid descriptions suggests that the physical and literal aspect of his writing is equally important to the meaning of the story. The first and most obvious example of aestheticism and decadence as related themes in this story is the title, Death in Venice. By foregrounding the name of the city in the title, Mann highlights the key role of the city in the unfolding of the narrative. Mann aligns the word "Venice" with the word "death" in the title. This creates a relationship between these two words: the word "death" strongly permeates the word "Venice" with all its connotations. Death and decay are important ideas in the context of decay. By sheer nature the title relates the concepts of death and dying to the city of Venice, implying that the place is where death will occur. However, this parallels the beginning of the story when Mann sadly tells of Aschenbach's walk through Munich. In reading this passage it... half of the paper... internally decadent due to its indulgence towards Tadzio's appearance. He then changes his appearance to please his idol who in turn corrupts him into the kind of decadent man he once despised. These themes of aestheticism and decadence, not in juxtaposition but in duality, are used frequently by Mann throughout the story. Works Cited Mann, Thomas and Clayton Koelb. Death in Venice: a new translation, backgrounds and contexts, criticism. New York: W.W. Norton, 1994. Print.Ritters, Naoimi and .Jeffrey B. Berlin. "the tradition of European decadence". It approaches the teaching of Mann's Death in Venice and other short stories. New York: Modern Language Association of America, 1992. 86-92. Print.Shookman, Ellis and Rene-Pierre Collins. Thomas Mann's Death in Venice: a short story and its criticism. Rochester, NY: Camden House, 2003. Print.