The Family’s Repeated Marital Ruptures

Buddenbrooks

This thread links successive marriages and separations to the family’s attempts to preserve respectability and manage personal failure.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

Gotthold’s Forbidden Match Gotthold’s Forbidden Match from "Buddenbrooks". Gotthold’s Forbidden Match Love against approval Gotthold marries a shopkeeper despite his father’s prohibition.

Gotthold’s Forbidden Match from "Buddenbrooks". Gotthold’s Forbidden Match Love against approval Gotthold marries a shopkeeper despite his father’s prohibition.

Gotthold’s Forbidden Match Love against approval Gotthold marries a shopkeeper despite his father’s prohibition. Exclusion follows His choice brings a break with his father and lasting disputes over compensation. The family’s first marital conflict establishes a pattern of personal desire punished by status concerns.

Tony’s First Marriage Tony’s First Marriage from "Buddenbrooks". Tony’s First Marriage An advantageous choice Tony marries Grünlich after her family persuades her that duty should overcome dislike.

Tony’s First Marriage from "Buddenbrooks". Tony’s First Marriage An advantageous choice Tony marries Grünlich after her family persuades her that duty should overcome dislike.

Tony’s First Marriage An advantageous choice Tony marries Grünlich after her family persuades her that duty should overcome dislike. Fraud and separation His bankruptcy and deception end the marriage, and her father brings her home. A respectable alliance produces public embarrassment instead of security.

Tony’s Second Marriage Tony’s Second Marriage from "Buddenbrooks". Tony’s Second Marriage A calmer decision Tony accepts Permaneder without the courtship pressure of her first marriage.

Tony’s Second Marriage from "Buddenbrooks". Tony’s Second Marriage A calmer decision Tony accepts Permaneder without the courtship pressure of her first marriage.

Tony’s Second Marriage A calmer decision Tony accepts Permaneder without the courtship pressure of her first marriage. Conflict over life’s purpose His retirement, their child’s death, and the Babette incident expose their incompatibility. The second marriage ends with a mutual divorce, but renews Tony’s sense of failure.

Erika’s Marriage And Trial Erika’s Marriage And Trial from "Buddenbrooks". Erika’s Marriage And Trial A hopeful household Erika marries Hugo, whose employment and salary promise steadiness.

Erika’s Marriage And Trial from "Buddenbrooks". Erika’s Marriage And Trial A hopeful household Erika marries Hugo, whose employment and salary promise steadiness.

Erika’s Marriage And Trial A hopeful household Erika marries Hugo, whose employment and salary promise steadiness. A public crisis His conviction destroys their domestic security, and Erika remains with Tony while he serves his sentence. Marriage cannot insulate the next generation from scandal.

Aline And Christian Aline And Christian from "Buddenbrooks". Aline And Christian A late marriage plan Christian insists on marrying Aline Puvogel despite Thomas’s opposition and the restrictions in their mother’s will.

Aline And Christian from "Buddenbrooks". Aline And Christian A late marriage plan Christian insists on marrying Aline Puvogel despite Thomas’s opposition and the restrictions in their mother’s will.

Aline And Christian A late marriage plan Christian insists on marrying Aline Puvogel despite Thomas’s opposition and the restrictions in their mother’s will. Family authority challenged He proceeds after his brother’s death, and the family refuses to recognize Aline as one of its own. The marriage extends the pattern of private unions colliding with inheritance control.

Early nineteenth century

1845–1850

1856–1860

1867–1871

1874–1876