Content. I. Introduction II. Chapter I english literature in XIX and XX centuries III. Chapter II

Chapter II.John Galsworthy’s contribution to the literature.
As a novelist and dramatist,Galsworhy deals with the vital problems and issues in the social ,cultural,religious and industrial life of the times without any partisanship though his simphaties break out from time to time.His famous novel “The Forsyte Saga” traces the history of the family of Soames Forsyte .the man of property,through two generations and in its large canvas it includes many facets of life and many facets of characters .In his pictures and analysis of life and characters he has brought a keen and searching observation,and ironical humour ,sharp sensibility,and polished and urbane style to bear upon his subject.”Forsyte Saga’ is one of the best-sellers among modern English fictions.
John Galsworthy as a dramatist:
In the drama,too,Galsworthy adopts the same naturalistic technique in the tradition of Jones and Pinero.He was too,great an artist to deal with problems from the stand-point of a partisan and to offer any solution of his own.He dissects them with an impartial and detached attitude,presents both sides of the cases without passion or prejudice.The solution of the problem is not “obtruded” but only hinted at.In this respect Galsworthy differs from Shaw ,who is primarily a propagandist.as Chesterton has observed –“Shaw writes as if firing a machine gun at his readers;Galsworthy,as if speaking with an equal in a cultivated prose style.”He looked upon the masses of humanity as mostly victims of their own ignorance and folly and was content to reflect a social problem which we must somehow endure,because there is not solution.It must however be noted that Shaw and Galsworthy are different in their artistic forms.Galsworthy is a tragedian,while Shaw is a comedian.Galsworthy creates tragic pity out of the clinical presentation of the problems of modern men and women.Shaw is serious in his social and philosophical themes,but he presents them in a light-hearted manner with humorist and his art in presenting the udly facts of life in the sugar-coated pills of laughter and fun.He is a greater thinker than Galsworthy,and he is again a greater joker.
Yet,there is another side of the shield.The question has been often asked-“ Did Galsworthy write in cold blood,with his nerves at rest.”
To this A.C.Ward gives the reply:”Beyond question Galsworthy has honestly striven to give an impartial presentation of his problems.If he has not succeeded in doing so,it is because of one factor which he cannot control.Readers often persuade themselves that they incline towards one side or other because of the deep instincts of harmony and justice planted in the human breast and that Galsworthy has not definitely prompted theur inclination.But if the matter is pondered coolly,the conviction grows that the cult of the underedog is the ruling force in his work,and that Galsworthy is a subtle advocate who has deluded himself into believing that he is the presiding judge perpetually engaged in a dispassionate summing up.He does state weigh the evidence;he does state the case for each contestant;his intellect clear,cold,judicial statement;on the other,his presentation is warmed and coloured by and additional emotional element.”Sometimes by the choice of an incident at the climax of a play or through a third party commentator the emotional balance is disturbed.