Who Soames Forsyte is
Soames is James's son, an orderly, proud and deeply private man who guards what he owns. His paintings appeal to him both as beautiful objects and as things that keep their value.
He brings the same concern for ownership into his marriage, treating Irene as a possession. Yet his hurt and confusion keep him from becoming a simple villain.
What Soames Forsyte wants
Soames believes that providing Irene with a home and money should be enough to secure their marriage. She has married him without love, and he cannot understand why she draws away.
He plans a country house at Robin Hill, hoping a new home can mend their relationship. His wish for affection is real, but his rigid understanding of marriage causes harm.
Soames Forsyte and the others in the story
Soames hires Philip Bosinney, the young architect engaged to June, to build the house. Bosinney's artistic independence and rising costs bring him into conflict with Soames's careful attention to money.
As Irene and Bosinney grow closer, the house becomes a place where Soames's control begins to fail. Their growing attraction exposes the distance between the security he offers and the understanding Irene needs.
Questions
What does Soames Forsyte do?
Soames works as a London solicitor and collects fine paintings.
Why is Soames's marriage to Irene unhappy?
Irene does not love him, while Soames expects material comfort to make their marriage secure. He struggles to recognise that her feelings cannot be owned.
Is Soames Forsyte a villain?
He is not presented as a simple villain. His possessiveness harms Irene, but Galsworthy also shows his loneliness, pain and need for affection.