Mann makes use of the number seven, often believed to have magical qualities: Castorp was seven when his parents died; he stays seven years at the "Berghof"; the central Walpurgis Night scene happens after seven months, both cousins have seven letters in their last name, the dining hall has seven tables, the digits of Castorp's room number (34) add up to seven, Settembrini's name includes "seven" in Italian, Joachim keeps a thermometer in his mouth for seven minutes, and Mynheer Peeperkorn announces his suicide in a group of seven.