Buddenbrooks - Part 4

[Silver]

Part 4

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11

[Harm]

Just finished part 4. Events have taken a surprising turn. I already knew that mr. Grünlich was a very annoying man, but I really didn't see coming that he was so devious.

This chapter showed a more human side of Tony's father, consul Buddenbrook. He saw that he made a mistake by forcing his daughter to mary Grünlich and he was not afraid to admit it. He shows courage in confronting the rioters and mr. Grünlich. His death leaves the family in an uncertain position. His oldest son doesn't seem to have the same strong character as his father.

[Silver]

Harm wrote: "Just finished part 4. Events have taken a surprising turn. I already knew that mr. Grünlich was a very annoying man, but I really didn't see coming that he was so devious.

This chapter showed a mo..."

I haven't quite finished this section. I have been a bit busy so I got a bit behind in my reading but one of the things that did surprise me was seeing that different side of Tony's father.

It seemed he had cared only abut himself and what he thought would be good for him and his own business in forcing the marriage. And he seemed quite devious in the manipulative way he went about trying to force Tony into it.

But seeing the true colors of Grunlich he felt real genuine concern for his daughter, and it was quite shocking that he was willing to support and aid her in getting a divorce if she so desired. It was admirable of him to admit his mistake and seek to do what was in Tony's best interests.

[Will]

Deviousness seems to have taken place on several levels. With Buddenbrooks to align his daughter into a seemingly good alliance with Grünlich; With Grünlich to secure a large dowry for aiding him in his business ventures and of competitors of the firm " who were only too glad to see a marriage that would provide them some security."

The Consul does seem to truly love Tony and shows genuine regret and interest in repairing her damaged life. Mann exhibits a little cynicism here by consistently showing the reader how the Consul's desire to help his daughter also happen to be moves that are in the best interest of the firm.

[Silver]

I am not quite sure what to make of Tony at times. On the whole I do like her, though at times she also strikes me as being a bit irritating.

The best word I can come up to describe her is she seems to be very flippant. She does not seem to display any real depth of emotion.

First when she does resign herself to marry Grunlich for the sake of the family she doesn't seem to spare another single thought for Morton the man whom she allegedly loved. It seemed out of sight out of mind.

And though she tells her father that she always despised Grunlich and never loved him in the scenes of their life she never appears to be particularly unhappy but rather it seems she is quite content as long as she has luxurious things to amuse her.

While I am glad that she did not stay with Grunlich and applauded her for leaving him she treated the whole episode like it was some game, that it was some role she was acting out and she enjoyed basking in the attention and sympathy of others.

Nothing that happens to her within her life seems to affect her or phase her in anyway. She does seem to just laugh it all off or truly grasp the seriousness of anything.

[Jody]

I feel much of the Consul's compassion for Tony -- or at least a significant part -- came from a sense of guilt and I found that refreshing since he had really given no hint of it when he was busy persuading Tony to marry the idiot. I see a bit of change in Tony since being forced to leave the doctor-to-be -- when I felt she was on the brink of her real self. Now, as Mann writes, she is aware of her worth and I feel that makes her a bit plastic. I'm still hoping for redemption with the return of Morten. But I'm a hopeless romantic. Haha. (My first post because I'm just catching up after joining late. I love this book, for those of you who suggested it. )

[Bonnie]

Silver wrote: "I am not quite sure what to make of Tony at times. On the whole I do like her, though at times she also strikes me as being a bit irritating. The best word I can come up to describe her is she seems to be very flippant. "

I want to like her, I do sympathize with her, I picture her as an Anne of Green Gables with a more mischievous streak... but in fact it's more of a mean, haughty streak.

I warm up to her when she cries about Herr Grunlich, or expresses love to her father... Then she ruins my Anne Shirley image by being snide or making snobby, obnoxious remarks about other people in town. So her grandfather made some money seventy years ago, that doesn't make the Buddenbrooks inherently superior to others whose fathers made some money twenty years ago.