Christian Buddenbrook Character Analysis in Buddenbrooks

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 to the Buddenbrook family. He is perpetually ill, suffering from one unspecified ache or another. Christian’s industrious, responsible brother Thomas hates Christian for his malingering, his laziness, and his overall self-indulgence. That hatred is also fueled by jealousy: whereas Thomas has made great sacrifices in order to fulfill his duty to his family, Christian has traveled and experienced more of the world. He develops a kinship with his nephew, Thomas’s son Hanno, over Hanno’s passion for music and theater, though Christian (like all Buddenbrooks) has no talent for music himself. Christian and Thomas have a major falling out in the wake of Bethsy’s death when Christian announces his plans to marry Aline, a woman of questionable reputation with whom Christian (apparently) has a daughter. Thomas’s searing disapproval of the relationship widens the rift that has always existed between the brothers, and Thomas dies before they have a chance to repair their bond. Christian settles with Aline and her children in Hamburg following Thomas’s death, but the marriage doesn’t bring Christian lasting happiness. He soon enters a psychiatric institution (Tony suspects Aline of conspiring with the institution’s doctors to keep Christian institutionalized indefinitely). He remains hospitalized at the end of the novel, meanwhile Aline lives off what remains of Christian’s inheritance.

Christian Buddenbrook Quotes in Buddenbrooks

The Buddenbrooks quotes below are all either spoken by Christian Buddenbrook or refer to Christian Buddenbrook. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Thomas, who was destined from birth to be a merchant and the future owner of the firm, attended modern, scientific classes beneath the Gothic arches of the Old School. He was a clever, alert, and prudent young man, but he took immense enjoyment in Christian’s wonderful gift for imitating the teachers of the humanities classes he attended, where he showed no less talent than his brother, although less seriousness.

Related Characters: Christian Buddenbrook, Thomas Buddenbrook

Page Number and Citation: 63

Explanation and Analysis:

This quote describes Thomas and Christian’s developing personalities as they grow up. Critically, the quote subtly points out how the boys have developed their respective personalities not naturally or by choice. Rather, their status as children of an important merchant family has decided their personalities for them—whether they like it or not. The passage describes how Thomas, as the eldest son, “was destined from birth to be a merchant and the future owner of the [family] firm,” and as such “attend[s] modern scientific classes” that will train him to assume the role his destiny has assigned him. Though later chapters Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus

Suddenly [Christian] said, “You know, it’s strange—sometimes I feel like I can’t swallow. No, now don’t laugh. I’m being quite serious. The thought occurs to me that I can’t swallow, and then I really can’t. What I’ve eaten is clear at the back of my mouth, but these muscles here, along the neck—they just won’t work. They won’t obey my will, you see. Or, better, the fact is: I can’t bring myself to actually will it.”

Related Characters: Christian Buddenbrook (speaker), The Consul (Johann Buddenbrook III/Jean Buddenbrook), Tony Buddenbrook

Page Number and Citation: 257

Explanation and Analysis:

Following the consul’s death, Christian returns home after years working abroad. His years away from home have done little to temper his outrageous personality and lacking social graces, nor have they improved his health—Chrisitan is perpetually unhealthy, though never with anything the doctors have been able to treat. It’s often implied that he is merely malingering, if only unconsciously. In this passage, Christian describes in great detail his recent trouble swallowing. His ironic description comically alludes to the role he himself may be playing in perpetuating his ill health: “[My muscles] won’t obey my will [to swallow]” Christian insists. “Or, Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta.

“Why do you constantly use the expression ‘Good God’?” Thomas asked in annoyance. But that was not really what upset him. He felt as if Christian told this story with such relish because it gave him an opportunity to scorn and ridicule work. At which point their mother discreetly changed the subject.

“There are so many ugly things in this world,” Elisabeth Buddenbrook, née Kröger, thought to herself. “Even brothers can hate or despite each other; that does happen, as awful as it may sound. But no one ever speaks of it. They gloss over it. It’s best to know nothing about it.”

