Buddenbrooks · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in Buddenbrooks by Thomas Mann.
Thomas Buddenbrook
major
Also known as Tom, Senator Thomas Buddenbrook, Consul Thomas Buddenbrook, the Senator
The ambitious, disciplined head of the Buddenbrook family firm, who struggles to uphold the family's social and commercial standing.
Antonie 'Tony' Buddenbrook
major
Also known as Tony, Tony Grünlich, Frau Permaneder, Fräulein Tony
The vivacious and proud daughter of the Buddenbrook family, whose marriages and misfortunes are central to the family's saga.
Christian Buddenbrook
major
Also known as Christian, Uncle Christian
Thomas's younger brother, a theatrical, hypochondriac man whose lack of business sense and scandals trouble the family.
Hanno Buddenbrook
major
Also known as Johann 'Hanno' Buddenbrook, little Hanno
The sensitive, musically gifted son of Thomas and Gerda, representing the family's declining vitality.
Gerda Buddenbrook
supporting
Also known as Gerda Arnoldsen, Gerda Buddenbrook
Thomas Buddenbrook's musically sophisticated wife from Amsterdam, who remains somewhat aloof from Lübeck society.
Johann Buddenbrook (the Consul)
supporting
Also known as Consul Johann Buddenbrook, Johann Buddenbrook
Thomas's father, a pious and respected merchant who leads the family firm in the earlier generation.
Elisabeth Buddenbrook
supporting
Also known as Frau Consul Buddenbrook, Betsy, Elizabeth Buddenbrook
Thomas's mother, born Kröger, a dignified and devout matriarch of the Buddenbrook household.
Johann Buddenbrook (the Elder)
minor
Also known as old Johann Buddenbrook, Herr Johann Buddenbrook
The robust, jovial patriarch who founded the family's fortune, appearing in the early family chronicle.
Ida Jungmann
supporting
Also known as Mamsell Jungmann, the good Ida
The faithful nurse and governess to the Buddenbrook children, serving the family for decades.
Bendix Grünlich
supporting
Also known as Herr Grünlich, Bendix Grünlich
Tony Buddenbrook's first husband, a Hamburg businessman whose financial dishonesty is later revealed.
Alois Permaneder
supporting
Also known as Herr Permaneder, Permaneder
Tony Buddenbrook's second husband, a good-natured but lazy Munich beer merchant.
Morten Schwarzkopf
minor
Also known as Morten Schwarzkopf, young Schwarzkopf
A medical student in Travemünde with liberal political views, who becomes Tony's first romantic interest.
Hugo Weinschenk
minor
Also known as Director Weinschenk, Herr Hugo Weinschenk
The energetic director of a fire insurance company who marries Tony's daughter, Erica Grünlich.
Clara Buddenbrook
minor
Also known as little Clara, Clara Buddenbrook
The pious younger sister of Thomas, Christian, and Tony, who marries Pastor Tiburtius.
Clothilde Buddenbrook
minor
Also known as poor Clothilde, Cousin Clothilde
A poor, patient cousin of the Buddenbrooks who lives with the family and later marries modestly.
Gotthold Buddenbrook
minor
Also known as Uncle Gotthold, Consul Gotthold Buddenbrook
Johann Buddenbrook's son from his first marriage, who feels slighted in the family inheritance.
Justus Kröger
minor
Also known as Consul Kröger, Justus
Elisabeth Buddenbrook's brother, a member of the Kröger family who faces financial decline.
Lebrecht Kröger
minor
Also known as Kröger, the proud Lebrecht Kröger
The elegant and aristocratic grandfather of the Buddenbrook children, from the Kröger family.
Hermann Hagenström
supporting
Also known as Consul Hagenström, Hagenström
A business rival of the Buddenbrooks, whose family rises as the Buddenbrooks decline.
Moritz Hagenström
minor
Also known as Dr. Moritz Hagenström, Dr. Hagenström
Hermann Hagenström's son, a successful and ambitious lawyer who becomes a political rival to Thomas.
