Introduction

Thomas Mann's 1925 short story, "Disorder and Early Sorrow," offers a moving account of the social and economic anxieties of the Weimar Republic. Set entirely within the Cornelius household over a single day and night, the story uses a microcosmic lens to magnify the larger societal shifts roiling post-World War I Germany. 

Hyperinflation, a yearning for the past, and the allure of carefree modernity all play out within the confines of a social gathering. As such, the story reveals the deep fractures running through German society at the time without explicitly diving into them. Through Professor Cornelius's internal struggles and observations of his family and guests, Mann lays bare a nation wrestling with a lost identity and an uncertain future.

Plot Summary

The story opens at dinner at the home of Professor Cornelius, a 47-year-old history professor. His older children, Ingrid (18) and Bert (17) are rebelling against tradition. Instead of pursuing typical professions, they set their eyes on being entertainers. They have embraced their generation's bohemian culture, much to their parents' confusion. With affection, Ingrid and Bert address their parents casually, calling them "old folks." Even the younger siblings, five-year-old Ellie, and four-year-old Snapper, call their father by his first name.

The family is preparing for a party that evening. The guests are friends of the older children, some of whom the Professor finds distasteful. There is a widening generation gap, and the Professor struggles to connect with his children's modern world. 

Like many in post-WWI Germany, the family has its share of economic struggles. Despite Professor Cornelius' middle-class aspirations to provide a proper spread for their upcoming party, his wife reminds him that the guests will not expect it. Due to the high cost of food, they settle for a simple meal.

The older children, the "big folk," Ingrid and Bert, are modern and playful. They enjoy entertaining schemes, like buying eggs under assumed names and impersonating outrageous characters. These antics leave their parents bewildered as they struggle to understand their slang and strange behavior.

In contrast, the "little folk," Ellie and Snapper, are a source of comfort for the Professor. Their innocent affection offers an escape from the complexities of the changing world. Snapper tries to project a tough exterior at the table, even "lifting his shoulders and letting the little arms hang down quite like a young American athlete" to appear strong. However, he is still prone to "sudden anger and outbursts of bitter tears." 

Ellie, on the other hand, embodies a graceful femininity. Professor Cornelius cherishes their bond, remembering how he fell in love with her at birth. He connects this feeling to his love of history and its sense of order, a "temper of timelessness." He finds their connection "timeless, and thus very, very holy and beautiful."

The arrival of guests disrupts Professor Cornelius's usual routine. He steels himself for the disruption with a mix of excitement and apprehension. The guests fill the house with chatter and laughter. The Professor makes polite conversation, and his observations are peppered with amusement and bemusement at the younger generation's unconventional ways.

One guest, Max Hergesell, complains about his tight shoes, pointing out the everyday challenges of life in this post-war era where even a simple shoehorn is a luxury. As the party progresses, the Professor retreats to his study only to be drawn back by the sounds of music and laughter. He observes the young people dancing and socializing, with a smile lingering on his lips as he retreats to his study. The evening continues with a lively mix of music, dancing, and youthful revelry.