Buddenbrooks · Character

Alois Permaneder

Tony's second husband, a Munich hop merchant whose good-natured indolence and coarse Bavarian ways prove a comic mismatch for the proud Buddenbrook daughter.

supporting

Also known as Herr Permaneder, Permaneder

First appearance: part iii xii

As a supporting figure in Buddenbrooks, Alois Permaneder is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Introduced via Tony's letter as a nice, jolly, middle-aged hop dealer and bachelor from Munich, the only Protestant at a party.

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Permaneder offers Tony a comfortable, unambitious life in Munich, his easygoing warmth a stark contrast to the calculating world of Lübeck merchants. His laziness and provincial habits, however, chafe against Tony's sense of family dignity, and the marriage becomes a study in mismatched expectations. He represents the widening gap between the Buddenbrook standard and the ordinary, unheroic world Tony must increasingly navigate.

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See Alois Permaneder in part iii xii

Character Web

16 connections

A slice of how Alois Permaneder sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Marital Partners & Key Associates
The Buddenbrook Family & Close Kin
Secondary Family & Social Figures
Protagonist

+11 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This moment is the dramatic climax because it delivers the crushing emotional peak of the family's public disg…

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In the story

Alois Permaneder appears across 8 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

I
Introduced via Tony's letter as a nice, jolly, middle-aged hop dealer and bachelor from Munich, the only Protestant at a party.
Chapter IV
The Bavarian hop dealer guest. His informal speech, pipe-smoking, and hearty manners are a novelty in the Buddenbrook household. He shows clear admiration for Tony.
V
His good-humored but socially awkward presence disrupts the Buddenbrook household. His provincial speech and manners cause Tony embarrassment in front of the family.
Chapter VI
The Bavarian guest, full of friendliness and anticipation. Listens sympathetically to Tony's story, shows gallantry, and enjoys the picnic. His future plans remain unspoken.
VIII
Retires from the hop business after receiving Tony's dowry, prioritizing his 'peace and quiet.' He is good-natured but unambitious, finding solace in the Hofbräu House. Grieves the child's death but quickly returns to his routine.
IX
Described in Tony's account as drunken, vulgar, and unfaithful. His actions and the unspeakable 'word' he uttered are the direct cause of the marital rupture.
Tony's Return and Confession
Referenced as the cause of Tony's misery; described as lazy, culturally coarse, and whose final drunken insult severed her last bond to him.
XI
Surprises the family by agreeing to the divorce without a fight, expresses regret, and offers to return Tony's dowry, citing that they 'never hit it off.'

Chapter companion notes

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See Alois Permaneder in part iii xii

See Alois Permaneder in I