The Forsyte Saga · Chapter
Old Jolyon's Bequest explained
Old Jolyon Forsyte, reflecting on his mortality and his affection for Irene, decides to leave her a substantial sum in his will.
What happens
Old Jolyon Forsyte, reflecting on his mortality and his affection for Irene, decides to leave her a substantial sum in his will. He wrestles with the propriety of this bequest, given that she is not a blood relative, but ultimately justifies it as a reward for the pleasure her beauty and grace bring him. The chapter also depicts a visit from Irene to his country home, where she meets his granddaughter Holly and enjoys a peaceful afternoon, while Old Jolyon's thoughts continually return to his impending death and the desire to provide for her future.
Themes in this chapter
Aging and Mortality
Old Jolyon's reflections on his age, his desire to buy youth with money, and his decision to leave a legacy highlight his confrontation with mortality.
Possessiveness and the Sense of Property
Old Jolyon's struggle over whether to leave money to Irene, who has 'none of his blood,' underscores the Forsyte sense of property and entitlement.
Art vs. Materialism
The contrast between Old Jolyon's appreciation of Irene's beauty and music and his calculation of wealth reflects the tension between aesthetic pleasure and material concerns.
Characters to notice
- Old Jolyon Forsyte
Contemplates his mortality and decides to leave Irene a legacy of fifteen thousand pounds; enjoys her visit and reflects on his life.
- Irene Forsyte
Visits Old Jolyon at his country home, plays the piano, and walks through the fields; she is the object of his affection and his bequest.
- Holly Forsyte
Greets Irene upon her arrival and shares a kiss with her; plays with the dog Balthasar under the oak tree.
- Balthasar
The dog is patted by Holly and teased by her on the carriage rug.
- Mademoiselle Beauce
The elderly French governess accompanies Holly; she has a ruined digestion from the siege of Strasbourg and writes to her sister after lunch.
Key passages
“He was going to leave her a portion of his wealth, of his aspirations, deeds, qualities, work—all that had made that wealth; going to leave her, too, a part of all he had missed in life, by his sane and steady pursuit of wealth.”
Old Jolyon decides to bequeath to Irene not just money, but a share of the life and experiences he sacrificed in his relentless accumulation of riches.
Reflects Old Jolyon's regret and his attempt to compensate for lost youth through his will.
“Pleasure must be paid for in this world.”
One must compensate for the enjoyment one receives from others.
Old Jolyon's justification for leaving Irene money as a reward for the pleasure her company gives him.
“If only with his money he could buy one year, one month of youth.”
He wishes he could trade his wealth for even a brief period of being young again.
Highlights the theme of aging and the futility of trying to reverse time.