Hermann Hagenström Character Analysis in Buddenbrooks

Hermann Hagenström is the eldest Hagenström child. Tony, adopting her elders’ distaste for the up-and-coming families, harbors a grudge against the Hagenströms from a young age. She especially dislikes Hermann after he tries to forcibly kiss her as payment for a goose-filled lemon bun when the two are children. As an adult, Hermann takes over the Hagenström family business, which steadily grows as the Buddenbrook fortune dwindles. When the Buddenbrooks are forced to sell their beloved house on Meng Strasse following Bethsy’s death, Tony is horrified when Hermann Hagenström is the buyer.

Hermann Hagenström Character Timeline in Buddenbrooks

The timeline below shows where the character Hermann Hagenström appears in Buddenbrooks. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...grows older) and “lively gray-blue eyes.” On school days, Tony walks to class with Julie Hagenström, who lives in the villa next door. The Hagenströms are new in town and co-own... (full context)

Sometimes Julie’s older brother Hermann accompanies the girls to school. Hermann has peculiar tastes—rather than take a sandwich to school... (full context)

The next morning, Tony waits outside the Hagenström house. After a while, Hermann emerges from the house alone and presents a lemon bun... (full context)

Tradition, Modernity, and Change Theme Icon

...stay strong in the wake of her divorce, but she’s outraged when Julie Möllendorpf (née Hagenström) apparently snubs her when they cross paths in town one day. Bethsy tries to reassure... (full context)

...she starts to “cast her brother a sly look,” which Thomas catches and appreciates. Soon, Hermann Hagenström and Thomas seem to be the leading candidates. (full context)

What sets Hermann Hagenström apart from Thomas is that though Hagenström hails from one of the important ruling... (full context)

Thomas is different from Hagenström. For one, he’s “not just one man”—he is a Buddenbrook, and people respect that impressive... (full context)

...But it’s a close race, and it could be anyone. Initially, the word is that Hermann Hagenström has won. But that turns out to be a false alarm, and in the... (full context)

...describes a disappointing business meeting he had yesterday with the Buchen Railroad Commission, during which Hermann Hagenström smugly shut down all Thomas’s ideas. Thomas thinks back to what Tony said at... (full context)

Personal Fulfillment and Self-Knowledge Theme Icon

...wonders why he was so opposed to doing business with Herr von Maiboom. Someone like Hagenström wouldn’t turn down such a deal—so why is Thomas so adamant about maintaining such high... (full context)

...a well-received speech at the senate on some banal issue that enables him to humiliate Hagenström. (full context)

...celebrate. Tony’s hopeful outlook proves short-lived when a rumor starts to circulate around town that Hermann Hagenström has approached Gosch about buying Meng Strasse. Tony refuses to let it happen, but... (full context)

Tony insists that if Hagenström buys the property, she will lock herself away in the house and not allow him... (full context)

Later, Hermann Hagenström comes to the Meng Strasse house, accompanied by Gosch. There’s a pompous lift to... (full context)

...Bethsy’s furniture is divvied up and the house is emptied. The servants are let go. Hagenström closes on the house and almost immediately hires workers to tear down the back building.... (full context)