The transformation of restrictive definitions of the “feminine” into a platform for the critique of “patriarchy” in Thomas Mann's "Buddenbrooks‪"‬

The common definition of femininity as 'having characteristics that are traditionally thought to be typical of or suitable for a woman’ will play an important role in the following essay. To discuss the topic of this paper, I am using Thomas Mann’s best-selling novel ‘Buddenbrooks’ to try to analyse it from these different points of view. To examine the aspects of femininity, I will mainly focus on Antonie Buddenbrook, called Tony, and her brother Thomas, as they are from the same generation and are playing an important role from the beginning of the novel until its very end.

First of all, I will start by trying to give a clear outline of what feminine or femininity is. After seeing some definitions and also paying attention to what women were supposed to be in the 1800’s, we will see in what way they can be called restrictive. Of course, I also need to have a further look into the principle of the so-called patriarchy. To see if Thomas Mann can transform the restrictive definitions of the feminine from his novel into a platform for the critique of patriarchy, I will analyse the two main characters of his novel after the first theoretical part.

This work can be seen as quite important as I will try to see if there is a connection between femininity and the decline of the ‘Buddenbrooks’. Hopefully this will enlighten us on how Thomas Mann did or did not describe a critique towards patriarchy in his first novel.