Related Characters: Elisabeth “Bethsy” Buddenbrook (speaker), Thomas Buddenbrook (speaker), Johnny Thunderstorm, Christian Buddenbrook

Page Number and Citation: 266-267

Explanation and Analysis:

Following the consul’s death, Christian returns home after years working abroad. Thomas and Christian’s relationship has only gotten worse as they’ve gotten older and their opposite personalities have grown more pronounced, and things are especially tense between them now that Thomas has officially taken over for his father in the aftermath of the consul’s death. Every little thing Christian does upsets Thomas, though he is most annoyed by Christian’s obnoxious personality and horrible work ethic, as this passage demonstrates. After Christian finishes telling an outrageous story about the shenanigans of a coworker named (ridiculously) Johnny Thunderstorm, Thomas grumbles about Christian’s Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure. Sint qui qui. Qui similique praesentium. Ex consequatur magnam. Aliquid iste enim. Sequi aut maxime. Adipisci voluptate et. Voluptas suscipit alias. In et eveniet. Eaque et repellendus. Dolores aut voluptatibus. Voluptatem qui voluptatum. Voluptatibus sed place

The fierce contempt in which Thomas held his brother—and the wistful indifference with which Christian bore it—found expression in all those trivial moments of life that can only manifest themselves among people thrown together in families. If, for example, conversation turned to the history of the Buddenbrooks, Christian could become wrapped up in a mood of high seriousness—which ill became him—and speak with love and admiration of his hometown and his forebears. The consul would immediately cut him off with an icy remark. He could not stand it. He despised his brother so much that he would not allow him to love the things he loved.

Related Characters: Thomas Buddenbrook, Christian Buddenbrook, The Consul (Johann Buddenbrook III/Jean Buddenbrook)

Page Number and Citation: 310

Explanation and Analysis:

This passage takes place after Christian returns to Lübeck following the consul’s death. Thomas has given him a job at the family firm, and though he works hard at it at first, it’s not long before Christian’s poor work ethic takes over and he starts to slack off, infuriating and frustrating Thomas. This passage reflects on the nature of his acrimonious relationship with his younger brother, highlighting how the brothers’ opposite traits feed off of and enable each other. Though in part Thomas’s disdain for Christian stems from their fundamentally different values, it is also a response to the underlying Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corp

“I became what I am,” Thomas said at last, with emotion in his voice, “because I did not want to become like you. If I have inwardly shrunk away from you, it was because I had to protect myself from you, because your nature and character are a danger to me. I am speaking the truth.”

Related Characters: Thomas Buddenbrook (speaker), Christian Buddenbrook, Elisabeth “Bethsy” Buddenbrook

Page Number and Citation: 563

Explanation and Analysis:

In the wake of Bethsy’s death, as the siblings gather to decide how to divide her various possessions and assets, Thomas and Christian get into a major argument. The brothers have had an acrimonious relationship all their lives, but with Bethsy no longer around to play mediator, they lash out at each other with an unfiltered rage and cruelty they have up to this point managed to suppress. This passage and the longer argument thus drive home how vital Bethsy was to keeping her family afloat. The Buddenbrooks have suffered setbacks over the course of the novel, but it’s after Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis.

Christian Buddenbrook Character Timeline in Buddenbrooks

The timeline below shows where the character Christian Buddenbrook appears in Buddenbrooks. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...elderly town poet, is among the first to arrive. Then the consul’s sons Thomas and Christian return home from school. Christian’s older brother, Thomas, isn’t as academically inclined as Christian; he... (full context)

Tradition, Modernity, and Change Theme Icon

The party continues. Later in the evening, Bethsy Buddenbrook notices that Dr. Grabow, Ida, and Christian aren’t there. Bethsy leaves to search for the missing partygoers. She finds them in the... (full context)

...winds down. Bethsy leaves Ida in charge of the cleanup and goes to see how Christian is doing. The consul accompanies the guests to the entrance hall to see them off.... (full context)

...to inherit the family business—excels in his studies and grows into a disciplined young man. Christian, meanwhile, is a mischievous prankster. (full context)

But Christian and Thomas get into trouble together sometimes, too. Christian is especially mischievous. One time, the... (full context)

...a lovely young woman, while “poor Klothilde” remains slight despite her ravenous appetite. Tony and Christian aren’t doing as well as the family would like. Bethsy is disappointed in Christian’s poor... (full context)

