The aim of this article is to explain the meaning and analyse the role of the journey along the Danube
river in the novel Danube by Claudio Magris. The analisys presents two separate interpretations
of the literary odyssey. The first one emphasizes the importance of the journey understood as georgaphical,
philosophical and sociological research of the novel’s protagonist (the author’s alter-ego:
a scholar, a germanist and a traveller in one). The second one highlights it’s meaning for the development
of the protagonist’s identity, illustrating the ways in which the unique “hapsburg” manner of
travelling affects his life and his personality. In order to underline the existential dimension of the
journey, the article presents and analyses the scenes where the main character in shown as a disciple,
who follows his spiritual guides to learn about himself and about the human nature.

The aim of this article is to explain the meaning and analyse the role of the journey along the Danube
river in the novel Danube by Claudio Magris. The analisys presents two separate interpretations
of the literary odyssey. The first one emphasizes the importance of the journey understood as georgaphical,
philosophical and sociological research of the novel’s protagonist (the author’s alter-ego:
a scholar, a germanist and a traveller in one). The second one highlights it’s meaning for the development
of the protagonist’s identity, illustrating the ways in which the unique “hapsburg” manner of
travelling affects his life and his personality. In order to underline the existential dimension of the
journey, the article presents and analyses the scenes where the main character in shown as a disciple,
who follows his spiritual guides to learn about himself and about the human nature.