How does Joseph and His Brothers reinterpret the biblical story of Joseph?

In his tetralogy Joseph and His Brothers, Thomas Mann reinterprets the biblical narrative from the Book of Genesis as a profound transition from the "timeless collective" of myth into the realm of history and individual responsibility.12

Rather than a simple retelling, Mann frames the story as the emergence of a mobile, self-aware individual. While the biblical Joseph is often viewed through the lens of divine providence, Mann’s protagonist learns to manage events, ideas, and his own identity after being cast out of his tribal origins into the world of Egypt.2

Key aspects of this reinterpretation include:

• Myth to History: Mann depicts the shift from a life lived as a reenactment of timeless myth to one defined by change, conscious modernization, and human agency.2
• Humanism: The work serves as a "myth for his own times," intended to restore a belief in humane reason and civilization against the rise of irrationalism.2
• Psychological Depth: Mann employs irony, humor, and psychological insight to explore the development of Joseph’s character, moving beyond the traditional religious focus to examine the essential principles of human existence.12