Felix Krull

Felix Krull is the titular character of The Confessions of Felix Krull, Confidence Man, an unfinished novel by Thomas Mann. Krull is a con man who manipulates others by fulfilling their desired roles. He demonstrates a lack of morality from a young age, excelling at deception.1

Krull avoids military service by feigning illness and then works in a hotel, skillfully acting as both a servant and a guest. His escapades include theft and an affair. He later agrees to impersonate a Marquis, adopting the name Armand, and continues his deceptions, charming the wife and daughter of a professor he meets on a train. The novel explores Mann's recurring theme of the artist's immorality, portraying Krull's criminality as an art form driven by the satisfaction of a job well done, and serves as a critique of the modern bourgeoisie.1