The Man of Property

Main Characters and Their Development

• Soames Forsyte - the main character of the book, a member of the wealthy and influential Forsyte family. He is a successful lawyer and a man obsessed with property. His marriage to Irene is unhappy, and he seeks to control her, as he does everything else in his life. Soames symbolizes materialism and possessiveness, leading to his internal conflict and tragedy.
• Irene Forsyte - Soames's wife, a beautiful and independent woman who feels trapped in her marriage to him. She longs for freedom and love, which leads her to an affair with architect Philip Bosinney. Irene symbolizes the quest for personal freedom and emotional fulfillment.
• Jolyon Forsyte - Soames's cousin, who left his first wife for a governess, making him an outcast in the family. He is an artist and a man who values freedom and love. Jolyon represents the opposite of Soames, prioritizing spiritual and emotional values over material ones.
• Philip Bosinney - the architect with whom Irene falls in love. He is talented and full of enthusiasm, but his affair with Irene leads to tragic consequences. Bosinney symbolizes creative freedom and passion, which clash with the world of ownership and control.