Thomas Mann's Buddenbrooks

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Thomas Mann's Buddenbrooks

Thomas Mann's Buddenbrooks tracks the course of a patrician family in the late nineteenth century north Germany. The novel describes the decline of the Buddenbrooks family over four generations from the period of 1835 to 1877. The story is infused with social criticism of bourgeoisie society. This criticism is shown clearly in the characterizations of the third generation within the Buddenbrooks family: Antonie, Christian and Thomas. It is also clear in the overriding themes presented throughout the novel.

The character of Antonie Buddenbrook, a third generation daughter of Jean Buddenbrook, was a criticism of middle class expectations of women. From her childhood Antonie, or Tony as she was affectionately called, was expected to marry for the purpose of creating a business alliance rather than for love. Tony is persuaded by her parents to marry an up and coming entrepreneur, Herr Grulich. Her mother in trying to persuade Tony into this union said, "…this marriage is precisely the sort to which duty and destiny call you." (Mann 103) Tony then realized that it was her duty, according to nineteenth century bourgeoisie values to marry Herr Grunlich, a man many years her senior. Once engaged it is stated that Grunlich regards Tony "with little more than the air of a satisfied owner". (Mann 159) Eventually business losses cause Tony to be divorced from Grunlich to avoid having the Buddenbrook family name be associated with failure in the business world. After time she finds another suitable businessman to marry and proceeds to marry this man, Herr Permeander, from South Germany. This marriage is also dissolved because of Permeander's lack of faithfulness. This leaves Tony an embittered woman mired by scandal. The story of Antonie criticizes the duteous, subordinate role of women in 19th century Germany. Cultural norms dictated that women were to be domesticated. The middle class code was becoming ineffective and loyalty to this tradition contributed to the decline of this bourgeoisie family.

Christian Buddenbrook, the younger son of Jean was the embodiment of the fashionable decadence and excess present in the mid to late nineteenth century. Christian was far too imaginative and irresponsible for the business world He gallivants around the world drinking, gambling and aligning himself with sordid characters. Christian's character is showing how middle class refinery and extravagance will lead to its decline. Christian's flaws are merely exaggerated traits that can be seen throughout the family. Christian's decline mirrors the eventual decline of the family.

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