Khazar university

Art is a victim:

The author loved Ada so much that, he wanted and also believed them be together in both worlds. Galsworthy believed in the power of art, at least before the war. He wrote about it that “man is a creature slowly, and mainly by means of art, emerging from the animal into the human being, and…” but in the novel we became the witnesses of the Art-victim phenomenon under the destructive character of the humanity. Bosinney and Irene underwent

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the main destruction, who became the pure representatives of art and beauty in the novel. Old Jolyon and his son young Jolyon are partially artists, but even they could not help the victims of property, because the minority side should obey the rules of majority. Irene again returns to the Soames‟s cage, because she is obliged and Soames‟s will is to keep her there for the end of her life, but there is no harmony in the end. The author returned again to the Forsytes, and the events turned their side into another direction. So, Soames‟s plans of keeping Irene with him failed. Even Soames himself became better from the previous chapter. All the changes come with the World War I, which influenced the author like the other members of the so-ciety. So we can observe the difference of writing between “The man of Property” and the next chapters of the Saga. Also we can say that, the war period was not the only reason for the change of the writer‟s outlook. Galsworthy‟s internal voices also made him change into opti-mistic, his inner struggle was in the need of relaxation, though the war scattered a lot of idealistic views of the author. But we cannot exactly drop a line between conscious and un-conscious decisions of the author. Anyway, it is clear that, the change is quite evident.

Bosinney and Irene personified True Art and True Beauty in the cycle of Forsytes. They have special place in the fall of the Forsyte clan. And also, they have earned special in-terest and respect of the readers. True Art and True Beauty shows more interest in the novel. So, the author is again optimistic about the future of the Art and Beauty, though the represent-atives of Beauty and Art became the victims of it. Galsworthy is hopeful about the humanity that, they will develop “from animal world towards the human being”, and in this way art will be a kind of means. But it does not mean that, Galsworthy presented in the novel variety of scenes which show humanistic ideas and various forms of art. The Forsytes‟ art and beauty are of philistine type. Their brains are not programmed to think on higher things. They thoughts of art and beauty are given in satiric tones. They are busy with other things, which are important for them, which provide their material needs. Their moralities are dependent from material things greatly. These material things give them power and feeling of higher class. At every social occasion they are proud of having more material things, pieces of art which are bought for a great deal of money. It gives them pleasure. In Swithin‟s dining-room room “a cut-glass chandelier filled with lighted candles hung like a giant stalactite above its centre, radiating over large gilt-framed mirrors, slabs of marble on the tops of side-tables, and heavy gold chairs with crewel-worked seats”. (14, p.35) Bosinney and Irene are the real representatives of Art and Beauty, but unlike Swithin, some Forsytes also have a notion of morality. Both Old and Young Jolyon tried to keep in balance their Forsyte features with their insight feelings of Art and Beauty. The richest of the Forsytes is Old Jolyon. But he has a

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sense of art. Here we should mention that, Old Jolyon‟s supremacy is due to his feeling of Art, because he made his money with the help of valuable pieces of art. So, his interest to-wards art is related again with material things. For Old Jolyon art is interesting, but money is important. Like all Forsytes he also gets his inspiration from money, it is money that inspires him to get different artistic pieces, which can produce money. It gives him pleasure and relax-ation to buy things which can be sold for more money in close future. “…it was pleasant to think that in the after life he could get more for things than he had given”. (14, p.20) It was quite natural him to buy everything with money, even love and beauty. To his mind, a man should not think about things which he had not paid for. If you want to a wonderful piece of art you should pay, if want to have a beautiful woman you should pay, so everything can be bought and sold in the world of Forsytes. Love, Beauty, Art, in general, everything is equal to money. Everything is business, everything is property. This kind of life is deeply influenced their heart and blood.

The Forsytes are not real art lovers, they are commercial art lovers. Their approach to art greatly differs from the love, beauty and the impressions emerged from pure feelings. The only thing is interesting for them is the price of the artistic pieces. Young Jolyon tries to gath-er such kind of pictures which can be sold for good money. So, he began with the watercolour drawings of London, and it brought a good deal of money to him. After the death of Young Jolyon, when his son Jon organized an exhibition of his father‟s pictures, he was proud of his father.

