The Island Pharisees: Part II by John Galsworthy continues the social satire of British aristocracy, delving deeper into class conflict and personal transformation. The novel critiques the moral dilemmas and ethical choices faced by characters entrenched in the social hierarchy, providing a sharp commentary on the disparities between wealth and social expectations. Galsworthy's work explores the psychological complexity of individuals navigating their roles within the rigid structures of early 20th-century British society. The story examines family relationships and the broader implications of moral and social conduct, reflecting on how cultural norms and expectations influence personal decisions and behavior. Through its detailed portrayal of human nature and social criticism, The Island Pharisees: Part II offers a profound look at the tensions between public image and private reality. The novel challenges readers to consider the impact of social and moral complacency on individual lives and societal integrity.
John Galsworthy OM was an English dramatist and novelist who lived from 14 August 1867 to 31 January 1933. His novels, The Forsyte Saga, and two more trilogies, A Modern Comedy and End of the Chapter, are his best-known works. He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1932. Galsworthy, who came from a wealthy upper-middle-class family, was expected to become a lawyer, but he found the profession unappealing, so he resorted to literature. Before his first book, The Man of Property, about the Forsyte family, was released in 1897, he was thirty years old. It wasn't until that book—the first of its kind—that he saw true popularity. His debut play, The Silver Box, had its London premiere the same year. As a writer, he gained notoriety for his socially conscious plays that addressed issues such as the politics and morality of war, the persecution of women, the use of solitary confinement in prisons, the battle of workers against exploitation, and jingoism. The patriarch, Old Jolyon, is based on Galsworthy's father, and the Forsyte family in the collection of books and short tales known as The Forsyte Chronicles is comparable to Galsworthy's family in many aspects.