Dr. Grabow
minor
Also known as old Grabow, good Dr. Grabow
The kindly family doctor who attends the Buddenbrooks through multiple generations.
Therese Weichbrodt
minor
Also known as Sesemi Weichbrodt, Fräulein Weichbrodt
The dedicated, sharp-tongued proprietor of the boarding school attended by Tony and her daughter.
Kai Graf Mölln
minor
Also known as Kai, little Kai, Count Eberhard Mölln
Hanno's only close friend at school, a count's son who shares his sensitive and artistic nature.
Pastor Sievert Tiburtius
minor
Also known as Pastor Tiburtius, Tiburtius
A pastor from Riga who marries Clara Buddenbrook and later inherits her portion of the family fortune.
Edmund Pfühl
minor
Also known as Herr Pfühl, Herr Edmund Pfühl
Hanno's stern but devoted piano teacher, who introduces him to classical music.
Stephan Kistenmaker
minor
Also known as Kistenmaker, Herr Kistenmaker
A loyal friend and business associate of Thomas Buddenbrook, who later becomes a consul.
Jean Jacques Hoffstede
minor
Also known as Herr Hoffstede, Jean Jacques Hoffstede
A poet and friend of the elder Buddenbrooks, representing the cultured society of old Lübeck.
Siegismund Gosch
minor
Also known as Broker Gosch, Herr Gosch, old Gosch
A dramatic, somewhat sinister broker and translator who admires the Buddenbrook family.
Dr. Mantelsack
minor
Also known as Herr Professor Mantelsack, Dr. Mantelsack
Hanno's Latin teacher at school, who embodies the rigid and oppressive educational system.
Erica Grünlich
minor
Also known as little Erica, Erica Grünlich, Erica Weinschenk
Tony's daughter from her first marriage, who later marries Director Hugo Weinschenk.
Friederike Överdieck
minor
Also known as the Friederike Överdieck, Överdieck
A member of the Kröger family, one of the three elderly spinster sisters in Lübeck society.
Henriette Överdieck
minor
Also known as Henriette
Another of the elderly Överdieck sisters, part of the old Lübeck social circle.
Pfiffi Buddenbrook
minor
Also known as Pfiffi, Pfiffi Buddenbrook
The small dog belonging to the Buddenbrook family, mentioned in the family chronicle.
Madame Antoinette Buddenbrook
minor
Also known as Madame Buddenbrook, Madame Antoinette
The French-born wife of Johann Buddenbrook the Elder, mother of Gotthold.
Julchen Möllendorpf
minor
Also known as Frau Consul Möllendorpf, Julchen Möllendorpf
A member of the wealthy Möllendorpf family, part of the Lübeck patrician society.
Peter Döhlmann
minor
Also known as Consul Döhlmann, Peter Döhlmann
A jovial, heavy-drinking friend of the Buddenbrook family and business associate.
Dr. Gieseke
minor
Also known as Senator Gieseke, Lawyer Gieseke
A lawyer and later senator, who is a contemporary and rival of Thomas Buddenbrook.
Burgomaster Dr. Langhals
minor
Also known as Dr. Langhals, Burgomaster Langhals
A respected city official and friend of the Buddenbrook family.
Herr Kesselmeyer
minor
Also known as Kesselmeyer, Herr Kesselmeyer
A banker from Hamburg who exposes Grünlich's financial ruin.
Captain Schwarzkopf
minor
Also known as Herr Schwarzkopf, the pilot-captain, old Schwarzkopf
The commander of the naval station in Travemünde, father of Morten Schwarzkopf.
Frau Schwarzkopf
minor
Also known as Schwarzkopf
The wife of Captain Schwarzkopf, who hosts Tony during her stay in Travemünde.
Adolf Todtenhaupt
minor
Also known as Todtenhaupt
The meticulous head clerk of the Buddenbrook family firm.
Armgard von Schilling
minor
Also known as Armgard, von Schilling, poor Armgard
A poor noblewoman who becomes the companion of Gerda Buddenbrook.
