What is Galsworthy's central idea about possessiveness?
My central preoccupation, as evinced throughout the Forsyte chronicles, was the corrosive nature of possessiveness, particularly as it manifested in the concept of 'Soames' – the instinct to own, to hold, to regard people and even abstract ideals as property. This was not merely about material possessions, but a deeper psychological and societal drive that I saw as stifling genuine human relationships and artistic expression. The weight of tradition, often intertwined with this acquisitive spirit, bore down heavily, preventing characters from truly living and loving. The instinct for self-preservation, however, was strong, often driving them to further entrench these possessive attitudes.
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