...day in June, and the Buddenbrooks are sitting in the garden outside their summer house. Christian sits off to the side, pouting, as he studies for class. Tony is reading Hoffman.... (full context)

...& Co. will go through after all. Tom is intrigued—and pleased at the excellent price. Christian grumbles about all this business talk. Just then, Anton approaches the family and places a... (full context)

...reading. Tony answers with a scowl. Grünlich ignores Tony’s coldness and shifts his focus to Christian, noting with admiration the Cicero he is reading. The consul retorts that students spend too... (full context)

...After Grünlich leaves, Tony calls the man “silly.” The consul and Bethsy scold Tony, but Christian agrees. Tony, invigorated now, insists that her parents only like Grünlich because Grünlich is telling... (full context)

...Clara and Klothilde are doing embroidery work while Bethsy sits reading letters from Tony and Christian. Suddenly, they hear screams and heavy footsteps outside—and they’re getting closer. Bethsy springs to her... (full context)

...the family upsets Consul Buddenbrook and makes him even more anxious about his own children. Christian isn’t all that interested in business and wants to take a position “out there,” somewhere... (full context)

In February of 1856, Christian returns home after eight years away. He wears a yellow plaid suit and looks in... (full context)

Christian gets over his grief faster than the others. At dinner one night, he asks Tony... (full context)

Alone with Thomas later that night, Tony remarks on Christian’s obnoxious behavior. Thomas agrees—Christian has no self-control and says whatever is on his mind, not... (full context)

Eight days into Christian’s return, Thomas talks to Christian about the future. Thomas is head of the firm now.... (full context)

At first, Christian comes alive in his work. His English is quite good, so Thomas puts him in... (full context)

Christian remains unaware of Thomas’s growing disdain for him, and after the first week on the... (full context)

...When he’s not working in town, he visits Travemünde, where his family is on holiday. Christian takes a full holiday, complaining of a pain in his left leg. Dr. Grabow examines... (full context)

...the home of an old widow’s house. Anton has left to work for Thomas’s household. Christian is often out at the Club. Other than the usual family gatherings on Thursdays, Bethsy... (full context)

...and lively presence imbues the house with some much-needed cheer. The rift between Thomas and Christian has worsened over the years, and the atmosphere around the house has been tense. Christian’s... (full context)

It’s not just Christian’s malingering that annoys Thomas, though: it’s also his behavior in general. Christian pals around with... (full context)

...office after spending an hour at a gentleman’s reading club. Not long after, he spots Christian walking down the street toward the office, having apparently come from the Club—where he’s been... (full context)

When Thomas complains that Christian spends all his time drinking and attending theater performances, Christian retorts that Thomas himself once... (full context)

Thomas’s insults infuriate Christian, who insists that Thomas only likes working at the firm because he’s in charge. Christian... (full context)

...He works hard and makes an impressive name for himself, despite the financial setbacks that Christian and Tony have caused him. (full context)

Despite Thomas’s many successes, there are a few things he feels anxious about. Christian’s business partner in Hamburg dies suddenly, and his heirs draw out of the business. Though... (full context)

...tells Thomas that the future of the Buddenbrook family is now in his hands alone. Christian likely won’t be much help, and she won’t be either. (full context)

...has some time to think. But Tony gets straight to work, sending a letter to Christian’s lawyer friend Gieseke to request his presence at Meng Strasse. Gieseke visits and, to Tony’s... (full context)

...Thomas’s many stressors. In addition to running the family business, he also must deal with Christian, whose business in Hamburg is doing poorly and who has written to request some more... (full context)

...son. The whole family attends the christening, including Erika, who is now 15 years old; Christian, who travels from Hamburg; and Clara and Tiburtius, who come all the way from Riga.... (full context)

On the evening of young Hanno’s christening, Christian Buddenbrook enters the sitting room, where Thomas and Gerda are reading together, and tells Thomas... (full context)

Thomas has had enough. He tells Christian that he knows all about Christian’s cavorting with his “trashy women.” Christian doesn’t deny any... (full context)

Thomas tells Christian he can do whatever he wants. Then without a second glance at Christian, he leaves... (full context)

