The Forsyte Saga Tells Us the Way to Address the Things of Beauty in Our Lives
All that counts is that you recognise the crucial distinction.
The Forsyte Saga, written by Nobel Laureate John Galsworthy, is set in Victorian England. Soames Forsyte, a wealthy and pompous man, meets and falls in love with a poor lady, Irene Herron.
Soames, the wealthy and acquisitive Man of Property, is captivated by Irene. He aspires to own her beauty in the same way that he aspires to own the beautiful mansion he buys for her, which is filled with exquisite and expensive works of art.
But the more Soames attempts to take her as his own, the further away he pushes her.
Jolyon, a senior citizen, is the only male who makes her feel at ease. While he is enthralled by her beauty, Jolyon is not interested in possessing it. He peacefully basks in the warmth of her beauty in the twilight of his existence, like a man warming himself in front of the blazing embers of a fire on a cold day.
Soames and Jolyon symbolise two opposing perspectives on beauty and consciousness. Soames, like the majority of us, aspires to claim the beautiful — another word for perfection — and claim it as his own.
