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Part 6, Chapter 5
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Buddenbrooks, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Family and Sacrifice
Tradition, Modernity, and Change
The Protestant Ethic
Personal Fulfillment and Self-Knowledge
Pretense and Etiquette
Summary
Analysis
The next morning, the Buddenbrooks and Permaneder assemble at the gates of Meng Strasse to meet Thomas and Gerda for today’s outing to Riesebusch Inn in Schwartau—they intend to go for a hike, have a picnic, and show Permaneder some of the surrounding countryside. Tony looks lovely despite not getting much sleep. She feels “a sense of her own importance” in anticipation of Permaneder’s likely proposal later today. Indeed, she has already assessed the blank spot in the family records where she plans to document her second engagement, and she looks forward to being able to blot out the first one.
Tony’s assessment of the family records reinforce just how out of touch she is with her own emotions. She can only think about things in terms of how they help or harm the Buddenbrook family legacy. She has no sense of how she feels about marrying Permaneder, or she doesn’t feel that her feelings ought to matter all that much.
Active
Themes
Gerda and Thomas arrive shortly after. Gerda (who hates these kind of outings) tried to convince Thomas that she was too sick to attend, but Thomas insists they go (“We all have good reason to court Herr Permaneder a bit”). Once everyone has assembled at Meng Strasse, they all climb into their respective coaches and set off for the country.
Gerda stands out as one of the few genuine characters in the book. She finds the whole business of the Buddenbrooks courting Permaneder—a man they can hardly tolerate—to be phony and unnecessary, and she only reluctantly goes along on the outing after Thomas forces her to.
Active
Themes
In Schwartau, Tony and Permaneder trail slightly behind the rest of the group. Permaneder, observing Erika, says the girl is “a ‘durn’ sweet, pretty child,” but he notes that she doesn’t look much like Tony. Tony scowls and explains that Erika looks a lot like her father (Grünlich)—“a wicked man.” They chat clumsily, and at last Permaneder awkwardly, indirectly asks Tony whether she’d consider marrying him. Tony thinks to herself how “inept” Permaneder is, but she accepts his proposal. They make plans for Permaneder to ask for Bethsy and Thomas’s blessing later that day.
Active
Themes
When the Buddenbrooks discuss Permaneder later that day, Tony confirms that Thomas has indeed done some research into Permaneder’s firm, considering it a small but profitable operation, and one with potential. He agrees to Permaneder’s proposal. Tony requests that Erika join them in their new home in Munich, and Permaneder, “in a touching scene,” agrees. Two days later, he returns to Munich. Tony gets to work on her trousseau, which is not as grand as the first one. They marry in late autumn. As Tony predicted, the wedding is a casual, understated affair. Tony’s family wishes her well as she, her new husband, and Erika depart for Munich. Everyone hopes this marriage will last.
Active
Themes
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