Christian is ill, too: his “‘ache’” has apparently gotten so bad that he's totally forgotten about... (full context)

...of the main floor of Thomas’s new home. They hang out at the Club with Christian, who has since returned from Hamburg. Rieke Severin, Bethsy’s new maid, helps set up mattresses... (full context)

Things don’t go much better with Christian, who openly despises Weinschenk. Christian has been living at home since leaving London. His ailments... (full context)

...all alone this evening: Ida Jungmann is busy with Hanno, and Gerda has gone with Christian to see a violin concert. Gerda and Christian get along quite well—she’s one of the... (full context)

...thing, understands only one thing, values only one thing—his profession.” Then Thomas remembers a remark Christian made at a dinner, “that every businessman is basically a swindler.” At the time the... (full context)

On Christmas Eve, Christian arrives late, stumbling in just as the choir is about to begin singing. He claims... (full context)

...puppet theatre. The adults take turns commenting on Hanno’s presents with patronizing, exaggerated praise. Only Christian reacts to Hanno’s puppet theatre with genuine joy, though he cautions Hanno not to get... (full context)

...a half years in prison. On the day of his sentencing, the courtroom is packed. Christian attends and is quite impressed that Weinschenk’s attorney’s closing speech that he later performs the... (full context)

...tend to Bethsy overnight. Before the doctors leave, Thomas asks if it’s necessary to update Christian about Bethsy’s condition right away. The doctors exchange a glance, but Grabow laughs and says... (full context)

...the next few days, she knows she will soon die, and she’s terrified. Thomas summons Christian home from Hamburg. (full context)

...to pray. Thomas and Gerda arrive to discuss the matter of Bethsy’s belongings. Thomas and Christian immediately get into a scuffle over who will receive which items. Christian demands to have... (full context)

Christian has had enough and lashes out at Thomas, who has treated Christian with nothing but... (full context)

The brothers trade insults some more, and at last Christian runs from the room, still full of rage. The others remain quiet for a beat,... (full context)

...since Gerda doesn’t really like that sort of thing. No one feels particularly happy, even Christian. (full context)

...Occasionally, when Hanno has had a bit too much to drink, he joins Tony and Christian in mocking “poor Aunt Klothilde.” Thomas finds himself laughing along, egging on Hanno—even as Thomas... (full context)

...suggests that Thomas spend some time in Travemünde; it will do wonders for his health. Christian offers to join him. Though Thomas doesn’t really want him there, he doesn’t protest. Christian... (full context)

Christian arrives not long after. Someone went to the Club earlier to inform him of Thomas’s... (full context)

...list of people to send death notices to. Tony bursts into tears now and then. Christian feels too numb to cry and feels guilty about it. Hanno begins to laugh, upsetting... (full context)

...the Buddenbrook family vault, where he joins his parents. Pastor Pringsheim presides over the ceremony. Christian listens, and the stiff formality of it all leaves him feeling awkward and uncomfortable. (full context)

Less than a year after Thomas’s death, Christian moves to Hamburg and marries Aline Puvogel—no one is around to stop him any longer.... (full context)

...Hanno at Gerda’s new home, she tells him stories about his ancestors. In Amsterdam, meanwhile, Christian’s “morbid fantasies and fixations” grow worse. Eventually, his wife (Aline) and doctor convince him to... (full context)

...and he asks Hanno to elaborate. Hanno explains that Pringsheim was talking about Hanno’s uncle Christian, who is presently institutionalized. Then Hanno admits that he doesn’t necessarily disagree with Pringsheim: he... (full context)

...from the family papers.” Gerda regrets that she won’t be able to say goodbye to Christian, who is still institutionalized. His condition has (supposedly) worsened, and he can no longer live... (full context)

Christian Buddenbrook Character Analysis

Christian Buddenbrook Quotes in Buddenbrooks

Part 2, Chapter 3 Quotes

Part 5, Chapter 2 Quotes

Part 5, Chapter 3 Quotes

Part 6, Chapter 2 Quotes

Part 9, Chapter 2 Quotes

Christian Buddenbrook Character Timeline in Buddenbrooks