How do Galsworthy's ideas about property relate to today?
The very essence of 'Soames,' the possessive instinct, continues to resonate in our present age, though the forms it takes may evolve. Whether it is the accumulation of wealth and influence, the fierce protection of intellectual property, or the territorial disputes that divide nations, the underlying drive to own and control remains a potent force. A slow, creeping realization dawns upon us, I believe, that an overemphasis on acquisition can lead to a spiritual impoverishment and a diminishment of authentic connection. One could not but feel that the lessons of the Forsytes about the limitations of mere ownership remain profoundly relevant.
Ask John Galsworthy the follow-up →