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.

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.

Summary

Theme 8: English literature at the turn of the century. New trend in art 'Art for Art's Sake'. Thomas Hardy and Oscar Wilde with their best works. Scientific fantastic novels written by H. G. Wells. A specific English phenomenon – Forsytism – depicted in the cycle of novels written by J. Galsworthy about the family of Forsytes.

Questions

1. What does the theory 'art for art's sake' mean in literature and art?

2. What is your own opinion on this subject?

3. Who did Thomas Hardy write about in his novels?

4. What popular works by Oscar Wilde do you know?

5. What does Oscar Wilde describe in his 'The Picture of Dorian Gray'?

6. What kind of literary works were created at the end of the 19th century and to what literary trends did they belong?

7. What vices in the society of his time does Oscar Wilde expose in his plays?

8. Why do we appreciate Oscar Wilde's works?

9. Why is H. G. Wells called the great English writer who looked into the future?

10. What is the contribution of Wells to world literature?

11. What was Wells' attitude towards scientific progress?

12. What are the chief characteristics of Galsworthy's works?

13. Why do we call 'The Forsyte Saga' a social novel?

14. Comment on the title of the novel 'The Man of Property'.

15. What is the difference between the novels written by Herbert Wells and John Galsworthy?

Date: 2015-01-02; view: 3657