Social Class and Change

Where it surfaces

• I: “At Home” at Old Jolyon’s

  The Forsytes represent the upper-middle class in transition, with anxieties about social mobility, the worth of new members like Bosinney, and the preservation of their status.

• Dinner at Swithin's

  Swithin's obsession with ormolu and luxury reflects the family's aspiration to high society, while Bosinney's presence hints at shifting values.

• Old Jolyon's Peccadillo

  The contrast between Old Jolyon's grand Stanhope Gate house and Young Jolyon's modest home highlights class divisions and the Forsyte sense of property.

• James Goes to See for Himself

  The chapter highlights the secure classes' reliance on gossip to maintain social order, and the tension between traditional values and emerging individual desires.

• Old Jolyon at the Zoo

  Young Jolyon's critical reflections on the 'carriage class' and the contrast between the caged animals and the constrained lives of the Forsytes underscore class consciousness and social critique.

• Afternoon at Timothy's

  The family's concern over Irene's behavior reflects anxieties about maintaining social standing and propriety within the upper-middle class.

• Dance at Roger's

  The dance showcases the social stratification among the Forsytes, with distinctions between those from different sides of the Park.

• Evening at Richmond

  The Forsytes' concern with appearances and scandal reflects their adherence to social norms, while the affair challenges the stability of their class-based values.

• I: Mrs. Macander’s Evidence

  Mrs. MacAnder's rise and social navigation illustrate class dynamics; the Forsyte family's concern with reputation and status.

• Night in the Park

  The park scenes reveal a cross-section of society, from shopgirls to Forsytes, all seeking escape from the constraints of their class and labor.

• The Trial

  The trial pits the wealthy property owner (Soames) against the artist-architect (Bosinney), highlighting class tensions and the clash between capital and artistic freedom.

• II

  Irene's reduced circumstances and her charity work with a fallen woman highlight class and social boundaries.

• At Timothy's

  The narrative notes the Forsytes' dispersion and changing attitudes toward death, marriage, and reproduction, reflecting broader social shifts in late Victorian England.

• Soames Prepares to Take Steps

  The discussion of divorce and the need to maintain appearances underscores the Forsyte concern with social standing and the changing norms of marriage and morality.

• James Sees Visions

  James's lament over the 'breaking up' of the family, the extravagance of the age, and the decline of traditional values like style and security.

• Val Hears the News

  Val's concern about public scandal and his Oxford reputation highlights the importance of social standing; the Forsyte family's handling of divorce reflects their class anxieties.

• X: Soames Entertains the Future

  Soames's display of wealth and his consideration of a French wife reflect shifting social dynamics and the Forsyte family's adaptation to change.

• On Forsyte 'Change

  The Boer War debate and June's artistic patronage reflect shifting social values and the challenge to established class and imperial norms within the Forsyte circle.

• I: The Third Generation

  The chapter contrasts the old Forsyte values of thrift and solidity with the new generation's focus on spending, sport, and individual liberty, as seen in Jolyon's family history speech.

• Where Forsytes Fear to Tread

  The use of private detectives and the legal system to manage personal affairs reflects the changing social mores and the Forsytes' adherence to propriety and reputation.

• Jolly Sits in Judgment

  The war debate divides youth along class lines, with Jolly's 'set of the best' and Val's circle reflecting conservative versus radical tendencies.

• Dartie Versus Dartie

  The Forsytes navigate the scandal of divorce, balancing reputation with property concerns, and Val's individualism reflects a generational shift.

• Timothy Stays the Rot

  Timothy's conservative views on volunteering and expense reflect resistance to social and military changes brought by war.

• Here We Are Again!

  The family's concern with appearances and social standing is evident in their handling of Dartie's return and Imogen's season.

• Outlandish Night

  The Mafeking crowd represents the rising democratic populace, threatening the established property-owning class that Soames embodies.

• Out of the Web

  The Forsyte family's pride is threatened by scandal and war deaths, reflecting shifts in social status and values.

• Passing of an Age

  Soames worries about Annette's mention of Soho and explains English class prejudices; the chapter reflects on the shifting social order with the end of Victoria's reign.

• Suspended Animation

  The discussion about Val buying a farm and the family's attitudes toward work and money reflect class-based expectations and the changing social landscape.

• Encounter

  Soames reflects on the loss of rank, polish, and the old order in democratic, post-War England, worrying about the future for his daughter.

• The Native Heath

  The chapter contrasts old Forsyte values with the modern, restless generation, exemplified by Fleur and the disillusioned attitudes of George Forsyte and Prosper Profond.

• Goya

  The interactions among Soames, Profond, Mont, and the Cardigans reveal shifting class dynamics and the impact of war and wealth on traditional hierarchies.

• In Green Street

  Prosper Profond's foreignness and disillusionment represent changing social mores and the impact of the war on English society.

• Purely Forsyte Affairs

  The chapter contrasts the stable, old-world Forsyte financial practices with the post-war economic turmoil and changing social norms.

• Timothy Prophesies

  The description of Lord's as a 'close borough' for the ten thousand top-hatted attendees, with the proletariat barely visible, highlights the persistence of class divisions even as the war has shaken society.

• Soames Cogitates

  The chapter discusses the decline of the old Forsyte values, the rise of new business philosophies, and the shifting attitudes toward titles and land.

• Fleur's Wedding

  The wedding of Fleur and Michael Mont represents the merger of the Forsyte family with the aristocracy, highlighting the shifting class structures and the Forsytes' ascent into the upper class.

• The Last of the Old Forsytes

  The decline of the old Forsyte generation and the rise of new social forces, such as the State and modern art, are central to the chapter.