Buddenbrooks

“All the same, Ida Jungmann had proved quite adept at housekeeping and dealing with children, and, given her Prussian sense of hierarchy and loyalty, was admirably suited for her position in the household. She was a woman of aristocratic principles, who differentiated very precisely between the first and second levels of society, between the middle class and the lower-middle class; she was proud to be the devoted servant of the first level, and showed her displeasure if Tony made friends with a schoolmate who, in Mamselle Jungmann’s estimation, was merely from a good middleclass family.”

Ida Jungmann, the governess of the Buddenbrooks family, embodies the rigid social hierarchies and values of her time. Through her, Mann conveys a deep-rooted belief in the importance of class distinctions and loyalty to one’s superiors—values she instills in the Buddenbrook children. Ida’s positioning regarding societal stratification makes her role integral to maintaining the household’s social standing and moral order. Her reaction to Tony’s friendships outside the family’s social class exemplifies the challenges of navigating social boundaries, the continuous differentiation between classes, and the constant desire to climb the social ladder.

“The general good cheer had reached its height, and Herr Koppen clearly felt the need to undo a few vest buttons; but unfortunately that was out of the question, since not even the older gentlemen permitted themselves such license. Lebrecht Kröger was sitting in his chair just as erect as at the beginning of the meal; Pastor Wunderlich was just as white and well mannered as before; the senior Buddenbrook had indeed leaned back a little, but was maintaining the finest decorum; only Justus Kröger was noticeably tipsy.”

This passage describes the strict adherence to social etiquette and decorum that the guests and hosts feel bound to uphold despite the festive atmosphere at the party. The importance given to clothing signifies the importance of appearance and propriety in 19th-century Germany’s upper-class society, where even slight deviations from expected behavior are noted. The contrast between Justus Kröger’s tipsiness and the others’ composure accentuates the tension between individual impulses and societal expectations. The Kröger family’s extravagant tastes in general and Justus’s hedonistic impulses in particular are used as examples of contrasting behaviors to the restrained, business-practical morals of the Buddenbrooks.