Buddenbrooks Character Analysis

Thomas Buddenbrook

Thomas Buddenbrook is the son of Bethsy and Consul Buddenbrook. The more driven and disciplined of the couple’s two sons, Thomas grows up to inherit the family business, and he later becomes a senator… read analysis of Thomas Buddenbrook

Christian Buddenbrook

Christian Buddenbrook is the son of Bethsy and Consul Buddenbrook. He abhors work, preferring to spend time drinking and smoking at the Club or attending performances at the theater, and is generally an embarrassment… read analysis of Christian Buddenbrook

Tony Buddenbrook

Tony Buddenbrook is Bethsy and Consul Buddenbrook’s eldest daughter. The narration frequently juxtaposes Tony with her cousin Klothilde; where Klothilde is meek and disciplined, Tony is vain and prone to self-indulgence. Even so… read analysis of Tony Buddenbrook

Hanno Buddenbrook

Hanno is the only son of Thomas and Gerda Buddenbrook. His birth is a momentous and celebratory occasion since it means the Buddenbrook firm finally has an heir. But rather than mark the start… read analysis of Hanno Buddenbrook

The Consul (Johann Buddenbrook III/Jean Buddenbrook)

Jean Buddenbrook is the son of Antoinette Buddenbrook and Johann Buddenbrook. He is the grandson of the first Johann Buddenbrook, who founded the Buddenbrook firm. He is named Johann, after his father and grandfather… read analysis of The Consul (Johann Buddenbrook III/Jean Buddenbrook)

Elisabeth “Bethsy” Buddenbrook

Bethsy Buddenbrook (née Kröger) is the wife of the consul. She is mother to Thomas, Christian, Tony, and Clara and grandmother to Hanno. As with her mother-in-law Antoinette before her, Bethsy… read analysis of Elisabeth “Bethsy” Buddenbrook

Johann Buddenbrook

Johann Buddenbrook is the family patriarch. He is technically Johann Buddenbrook II, but most characters refer to him simply as Johann. He is the son of the first Johann Buddenbrook, who founded the Buddenbrook firm… read analysis of Johann Buddenbrook

Gerda Buddenbrook (née Arnoldsen)

Thomas’s wife Gerda Buddenbrook enters the story as Gerda Arnoldsen, Tony’s friend and roommate at Sesame Weichbrodt’s boarding school. She and her family come from Amsterdam. Like her father before her, Gerda… read analysis of Gerda Buddenbrook (née Arnoldsen)

Erika Grünlich

Erika Grünlich is Tony’s daughter with her first husband, Grünlich. She and Tony return to Meng Strasse following Tony’s divorce from Grünlich. Tony claims to love Erika, but their relationship is never overtly… read analysis of Erika Grünlich

Antoinette Buddenbrook

Antoinette Buddenbrook is the wife of Johann Buddenbrook. She is mother to the consul and grandmother to Tony, Thomas, Christian, and Clara. In her marriage to Johann, she performs the… read analysis of Antoinette Buddenbrook

Clara Buddenbrook

Clara Buddenbrook is the youngest child of Consul Buddenbrook and Bethsy Buddenbrook. She’s a serious, severe young woman who indulges in none of the vices that tempt her older siblings. She fittingly marries a… read analysis of Clara Buddenbrook

Alois Permaneder

Alois Permaneder is Tony’s second husband. He’s a hops merchant from Munich. His identity as a southerner and as a self-made man sets him apart from Tony and her family. Permaneder’s manners are learned… read analysis of Alois Permaneder

Bendix Grünlich

Bendix Grünlich is Tony Buddenbrook’s first husband. Tony despises Grünlich from the first time she meets him, though it’s not clear which she finds more unattractive: his obvious obsequiousness around the Buddenbrook family, or… read analysis of Bendix Grünlich

Armgard von Schilling

Armgard von Schilling is Tony’s friend from boarding school. Though she comes from a noble family, she is kind and relatively down to earth, and Tony frequently cites Armgard as evidence of the benevolence… read analysis of Armgard von Schilling

