Final answer:
Thomas Mann's novel 'Buddenbrooks' follows three generations of the Buddenbrook family, starting with the founder Johann Buddenbrook Sr., followed by his son Johann Jr., and focusing on the third generation with siblings Thomas, Christian, and Tony.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Thomas Mann's 1901 novel, Buddenbrooks, the story chronicles the decline of a wealthy merchant family in Lübeck, Germany, over the course of three generations. The novel begins with the family's founder, Johann Buddenbrook Sr., who establishes the family's fortune. The second generation is represented by his son, Johann Jr., and the children in his family. The principal focus, however, lies on the third generation, which includes the siblings Thomas, Christian, and Antonie (Tony), as the family's fortunes start to deteriorate due to a combination of personal choices, external economic factors, and changing times. Throughout the narrative, the characters' personal lives and relationships with each other are deeply intertwined with the rise and fall of the family business.