As we know, Galsworthy spoke little about Young Jolyon in the first chapter of novel, because his humanity, progressiveness was predictable. His enlightened viewpoints are shown in the dialogue with Bosinney. Actually, the author puts his own views of art, nature and so-ciety into this dialogue. So, Galsworthy puts forward his critic view of artists, scientist, re-ligious people who, in fact, are not the devoted members of their profession, and think only about making money with their work. Young Jolyon reveals them telling Bosinney that “wealth and security that makes everything possible; makes your art possible, makes litera-ture, science, even religion, possible”. (14, p.189) In fact, the Forsytes do not care for these things, they even do not believe, but their wealth, reputation helps them survive. Because most of these architects, painters, scientists have no principles, they have not any notion of art, beauty, nature. They only do their work and earn money; consequently, they are Forsytes, too. Only few of them have an attitude towards they work, and are responsible for their art-istic pieces. “Art, literature, survive by virtue of the few cranks who really believe in such things…” (14, p.189)

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Young Jolyon‟s progressive points of view of art and society reflected the change of view of marriage, unlike other Forsytes. To his mind, Forsytes carry their business principles into their family, that‟s why humanistic people like Bosinney and Irene could not bear their “ideal family portret”. It was unbearable for Irene to live together with Soames, though he had materially everything. “… to enforce what they called their rights over a man, to bring him up to the mark; so like them to carry their business principles into their private relations!”. (14, p.187)

Like other Forsytes, Young Jolyon thought that, the sanctity of the marriage, family, relations is related with the property. They did not try to hide it, contrary to it, they were proud of. Everything is property, and the property is the core of everything. “…the sanctity of the marriage tie is dependent on the sanctity of the family, and the sanctity of the family is dependent on the sanctity of property”. (14, p.192)

But we can‟t say that all Forsytes progressive, and we can observe their humanistic views with the time. Some of them are Forsytes to all their life, some of them are progressive, and others like Old Jolyon simply try to enjoy the life, and does not care for anything. He is not pedantic as his son, it is not his way of living, and he is not advanced in his views, too. He just loves to live, and enjoy the life. He likes nature; he becomes inspired by natural things. So we can‟t say that he is just a blind philistine as other Forsytes. Of course he is the member of Forsytes‟ world, and he also has typical characters of them. He keeps an exquisite piece of art in his house which is a china group, and he bought it when he was a bachelor, but still he remembers the amount of money given for this piece of art. “Dresden china groups of young men in tight knee breeches, at the feet of full-bosomed ladies nursing on their laps pet lambs, which old Jolyon had bought when he was a bachelor and thought so highly of in these days of degenerate taste”. (14, p.237)

As we mentioned above, Old Jolyon also was from those Forsytes, who differed from philistines. His view of authority of money was not different from others, he just judged about the relations between art and money differently. When Swithin proudly spoke about his amount of money, and the expensive Italian statuary which he bought, it was not impressive for Old Jolyon. To his mind, he could not spend so much time only to one picture, and discuss the price. Instead he could buy other expensive artistic pieces, enjoy the life around him.

Though Old Jolyon was full of energy and enthusiasm towards life, the ageing process and loneliness influence him, too. When he was young his thoughts of natural world was li-mited with the city life, with the urbanization. But with the years he understood what was the real nature and beauty. His interests had changed their direction. Actually, not only the age

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but also the loneliness had a great role in this process. He adored spending his holidays in the nature, in the mountains, in deep thoughts, nearly in meditation. It is close to religion than philistinism.

Forsytes knew Bosinney and Irene good enough in order charge about them. And even they matched them to each other, because Bosinney was a vulgar romantic artist, to their view, and Irene was an embodiment of art. So, they were similar to each other. “…looked worn…haggard, hollow in the cheeks beneath those broad, high cheekbones, though without any appearance of ill-heart”. (14, p.187) So, it was quite natural that Irene loved such a per-son, who was too far from demonstrating and being proud of his property. Forsytes spoke about it as a fact of being lower in the society. They could not understand the moral sides of the situation.

Young Jolyon is rational enough to understand the artistic values of Irene. When he first met her in the garden he tried to find suitable words to describe her beauty and sen-suality. She was so nice and delicate that, the words were not enough to explain correctly.

Some other Forsytes were not so deeply impressed by the sensuality of Irene, but they also felt something different in her. Even some of them warned Soames to be careful with her, because he could have trouble to cope with her.

Even some members thought of her as a goddess. To be sensual, to have feelings, to understand nature and art meant to be holly for Forsytes, because they could not be like that. It was not manly for them. It was great, it was different. So, Irene was like a goddess for them. But goddess could not exist among people, so the family of Soames and Irene could not continue much time. Forsyte and non-Forsyte, even goddess could not live together.

Soames Forsyte wanted to have Irene with egoistic feeling. But it was impossible. They were the two other people of the two worlds. It was really impossible to live a happy marriage together. Soames understood it when she saw Bosinney for the first time. Her com-plexion became happy, even the colour of her face turned to her dress colour, she became cheerful. Her breath became faster, she smelled like a flower.

We also should mention that, the impact of Bosinney and Irene to the world of For-sytes is much more than that of Forsytes themselves. They can unite nature, love, beauty. They can unite humanistic people. But Forsytes have not such kind of power, even if they have wealth and power. Irene and Bosinney could destroy some remnant of old period with their unity. But, at the same time they were destroyed by the disgusted world of Forsytes. They were few, did not have so much power, even if the have unity.

