Character guide

Hans Castorp

major

Also known as young Hans Castorp, Hans Lorenz Castorp, little Hans Castorp, Engineer

A young German engineer who visits his cousin at a sanatorium in the Swiss Alps and ends up staying for years.

Joachim Ziemssen

major

Also known as young Ziemssen, Cousin Joachim, Lieutenant Ziemssen

Hans Castorp's cousin, a disciplined soldier who is a patient at the Berghof sanatorium.

Ludovico Settembrini

major

Also known as Herr Settembrini, Settembrini, the Italian

An Italian humanist, writer, and freemason who becomes Hans Castorp's intellectual mentor at the sanatorium.

Clavdia Chauchat

major

Also known as Frau Chauchat, Madame Chauchat, Clavdia

A mysterious, slovenly, and captivating Russian patient at the Berghof who fascinates Hans Castorp.

Leo Naphta

major

Also known as Naphta, Herr Naphta, little Naphta, Professor Naphta

A Jesuit-educated, radical Jewish intellectual who engages in fierce debates with Settembrini.

Pieter Peeperkorn

major

Also known as Mynheer Peeperkorn, Herr Peeperkorn, Peeperkorn

A charismatic, inarticulate Dutch coffee planter with a commanding presence who arrives with Clavdia Chauchat.

Hofrat Behrens

supporting

Also known as Behrens, Herr Hofrat Behrens, the Hofrat, Rhadamanthus

The director and chief doctor of the Berghof sanatorium, a tall, moody, and painterly figure.

Dr. Krokowski

supporting

Also known as Krokowski

The assistant doctor at the Berghof, who gives lectures on psychoanalytic themes.

Frau Stöhr

minor

Also known as Frau Stöhr, Stöhr

A vulgar, gossipy, and uneducated patient at the Berghof who is part of Hans Castorp's dining table.

Herr Albin

minor

Also known as Albin, young Herr Albin

A young, frivolous patient who flirts with suicide and represents the morbid frivolity of the sanatorium.

Fräulein von Mylendonk

minor

Also known as Fräulein von Mylendonk, the Mylendonk, Directress von Mylendonk, Frau Director

The head nurse and administrative director of the Berghof sanatorium, known for a facial blemish.

Ellen Brand

minor

Also known as Elly, Ellen, little Elly

A young, delicate Danish girl at the sanatorium who displays possible telekinetic and mediumistic abilities.

James Tienappel

minor

Also known as Tienappel, James, Uncle James, Consul Tienappel

Hans Castorp's uncle from Hamburg who visits the Berghof to persuade his nephew to return home.

Ferdinand Wehsal

minor

Also known as Wehsal, Ferdinand, Herr Wehsal

A forlorn, lovesick merchant from Mannheim who is also a patient and admirer of Clavdia Chauchat.

Anton Karlowitsch Ferge

minor

Also known as Ferge, Herr Ferge, A. K. Ferge

A good-natured, simple Russian patient who suffered a traumatic pneumothorax operation.

Hermine Kleefeld

minor

Also known as Kleefeld, Fräulein Kleefeld, the Kleefeld

A lively, sharp-tongued patient at the Berghof who is part of the 'half-lung club'.

Marusja

minor

Also known as Pretty Marusja, the lively Marusja

A pretty, giggling Russian woman who is the object of Joachim Ziemssen's silent affection.

Frau Ziemssen

minor

Also known as Louisa Ziemssen

Joachim Ziemssen's mother, who visits the Berghof and is a sensible, caring figure.

Pribislav Hippe

minor

Also known as Hippe, Pribislav

A schoolmate of Hans Castorp's youth, remembered for his Slavic features and borrowed pencil.

Lawyer Paravant

minor

Also known as Paravant, the devoted Paravant

A patient obsessed with mathematical problems, representing the intellectual diversions of the sanatorium.

Karen Karstedt

minor

Also known as Karen, poor Karen

A patient at the Berghof suffering from open wounds on her fingers, whose death is noted.

Dr. Blumenkohl

minor

Also known as the silent Dr. Blumenkohl

A silent, morose patient who sits at Hans Castorp's dining table and later dies.

