MovieChat Forums > The Forsyte Saga (1969) Discussion > George Forsyte

George Forsyte

posted 18 years ago by tiderolls
5 replies | jump to latest

"I'd rather not to name Swithin, and all the Forsytes as gentlemen. They are from trade. They are copying some the gentheman's manners and ways, but in the same time they despise the class because those do nothing, when they are businessmen." -Gorye from "Soames & Irene" thread

That's one of the things I don't understand about George. In the episode "Encounters," which begins the second generation episodes, George is concerned about his income and the tax situation. He says to Soames, "Well, they've brought me up to do nothing." That seems like an odd statement coming from a Forsyte. Why would they bring George up to behave like a gentleman? Was that Roger's (George's father) idea, or just the way George turned out? Of course, we know that Soames and June have their occupations; Soames mentions Young Nicholas and Young Roger as being businessmen; even George's sister was a paid musician; so why did George get away with the gentlemen lifestyle?

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] fletcher rabbit 18 years ago

in truth, george is very much a forsyte; his profession is that of being a dilettante, and he is a success at it. he also knows how to make money, witness his fleecing of monty over the race horse, or his sole appreciation of art, i.e. the white monkey. george is a dissolute, true. he lacks the sincerity of either of his cousins (jo or soames), but he is as true to the forsyte credo as are they.

[–] tiderolls 18 years ago

That's a good point; I hadn't really thought of his bets as a way to make money (most of the other Forsytes did it on the side).

Suppposedly, there is a short story based on George's early life. Have you read it, and if so, what's the title?

[–] fletcher rabbit 18 years ago

i would have to dig out my copy of "on forsyte 'change", which is the source for all the apocryphal forsyte tales: a fewof which make their way into the dramatization, even if only obliquely (see "the buckles of superior dosset"). i dont recall there being a specific george story, but i havent read the collection in many years; you should check it out of a library or buy a used copy (its looooooong oop) if youre a big fan. it has all the extra stuff, save for a story called "the salvation of swithin forsyte", which isnt of much value.

[–] tiderolls 18 years ago

Thanks for the info; I'll look it up. I assume Galsworthy wrote these short stories, as well?