Count von Maiboom

Count von Maiboom is Armgard’s husband. He has a gambling problem that leaves him buried in debt. After Armgard confides this in Tony, Tony pleads with Thomas to help her dear school friend… read analysis of Count von Maiboom

Pastor Sievert Tiburtius

Pastor Sievert Tiburtius, Clara’s husband, is a clergyman from Riga. He is the focus of an argument between Thomas and Bethsy in the wake of Clara’s death from tuberculosis, when Thomas learns that Clara… read analysis of Pastor Sievert Tiburtius

Hugo Weinschenk

Hugo Weinschenk is Erika’s husband. He’s director of an insurance company, and Tony is elated when he starts showing interest in Erika—Tony’s social standing suffers in the aftermath of the two divorces, severely compromising… read analysis of Hugo Weinschenk

Count Kai Mölln

Count Kai Mölln is the young son of Count Eberhard Mölln, an eccentric, reclusive nobleman. Kai’s mother died giving birth to him, and he lives with his father in a ramshackle farmstead just outside the… read analysis of Count Kai Mölln

Gotthold Buddenbrook

Gotthold Buddenbrook is Johann’s son by his first marriage. Johann disowned Gotthold following Gotthold’s marriage to a woman Johann didn’t approve of, though based on what Consul Buddenbrook (Gotthold’s half-brother) has read of Johann’s… read analysis of Gotthold Buddenbrook

The Ladies Buddenbrook of Breite Strasse

After years of estrangement following Gotthold’s marriage to a woman Johann Buddenbrook disapproved of, Gotthold, his wife, and their three daughters—Friederike, Henriette, and Pfiffi—reenter the Buddenbrooks’ lives after Johann’s son (and Gotthold’s half-brother) the… read analysis of The Ladies Buddenbrook of Breite Strasse

Morten Schwarzkopf/Young Schwarzkopf

Morten Schwarzkopf is the son of Captain Schwarzkopf and Frau Schwarzkopf. Tony meets him the summer she stays with the Schwarzkopf family at their home in the spa town of Travemünde. Morten comes from… read analysis of Morten Schwarzkopf/Young Schwarzkopf

Cousin Klothilde

Cousin Klothilde is the daughter of one of Johann’s nephews. She comes from a line of the Buddenbrook family that doesn’t own any property. The novel portrays Klothilde as an almost pathetically meek charity… read analysis of Cousin Klothilde

Ida Jungmann

Ida Jungmann is the Buddenbrooks’ longtime domestic servant. The consul and Bethsy met Ida on a trip to Prussia and brought her back with them to Lübeck to serve as governess to their children. Ida… read analysis of Ida Jungmann

Sesame Weichbrodt

Sesame Weichbrodt runs the boarding school Tony attends in girlhood, and she remains a loyal friend and mentor to Tony throughout her life. Sesame is with Tony, Erika, Klothilde, and the ladies Buddenbrook… read analysis of Sesame Weichbrodt

Dr. Grabow

Dr. Grabow is the Buddenbrooks’ longtime family doctor and friend. He treats the family for essentially the entire span of the novel. Dr. Grabow tends to coddle the Buddenbrooks, often to their detriment. For example… read analysis of Dr. Grabow

Herr Pfuhl

Herr Pfuhl is a local organist. He and Gerda play music together, and he gives young Hanno piano lessons. Pfuhl’s taste in music is rather conservative, and he tends to bristle at newer music, finding… read analysis of Herr Pfuhl

Herr Kesselmeyer

Kesselmeyer is a banker and a friend of the Buddenbrook family, albeit not a particularly loyal one. When Tony’s first husband, Grünlich, becomes irreparably buried in debt, Kesselmeyer gleefully informs Tony’s father (… read analysis of Herr Kesselmeyer

Herr Brecht

Herr Brecht is a dentist in Lübeck. He performs extensive dental work on Thomas and on Hanno, who has inherited his father’s poor dental health and his uncle Christian’s appetite for decadent sweets… read analysis of Herr Brecht

