'Buddenbrooks' by Thomas Mann

1. ‘Buddenbrooks
: The
Decline of a
Family’
By Thomas Mann

2. Setting: Lübeck, Germany
19th century

3. Plot Overview

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Elizabeth ‘Bethsy’
Buddenbrook-Kröger
Wife of Jean. Spends a lot of time doing
charity work for the church.

7. 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.

8. Thomas Buddenbrook
After 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.

9. Gerda Buddenbrook-Arnoldsen
Who 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”.

10. 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.

11. 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.

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

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. Major Themes
• Duty, Pride & Merit
• Art vs. Business
• Music Leitmotifs
• Commerce
• Bourgeoisie
Standards
• Class-Consciousness