Late Night Thoughts on Listening to Mahler’s Ninth Symphony, a collection of essays by Lewis Thomas, was published in 1983. His essay of the same name discusses how he no longer listens to the symphony like he used to. When Thomas was younger, the symphony reminded him that death was something that all living things had to experience; therefore, it should not be something he should fear. As he got older though it made him think of the threat of nuclear war.
Lewis Thomas used to listen to Mahler’s Ninth Symphony and found reassurance that death was a peaceful experience, but later in life something changed his mind. He could no longer listen to Mahler’s Ninth Symphony without thinking about the eminent threat of nuclear war. He believes if…show more content… When I first listened to the symphony it didn’t make me think of death whatsoever, but after reading the essay I could hear how the symphony reminded him of death. The notes of the symphony evoked feelings of sorrow and distress. While listening to the symphony I could hear why Thomas thought of nuclear warfare. Thomas thought that if he were my age the symphony would make him go mad. Even if I knew that my country was on the verge of war it wouldn’t make me go crazy. Since I know that I wouldn’t be able to do anything about the start of a war, I wouldn’t feel as though I would go crazy thinking about it.
After reading Lewis Thomas’ essay Late Night Thoughts on Listening to Mahler’s Ninth Symphony I have a better understanding of his thought process. He enjoyed the bittersweet music that reminded him of a peaceful death, but then heard the symphony in a different light. It made him think of nuclear warfare and he felt as though if he were a child again that he would go crazy. I also have a better understanding of how I feel about Mahler’s symphony and how it makes me think of Thomas’ first impression of the
