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JOHN GALSWORTHY
(1867 - 1933)
John Galsworthy is one of the most outstanding realistic writers of the 20th century
English literature. His novels, plays and short stories give the most complete and
critical picture of British society in the first part of the 20th century. Particularly,
he is best known for his realistic depictions of contemporary British society upper-
class.
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.
The most popular and important novels written by Galsworthy 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 the 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.
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The most typical representative of the second generation of the Forsytes is James’
son, Soames, whom old Jolyon called the man of proper-ty. In his nature, views,
habits and aspiration he perfectly incarnated all the features of Forsytism. He is
firmly convinced that property alone is the stable basis of life. His human relations
and feelings are also subordinated to the sense of property. Having married Irene,
Soames experiences the greatest pleasure and satisfaction at the thought that she is
his property.
The main idea that runs through the novel is the conflict of the Forsytes with Art
and Beauty. Irene personifies Beauty and the young architect, Bosinney who falls
in love with her, impersonates Art. The conflict between Bosinney and Soames
arose in connection with the building of a house at Robin Hill.
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 Critical
Realism.
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
becomes 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.
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