"The Child Prodigy"

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how Thomas Mann's "The Child Prodigy" effectively explores differences of perspective among a group of individuals, all of whom are experiencing the same phenomena. Through an analysis of the different characters, it discusses how Thomas Mann contends that a separation between persona, the person we present to others, and the genuine person who dwells within is an inescapable part of being a human being.

From the Paper:

"Unlike Bibi, the reader meets the impressario "in the flesh" only once in the story, and never gets to enter his thought or hear him talk to himself. We only get to see him through the other characters' eyes. Long before we meet him, we learn he is a clever showman who knows all the tricks of the trade. Only he knows Bibi's real name, for example, and keeps it a secret because the babyish name is more profitable than an adult name, which might not attract interest so effectively. He also knows how to create the impression that the child is a great artist and writes about Bibi in the style of an objective critic who "wrested these concessions from his critical nature after a hard struggle." He presents himself as a person of wealth and culture by wearing "large gold buttons on his conspicuous cuffs." The critic notes that the affection the impressario displays for Bibi is part of the show, designed to trigger a frenzy of emotion."

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