According to Freud, sexual desire is the drive behind everything. "Death in Venice" by Thomas Mann and The Moon and Sixpence by W. Somerset Maugham are no exceptions; both stories are fueled with it.

Depression in Sexual Repression
According to Freud, sexual desire is the drive behind everything. "Death in Venice" by Thomas Mann and The Moon and Sixpence by W. Somerset Maugham are no exceptions; both stories are fueled with it. Aschenbach and Strickland spend the majority of their lives repressed. Aschenbach's life is based on strict schedules and discipline. Strickland lives a life in a society he doesn't enjoy. When they go against society and dip into their desires, they both become consumed by them. Restrained passion can lead to discord, as is the case in both of these prot…