Hermann Hagenström

Hermann Hagenström is the eldest Hagenström child. Tony, adopting her elders’ distaste for the up-and-coming families, harbors a grudge against the Hagenströms from a young age. She especially dislikes Hermann after he tries to… read analysis of Hermann Hagenström

Julie Hagenström

Julie Hagenström is the sister of Hermann and Moritz Hagenström. The Hagenströms are neighbors with Tony’s maternal grandparents, and Tony often walks to school with Julie, though the girls share a mutual dislike… read analysis of Julie Hagenström

Moritz Hagenström

Moritz Hagenström is the younger Hagenström brother. He grows up to be a successful lawyer in Lübeck. He serves as prosecutor in Hugo Weinschenk’s trial when Weinschenk is accused of insurance fraud, and Tony… read analysis of Moritz Hagenström

Lebrecht Kröger

Lebrecht Kröger is Bethsy’s father. He serves alongside Consul Buddenbrook on the town council and opposes the common people’s calls for democracy. Lebrecht Kröger dies upon his and Consul Buddenbrook’s return from a council… read analysis of Lebrecht Kröger

Justus Kröger

Justus Kröger is Bethsy’s cousin. Bethsy appoints Justus Clara’s guardian after Consul Buddenbrook’s death. Like all Krögers, Justus is a lavish spender and enjoys the finer things in life. Even so, he… read analysis of Justus Kröger

Captain Schwarzkopf

Captain Schwarzkopf is the harbor pilot. Tony stays with him and his family at their home in Travemünde when the consul sends her away to think over Grünlich’s marriage proposal. Captain Schwarzkopf is kindhearted… read analysis of Captain Schwarzkopf

Mayor Oeverdieck

Mayor Oeverdieck is the mayor of Lübeck at the beginning of the novel. He’s also a family friend of the Buddenbrooks, and Hanno’s godfather. Despite Mayor Oeverdieck’s close ties to the Buddenbrook family, Thomas… read analysis of Mayor Oeverdieck

Anna/Frau Iwersen

Frau Iwersen and her husband, Herr Iwersen, own the flower shop across the street from the opulent new home Thomas builds after his election to the senate. She was romantically involved with Thomas as… read analysis of Anna/Frau Iwersen

Herr Iwersen

Herr Iwersen owns the flower shop across the street from the opulent new home Thomas builds after his election to the senate. He is married to Frau Iwersen, whom (the narration implies) Thomas was… read analysis of Herr Iwersen

Aline

Aline is a woman from Hamburg whom Christian eventually marries and with whom he (apparently) has a child. Aline’s presence in Christian’s life creates tension between Christian and his family because she is of questionable… read analysis of Aline

Stephen Kistenmaker

Stephen Kistenmaker comes from a local merchant family. The Kistenmakers and Buddenbooks belong to the same social circle. In adulthood, Stephen is Thomas Buddenbrook’s sole friend and confidant. Thomas appoints Kistenmaker the executor of… read analysis of Stephen Kistenmaker

James Möllendorpf

James Möllendorpf is a merchant senator from Lübeck. He and his family are part of the Buddenbrooks’ social circle. Möllendorpf, who is diabetic, dies an apparently undignified death in old age—he is found locked inside… read analysis of James Möllendorpf

Lieutenant von Throta

Lieutenant von Throta is a Rhinelander. He has dark hair and dark eyes and plays several instruments, making him he is the exact opposite of Thomas Buddenbrook in appearance and ability. Though a military man… read analysis of Lieutenant von Throta

Count Strelitz

Count Strelitz is a nobleman with whom Thomas once did business. When Tony pleads with Thomas to do business with Armgard von Schilling’s husband (who is also nobility), Thomas tells Tony a story about… read analysis of Count Strelitz

Pastor Pringsheim

Pastor Pringsheim is a local clergyman. He presides over the funerals of several members of the Buddenbrook family. After Thomas’s death, Pringsheim serves as co-guardian to Hanno alongside Steven Kistenmaker. Frustrated with Hanno’s… read analysis of Pastor Pringsheim

