Individualism vs. Conformity

Characters like young Jolyon and Irene struggle against the conformist pressures of Forsyte society, which values respectability and financial security over personal freedom and artistic expression.

Young Jolyon's nonconformist life choices (marriage, career) contrast with Forsyte expectations, yet Old Jolyon's grudging acceptance shows a shift.

Old Jolyon defies societal norms by visiting his outcast son, yet he has conformed for fifteen years; the tension between personal desire and social expectation is central.

Bosinney's unconventional lifestyle and architectural philosophy clash with the Forsytes' conformist, property-driven values. His emphasis on 'self-respect' in design challenges Soames's conventional tastes.

Young Jolyon's nonconformist past and his father's traditional views clash, especially regarding Bosinney's rumored affair, illustrating the tension between personal desire and societal expectations.