Chronological list of major plays by John Galsworthy, along with their themes

Chronological list of major plays by John Galsworthy, along with their themes

1. The Silver Box (1906)

Theme:

• Justice and Social Inequality

• Contrasts how the legal system treats the rich and the poor differently for similar crimes.

• Explores the hypocrisy of the upper class.

2. Joy (1907)

Theme:

• Individual Freedom vs Social Convention

• Centers on a young woman rejecting traditional roles and choosing her own path.

3. Strife (1909)

Theme:

• Class Conflict and Industrial Disputes

• Focuses on a bitter strike at a factory.

• Neither side—the workers nor the owners—are fully right or wrong, highlighting the complexity of social conflict.

4. Justice (1910)

Theme:

• Critique of the Penal System

• Focuses on the harsh treatment of prisoners and the cruelty of solitary confinement.

• Instrumental in reforms to the British prison system.

5. The Eldest Son (1912)

Theme:

• Class and Duty

• A young aristocrat falls in love with a servant, challenging the rigid class structures and social expectations of the time.

6. The Fugitive (1913)

Theme:

• Social Ostracism and Women's Freedom

• A woman leaves an unhappy marriage and becomes a social outcast, raising questions about gender roles and societal norms.

7. The Pigeon (1913)

Theme:

• Philanthropy and Hypocrisy

• Satirizes the upper-class attitude towards charity and social responsibility, particularly toward the homeless.

8. The Mob (1914)

Theme:

• Nationalism and Moral Dilemmas in Politics

• A pacifist politician is torn between his beliefs and the public demand for war.

• Explores mob mentality and the cost of integrity.

9. A Bit o’ Love (1915)

Theme:

• Prejudice and Forgiveness in Small Communities

• A man wrongly suspected of cowardice is eventually vindicated, showing the dangers of suspicion and the healing power of love.

10. The Little Man (1915)

Theme:

• Class Distinction and Human Equality

• A comic exploration of travelers stuck in a hotel, highlighting the arrogance of the elite and the decency of the common man.

11. The Foundations (1917)

Theme:

• Revolution and Social Reform

• Satirical depiction of a futuristic social revolution.

• Questions whether real change is possible within the existing system.

12. The Skin Game (1920)

Theme:

• Old Money vs New Money; Moral Integrity

• A feud between a traditional aristocratic family and an upstart industrialist.

• Examines class conflict, land ownership, and the decline of the landed gentry.

13. Loyalties (1922)

Theme:

• Prejudice, Loyalty, and Anti-Semitism

• A Jewish man is accused of theft in a country house, and societal prejudice complicates the pursuit of justice.

• Deals with loyalty to class, race, and personal integrity.

14. Windows (1922)

Theme:

• Hypocrisy of Respectability and the Quest for Truth

• A vagrant girl disrupts the comfortable life of a middle-class family, leading them to question their values.

15. Escape (1926)

Theme:

• Freedom and Justice

• A war hero escapes from prison and is helped by various social classes, revealing different facets of society and morality.

16. Exiled (1929)

Theme:

• Punishment, Guilt, and Redemption

• A man returns from prison and struggles to reintegrate into society and reconcile with his past.