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From the surface the Forsyte family can have such an impression that they ignore everything, which is not connected with them, but with the deep observation we can under-stand that they are not indifferent towards the events happening around them. They are afraid of any kind of influence to all Forsytes. So, they keep unity in order to prevent forthcoming collapse of the Forsyte world. The appearance of Bosinney and Irene shook the world of For-sytes. They were different from them, at the same time horrible. They could predict the col-lapse of the power of property. That‟s why, none of the Forsytes wanted to see them together.

In the beginning of the novel Irene was introduced as a woman, who was a good wife, bellowed woman of her husband. But the upcoming events show the real mission of this beautiful like goddess woman.

“She was one of those women…born to be loved and love, who when not loving not living…” (14, p.49) She loved and was loved, but there was not a balance to finish this love with a good end. Neither Bosinney nor Irene could strive for their love among so many ill-minded people. The society itself prevented their love, because the quite a great portion of them was ill-minded. As Forsytes were in power they had a great role in the society, their im-pact to the people solved more thing in the society. If Bosinney and Irene had so much power, and well-balanced place in the society, they could show the power of their love.

Also we can see that it was the tactic of the author to make the Forsyte family power-ful, and to show the lovers weak. And Forsytes could not understand the love in its all colours. They could not appreciate love as it exists. They failed to realize that “Love is no hothouse flower, but a wild plant, born of a wet night, born of an hour of sunshine; sprung from wild seed blown along the road by a wild wind”. (14, p.126)

The author is sure that Irene could not have such a power to cope with so many forces. She had power in herself, but her inner strength is not enough for it. Even at one place Old Jolyon understood that she was very dangerous, but could not explain the reason. Irene‟s inner power sprang over her side; she could threaten Forsytes that something could happen. But the author again saves his heroine, and made the situation that love even can be harmful for him-self/herself. The person who is in love looses control himself, and cannot charge his be-haviours.

But Bosinney is another side of the blame. His story differs from Irene‟s. He had chances to increase himself, to have a good place in the society, unlike Irene who stayed at home waiting her husband, who only demand from her to be beautiful and charming for him. But Bosinney risings and failings are related with the house which had been construction for Forsytes. He had good career chances, which were ruined by the house which opened him a

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good way for the future. It was due to his character. He compromised, and believed that one day he would be the winner. He believed the saint power of love, which was in the first place in his life and thoughts. He tried to wonder the world of Forsytes with his genuine works, but he failed.

There is such a deep hollow between Irene and Soames that even they could not find any kind of common interests. Though he was a Forsyte, though he did everything for money, Soames bought exquisite pieces of art, which could be interesting for Irene. but she even did not look them at, she could not enjoy anything done by Soames. She never tried to have common interests with him. The only thing done by her towards her husband was that, she did not lock herself at the room. She welcomed her husband when he came home, tried to look beautiful and tidy.

Bosinney and Irene suffered from love, but we can‟t see any kind of direct scenes of their parted heart. The author didn‟t use direct dialogues to describe the love, passion and suf-fer of the lovers. Instead he tried to show their feelings with the eyes, emotions on the faces. They are not active lovers, Irene and Bosinney did not struggle openly and furiously. May be the author tried to point that the lovers are full of humanistic ideas, and could not accept fu-rious attempts. This kind of characterization is interesting, but, at the same time, the reader may not be convinced. If there is love, and lovers who can sacrifice everything that they have, they should be active.

From the other side, if lover are flat, and could not struggle for their aim, why should Soames compromise them? The description of the relation between Irene and Soames was also somehow interesting from the point of view of marital relations. As if something lacks in the relation, so, the crack between the spouses was obvious from the beginning. “It had been one of those real devoted wooings which books and people praise, when the lover is at length rewarde for hammering the iron till it is malleable, and all must be happy ever after…” (14, p.50)

Though Soames is brutal, he is a strong character. When he raped Irene he was con-vinced the reader to hate him. But then, after marriage he showed himself as a good husband. He nearly did everything to satisfy his wife, to earn her respect. At one place, when he called Irene “cold as a stone” he earned the pity from the reader. Because his love is one sided, he loves, but not loved. He is a good husband, a successful businessman, the lover of art, every-thing is ideal with him, but only the love of his wife can make him happy. Forgetting and for-giving his past brutality the reader can believe his pitiful situation.

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Bosinney could not play the same game with Forsytes. At the beginning he tried to that as if he also was interested only in money, and he made art money property, but the mask was torn very quickly. It was difficult for a person of art, nature and beauty, pretend to be as a real businessman. His dresses, behaviours, manners differed from Forsytes, and it was so apparently for them that, even they called he “unusual-looking man”. His unusual looking was related with his extraordinary inner side. He really differed from Soames and others. His play of being Forsyte did not continue so much. Even in one dialogue with Soames he revealed himself. They could not come to the same conclusion with the project of the new house. He treated so pettish with Soames that even at one point Soames thought that he would reject to build that construction.