Thomas Buddenbrook becomes the proud father of a son and heir, and his sister Antonie finds new love after her divorce. But she soon finds that her new husband is fond of drink and plans to retire now that he has found himself a well off wife. Mother Elisabeth does not approve of Christian's love for the actress Aline, and it is only after the mother's death that the two of them can get married. The Buddenbrook business comes under financial strain and threatens to fail. There is a typhoid epidemic in town and Thomas's young son falls ill and dies. Aline commits Christian, who is becoming mentally unstable, to a lunatic asylum. Thomas receives the news that he is going to be made a senator.