‘Buddenbrooks: The

Decline of a Family’

By Thomas Mann

Setting: Lübeck, Germany19th century

Plot Overview

List of Characters:Johann Duddenbrook Sr.

Didn’t found the family business, but made it big (during the wars against Napoleon Bonaparte, but that happens before the novel starts). An enlightened man who likes to play the flute. Father of Gotthold and Johann Jr.

Johann ‘Jean’ Buddenbrook Younger son of Johann Sr. Inherits the family business. Has four children: Thomas, Christian, Antonie and Klara. His fortunes are going sometimes up, sometimes down. Dies relatively young, in his fifties.

Elizabeth ‘Bethsy’ Buddenbrook-Kröger

Wife of Jean. Spends a lot of time doing charity work for the church.

Gotthold Buddenbrook• Older son of Johann Sr.

Only received the smaller part of his father’s fortune after marrying the daughter of a shopkeeper. Has three daughters, who stay unmarried and childless through their lives, are full with envy of the other Buddenbrooks and enjoy their failures.

Thomas BuddenbrookAfter the early death of his father, he becomes head of the business in his twenties. A bit of a dandy, likes expensive clothing. Was in genuine love with a girl selling flowers, but decided that she was of too low rank for a man in his position.Married Gerda then instead and fathered Hanno, who isn’t really the son he wished for. Finds that he has trouble to relate to his wife. Struggles hard to keep the fortune of the family together. Is elected senator of Lübeck, but dies soon afterwards - even younger than his father.

Gerda Buddenbrook-ArnoldsenWho becomes Thomas’ wife. Daughter of a great

Dutch merchant, who’s also a great violinist. Very beautiful, very rich and musically talented. A big fan of Richard Wagner. Not so much into business, and also influences her son in this way.

Has a relationship with the also musically talented lieutenant Rene von Trotha, with whom she can relate better than with her husband. (It’s hard to describe — calling him a lover wouldn’t really explain it. Soul mate would be more accurate.) She leaves the city after her husband and son have died, as if “her work was done”.

Christian Buddenbrook• Also learns the business of a merchant, but clearly

isn’t into it. He prefers telling stories and entertainment. With time, he also becomes more and more concerned with his neuroses and hypochondria.

• Falls in love with the actress Aline Puvogel (at this time, this was considered a scandal), has a child with her and marries her after his mother’s death. Then, she sends him to an insane asylum and doesn’t let him out, even when he begs her.

Antonie ‘Tony’ Buddenbrook

•  Starts as the “little princess” of the family. Is then sent to a Boarding School, where she meets Gerda Arnoldsen, her later sister-in-law.

• Then enters an Arranged Marriage with Gold Digger Grünlich, which ends in a divorce. Later tries again, this time with the Bavarian Permaneder. Also doesn’t end well. Being very proud of her family, she suffers pretty much from their downfall.

Klara Buddenbrook

• Marries the reverend Tiburtius from Riga (Latvia) and dies early.

Erika Grünlich-Buddenbrook

• Tony’s daughter with Grünlich. Later marries the insurance agent Weinschenk, which also doesn’t end well when he has to go to prison for having committed re-insurance fraud. Then he leaves the country, never to return.

Justus Johann ‘Hanno’ Kaspar Buddenbrook

• A sickly, very sensitive boy who’s mostly interested in music, as his mother. Has no friends but Kai. Dies of typhus in his teens, although it is implied that he doesn’t want to live anymore.

Major Themes

• Duty, Pride & Merit

• Art vs. Business• Music Leitmotifs• Commerce• Bourgeoisie

Standards• Class-

Consciousness

Thank you for attention!