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Buddenbrooks by Thomas Mann

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舒仍亠舒 亢亞仂舒仆
舒仍亠舒 亢亞仂舒仆

Thomas Mann's novel 'Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family' follows the decline of a wealthy merchant family over four generations in the 19th century German city of L端beck. It describes the Buddenbrook family, founded by Johann Buddenbrook Sr., and focuses on his sons Jean and Gotthold, as well as Jean's children Thomas, Christian, Antonie, and Klara. The family fortune starts strong but declines with each generation as later family members struggle to maintain the family business and uphold their social status. Key events include Thomas inheriting the business but failing to produce a worthy heir, and the mental decline of Christian. By the fourth generation, the family has lost its wealth

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Buddenbrooks : The Decline of a Family By Thomas Mann
Setting: L端beck, Germany 19th century
Plot Overview
List of Characters: Johann Duddenbrook Sr. Didnt 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-Kr旦ger 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 fathers 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 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 isnt 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 L端beck, but dies soon afterwards - even younger than his father.
Gerda Buddenbrook-Arnoldsen Who becomes Thomas wife. Daughter of a great Dutch merchant, whos 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. (Its hard to describe calling him a lover wouldnt 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 isnt 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 mothers death. Then, she sends him to an insane asylum and doesnt 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 Gr端nlich, which ends in a divorce. Later tries again, this time with the Bavarian Permaneder. Also doesnt 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 Gr端nlich-Buddenbrook Tonys daughter with Gr端nlich. Later marries the insurance agent Weinschenk, which also doesnt 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 whos mostly interested in music, as his mother. Has no friends but Kai. Dies of typhus in his teens, although it is implied that he doesnt want to live anymore.
Major Themes Duty, Pride & Merit Art vs. Business Music Leitmotifs Commerce Bourgeoisie Standards Class-Consciousness
Buddenbrooks by Thomas Mann

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Buddenbrooks by Thomas Mann

  • 1. Buddenbrooks : The Decline of a Family By Thomas Mann
  • 4. List of Characters: Johann Duddenbrook Sr. Didnt 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-Kr旦ger 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 fathers 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 isnt 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 L端beck, but dies soon afterwards - even younger than his father.
  • 9. Gerda Buddenbrook-Arnoldsen Who becomes Thomas wife. Daughter of a great Dutch merchant, whos 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. (Its hard to describe calling him a lover wouldnt 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 isnt 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 mothers death. Then, she sends him to an insane asylum and doesnt 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 Gr端nlich, which ends in a divorce. Later tries again, this time with the Bavarian Permaneder. Also doesnt 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 Gr端nlich-Buddenbrook Tonys daughter with Gr端nlich. Later marries the insurance agent Weinschenk, which also doesnt 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 whos mostly interested in music, as his mother. Has no friends but Kai. Dies of typhus in his teens, although it is implied that he doesnt want to live anymore.
  • 15. Major Themes Duty, Pride & Merit Art vs. Business Music Leitmotifs Commerce Bourgeoisie Standards Class-Consciousness