Questions About Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family

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Answered Questions (3)

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Nina As much as I would like to say Tony, since she obviously is my favourite character, I think you have to acknowledge how all of them contribute their p…moreAs much as I would like to say Tony, since she obviously is my favourite character, I think you have to acknowledge how all of them contribute their part to the story. One thing that does differentiate "Buddenbrooks" from many other novels, though, is that in the end, it is not the women, but the men who die. At the end of the book, which deals with the decay not only of a family, but more so of the 19th-century bourgeoisie, a new model of society emerges, led by the only surviving characters: the women. (less)

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Kızkardeşi Clara'nın ölümü üzerine, annesinin kendisinin görüşünü almaksızın Clara'nın eşi Sievert Tiburtius'a - çocukları olmadığı halde - gönderdiği hatırı sayılır ölçekte miras payını öğrenmesiyle, annesiyle yaşadığı tartışmada Thomas'ın haklı olduğunu düşünüyor musunuz?

Naphta I think it depends on whether your primary concern is the name of the family (in terms of the business) or the humanity of the people. Because women c…moreI think it depends on whether your primary concern is the name of the family (in terms of the business) or the humanity of the people. Because women could not at that time carry on the family line, Clara's inheritance was being directed away from the "family". On the other hand, in today's world, I would want my husband to have my inheritance and not have it revert to my family (especially if the family seemed to be well off in the first place.)(less)

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Not read Brudden but tempted. Can someone address, to me, how it stands compared to Thomas Wolff's Look Homeward Angel, and Of Time and The River? I found Homeward Angel painful to read and Time and the River is starting out the same way. I would be most grateful is someone would shed some light on it before I buy. Once bought I am compelled to read. Bad habit I am saddled with.

Naphta Honestly I read Wolff so many years ago now, that I can't remember the effects. Since the subtitle of Buddenbrooks is the Decline (in German Verfall -…moreHonestly I read Wolff so many years ago now, that I can't remember the effects. Since the subtitle of Buddenbrooks is the Decline (in German Verfall - which has the sense of decay) of a Family, I don't think you should expect much cheerfulness. On the other hand, I found the characters more representative of life stances than personal, so their decline(s) did not affect me as deeply as they would in more personalized novels. If you have never read Thomas Mann, I would recommend Magic Mountain or the short piece (Novelle) Tonio Kröger. The latter is not depressing but deals with some of Mann's key issues.(less)

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Unanswered Questions (1)

I would really like to see what one page of this book looks like. I do want the Woods translation, but the only one I can find with John E. Woods as the translator has small, dark print. I sent back a Hemingway for that reason. Does anyone know where I could actually see a first page? Amazon doesn't have "look inside!" this edition.

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