Frau Salomon

minor

A patient at the Berghof, often mentioned in the context of the dining society.

Frau Magnus

minor

Also known as Magnus

A patient at the Berghof whose husband, Herr Magnus, also resides there.

Herr Magnus

minor

The husband of Frau Magnus, a fellow patient at the sanatorium.

Frau Redisch

minor

Also known as Redisch

A Polish patient at the Berghof, wife of Herr Redisch.

Frau Iltis

minor

Also known as Iltis

A patient at the Berghof sanatorium.

Fräulein Engelhart

minor

A patient at the Berghof who provides Hans Castorp with information about Clavdia Chauchat.

The Czech Wenzel

minor

Also known as Wenzel, Herr Wenzel

A patient at the Berghof, known for his hearty appetite.

Herr Popoff

minor

Also known as Popoff

A Russian patient at the Berghof, husband of a very ill wife.

Fräulein Levi

minor

Also known as Levi

A patient at the Berghof sanatorium.

Barbara Hujus

minor

Also known as little Hujus, the Hujus

A young girl who is a patient at the Berghof.

Frau von Mallinckrodt

minor

Also known as Natalie von Mallinckrodt, Frau Mallinckrodt

A patient at the Berghof, mother of the sick boy 'Fritz'.

Fritz Rotbein

minor

Also known as Rotbein, young Fritz, the uninspiring young Rotbein

The sick son of Frau von Mallinckrodt, a patient at the Berghof.

Herr Sonnenschein

minor

Also known as Sonnenschein

A patient at the Berghof sanatorium.

Herr Wiedemann

minor

Also known as Wiedemann

A patient at the Berghof sanatorium.

Leila Gerngross

minor

Also known as little Leila, poor little Gerngross

A young, flirtatious patient at the Berghof.

Fräulein Schildknecht

minor

Also known as Alfreda Schildknecht, Sister Alfreda

A nurse at the Berghof sanatorium.

Sister Berta

minor

A nurse at the Berghof sanatorium, known as 'Sister Berta'.

Sister Sophie

minor

Also known as Sophie

A nurse at the Berghof sanatorium.

The Bathing Master

minor

The attendant who administers the rest cure on the balconies of the Berghof.

Grandfather Castorp

minor

Also known as Hans Lorenz Castorp, Senator Castorp, old Castorp

Hans Castorp's grandfather, a senator, remembered from Hans's childhood.

Giuseppe Settembrini

minor

Also known as Grandfather Settembrini, Grandfather Giuseppe

Ludovico Settembrini's grandfather, an Italian patriot and journalist.

Dr. Heidekind

minor

The family doctor who examines Hans Castorp in Hamburg before his journey.

Old Wilms

minor

Also known as Wilms

A foreman at Hans Castorp's engineering firm in Hamburg.

Lukaçek

minor

A tailor in the village below the Berghof who makes clothing for the patients.

Stanislaw von Zutawski

minor

Also known as von Zutawski, Zutawski

A Polish patient at the Berghof, part of the Russian social circle.

Michael Lodygowski

minor

Also known as Lodygowski

A Polish patient at the Berghof sanatorium.

Janusz Teofil Lenart

minor

Also known as Lenart

A Polish patient at the Berghof sanatorium.

Kasimir Japoll

minor

Also known as Japoll, Herr Kasimir Japoll

A patient at the Berghof who is involved in a duel.

The Student Rasmussen

minor

Also known as Rasmussen

A student and patient at the Berghof, known for his extreme thinness.

Gänser

minor

Also known as the thick-lipped young man

A young patient at the Berghof, friend of Rasmussen.

Emmy Nolting

minor

Also known as Emmy

A patient at the Berghof sanatorium.

Frau Consul-General Wurmbrandt

minor

Also known as the Wurmbrandt

A patient at the Berghof sanatorium.

Dr. Ting-fu

minor

Also known as Dr. Ting - fu

A Chinese student and patient at the Berghof who studies folk song.

Widow Hessenfeld

minor

Also known as Hessenfeld

A patient at the Berghof sanatorium.

Clavdia Chauchat (as Hippe)

minor

Hans Castorp's memory of his schoolmate Hippe merges with his perception of Clavdia Chauchat.