John Galsworthy. Realism traditions in the creative work of the writer. Resources of the Forsyte novels.
John Galsworthy is one of the most outstanding realistic writers of the 20
th
century English literature.
His novels, plays and short stories give the most complete and critical picture of British society in the first
half of the 20
th
century. Particularly, he is best known for his realistic depictions of the contemporary British
society upper-class.
151
Galsworthy was not young when he started writing. His first
notable work was "The Island Pharisees" (1904) in which he criticized
the stagnation of thought in the English privileged classes. The five
works entitled "The Country House'' (1907), "Fraternity" (1909), "The
Patrician" (1911), "The Dark Flower" (1913), and "The Freelands"
(1915) reveal a similar philosophy. In these works the author
criticizes country squires, the aristocracy and artists, and shows his
deep sympathy for strong passions, sincerity and true love.
In his later works, "A Modern Comedy" and "The End of the Chapter", written after the World War I,
Galsworthy's criticism becomes less sharp. The old generation of the Forsytes does not seem so bad to the
author as compared to the new one. During his progress through six novels and four interludes Soames be-
comes almost a positive character, in spite of the author's critical attitude towards him at the beginning of
the Saga.
Galsworthy's humanitarian concerns also led him to write plays about the social problems of his time. From 1909, he
produced in turn plays and novels. His plays deal with burning problems of life. The author describes the hard life of
workers ("Strife"), attacks the cruel regime in English prisons ("Justice"), expresses his indignation towards wars ("The
Mob"), rejects the colonial policy of Great Britain ("The Forest"), and presents some other aspects of evils and injustice.
Galsworthy's plays were very popular. But it is not his dramatic works, but his novels and "The Forsyte Saga" in particular,
that made him one of the greatest figures in world literature.
The most popular and important novels written by Gels worthy are those of the Forsyte cycle (the
trilogies "The Forsyte Saga" and "A Modern Comedy"). "The Forsyte Saga" consists of three novels and two
interludes, as the author calls them: "The Man of Property" (1906), "In Chancery" (1920), "To Let" (1921),
"Awakening" (interlude), "Indian Summer of a Forsyte" (interlude).
"The Forsyte Saga' is followed by "A Modern Comedy", also a trilogy, consisting of three novels and
two interludes: "The White Monkey" (1924), "The Silver Spoon" (1926), "The Swan Song" (1928), "A Silent
Wooing" (interlude), "Passers-by" (interlude).
The trilogy called "End of the Charter", written at a later period, is less critical. The three novels are:
"Maid in Waiting" (1931), "Flowering Wilderness" (1932), "Over the River" (1933).
In the first trilogy, which was written in the most mature period of his literary activity, Galsworthy
describes the commercial world of the Forsytes, and in particular, the main character, Soames Forsyte, "the
man of property". The first part of "The Forsyte Saga" ("The Man of Property") attains tie highest point of
social criticism. The central characters of the novel are the Forsytes of the first generation and the
members of their families. They are shareholders and rich owners of apartment houses in the best parts of
London. Their sole aim in life is accumulation of wealth. Their views on life are based fundamentally on a
sense of property.
In the second part of "The Forsyte Saga" ("In Chancery»), the action refers to the end of the 19th
century and the beginning of the-20th century. In the concluding part of "The Forsyte Saga" ("To Let»), the
action takes place after the First World War. The Forsyte novels are highly valued for the truthful portrayal
of the social and personal life. The cycle is considered to be the peak of the author's realism.
152
2.
Do'stlaringiz bilan baham: |