The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy (The Man of Property: Part Three and Interlude)

[Jamie]

This is for the discussion of The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy (The Man of Property: Part Three and Interlude). My book pages: 183-292.

[Jamie]

I just finished this section and wow! So many unexpected things happened. I will write more later :)

[Casceil]

I loved the interlude. I really enjoyed the relaxed mood.

[Jamie]

The first book is about the man of property which turns out to focus on Soames. This book explains how the Forsytes and people like them view property as something like religion. They seem to place their value on what they own and how long they live. They want their children to be like them by growing their fortune and passing it down. They are mostly level headed and somehow they try not to gossip but everyone ends up finding out everything. They are competitive and only believe in helping family.

I enjoyed finally getting to know some of the characters after being bombarded with the entire family (at least it seemed that way). I mostly became interested in three characters: Soames, Irene and old Jolyon. Irene interest me because of how little I know her vs. how much she is talked about. Instead of this character falling flat she became intreging. Old Jolyon is the character that goes through the most changes although his reasons are not always based on character growth but on the appreciation of youth and beauty. Soames, at first, was a character I felt sorry for. He seemed practical, giving and overall deserving of love. What I didn't realize was his incapability to love (I might be a little harsh saying that). He adored Irene solely as a possession which many of the Forsytes seem to do with people. He deplorably forced himself on Irene thinking it was ok because she was his wife, his property. This gives the word property much more meaning and emotional feeling. This first volume has so many topics that could be discused it's remarkable. The book stays easy to read while packing so much for us to analyze, study and try to guess. On to the next volume! :)

[Jamie]

Casceil wrote: "I loved the interlude. I really enjoyed the relaxed mood."

Yes I did too! Old Jolyon seemed to step away from "Forsytism" and just enjoy life :)

[Casceil]

Old Jolyon goes through a process of learning to value people more than possessions and propriety. When he starts interacting with young Jolyon, despite the old scandal, he starts to seem more human. Soames does not go through the same learning process. His world-view seems much more fixed. It's like he is so blind to some emotions that he does not realize there is something there he cannot see.