Anthon

Anton is the Buddenbrooks' butler. The consul hires him at Bethsy's urging, though he is initially wary that the family isn't able to afford to employ additional staff. Anton later serves Thomas Buddenbrook's… read analysis of Anthon

Anton

Minor Characters

Dr. Langhals

A local doctor, Langhals is younger than Dr. Grabow and gradually takes on more of the older man’s house calls to the Buddenbrooks, though the family still calls on Dr. Grabow when they want a second (or more blindly optimistic) opinion about a family member’s medical condition.

Jakob Kröger

Jakob Kröger is one of Justus Kröger’s sons. Like all Krögers, Jakob is a lavish spender and enjoys the finer things in life. He garners a reputation as a scoundrel in Hamburg. When he eventually moves to New York and becomes a traveling salesman, Justus effectively disowns him.

Jürgen Kröger

Jürgen Kröger is one of Justus Kröger’s sons. Like all Krögers, Jurgen is a lavish spender and enjoys the finer things in life, though he’s not as much of an embarrassment to the family as his brother, Jakob, grows up to be.

Frau Schwarzkopf

Frau Schwarzkopf is Captain Schwarzkopf’s wife. The couple has two children together, Morten and Meta. The summer Tony stays with the Schwarzkopfs, Frau Schwarzkopf seems to detect and encourage the budding romance between Morten and Tony, though ultimately that romance is not meant to be.

Meta Schwarzkopf

Meta Schwarzkopf is the daughter of Captain Schwarzkopf and Frau Schwarzkopf and the sister of Morten Schwarzkopf.

Jean Jacques Hoffstede

Jean Jacques Hoffstede is an elderly local poet. He is a friend of the Buddenbrooks and a regular guest at their weekly family dinners.

Herr Köppen

Herr Koppen is a local wine merchant. He and his wife are regular guests at the family dinners the Buddenbrooks host at Meng Strasse on Thursdays.

Johnny Thunderstorm

Johnny Thunderstorm is an English businessman and colleague of Christian’s whom Christian meets in Valparaiso. Thunderstorm loves a good time as much as Christian does. Back home in Lübeck, Christian often entertains (or scandalizes) his friends and family with raucous tales of Thunderstorm’s antics.

Herr Gosch

Herr Gosch is a broker and a friend of the Buddenbrook family. He facilitates the sale of the house on Meng Strasse after Bethsy’s death and aids the family in their various financial dealings throughout the novel.

Herr Marcus

Herr Marcus is the head clerk at the Buddenbrook firm. Thomas appoints Marcus partner after the consul’s death, and the public regards Marcus’s conservative, traditional values and business sense as a healthy complement to Thomas’s comparatively innovative ideas.

Eva Miederpaur (née Ewers)

Eva Miederpaur (née Ewers) is a friend of Tony’s from boarding school. Tony meets Alois Permaneder, who will become her second husband (and ultimately her second ex-husband) while visiting Eva in Munich.

Baby Elisabeth

Elisabeth is Erika’s child with Hugo Weinschenk. Like her cousin, Hanno, Elisabeth was born prematurely and remains medically frail.

Andreas Gieseke

Andreas Gieseke is a lawyer and an old school friend of Christian’s; Tony calls on him to facilitate her divorce from Permaneder.

Madame Kethelsen

Madame Kethelsen is Sesame Weichbrodt’s widowed older sister. Penniless and uneducated, she is dependent on Sesame and resents her for it.

Rieke Severin

Rieke Severin is Bethsy’s housemaid. She takes over for Ida Jungmann after Ida moves to Thomas’s home to serve as Hanno’s governess.

Fräulein Clementine

Fräulein Clementine is the new maid Gerda hires after Thomas’s death.

Herr Wenzel

Herr Wenzel is Thomas Buddenbrook’s barber.

Herr Grätjens

Herr Grätjens is a local broker and family friend of the Buddenbrooks.

Buddenbrooks Characters