超然与执念《京华烟云》与《福尔赛世家》的对比研究(6)
In the book, Galsworthy used Young Jolyon as a both insider and outsider of Forsyte family to tell us what Forsytism is objectively and thoroughly. He (2001: 157) tells to Bosinney what kind of family he was born when everyone in the circle found Bosinney and Irene’s affair hoping that Bosinney could give up his empty love with Irene, “The Forsytes are the middleman, the commercials, the pillars of society, and the corner-stones of convention.” Hereby is a high evaluation on the Forsyte family at that time. It is obvious that the reason why Forsyte family can have today’s success and position is Forsytism.
Meanwhile, see all over the book, Galsworthy gave reader a vivid and incisive description of Forsytism by the portrait of a representative character as well (Shi, 1986: 8). Like Yao Sze-an in Moment in Peking, Soames Forsyte is also a typical person who worship and strictly observe Forsytism. He is also called the man of property. Not the same as Young Jolyon, Soames is totally a born and grownup Forsyte which carries every single moral and feature belonging to Forsytism. His treatment to his wives, daughter, money and house is the best performance of Forsytism, by which he could be regarded as the soul man of the spiritual theme. His main characteristic is possessive instinct, also known as obsession, by which he would take whatever he wants unscrupulously and never think about letting go. No matter what is, marriage or money, he never considers giving up his rights on them in one day. Even if he ever wins Irene’s love, he insists on possessing her body. In that case, it makes Soames even more pathetic.
“The possessive instinct never stands still. Through florescence and feud, frosts and fires, it followed the laws of progression even in the Forsyte family which had believed it fixed for ever. Nor can it be dissociated from environment any more than the quality of potato from the soil.” Galsworthy (2001: 293) wrote in the book and claimed Forsytism’s doom. “To Let” refers to a Forsyte era and the lifestyle of Forsyte family. Nevertheless, the era when those Forsytes can aggressively possess people’s soul, investment and women is finally let. And they are never capable of receiving love and beauty which they really desire for. This is the doomed fate of every Forsyte. No matter how prosperous and wealthy they used to be, it is nothing but a beautiful dream.
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