FORSYTE VS POLDARK (yea)
I just rewatched Forsyte.
I read Forsyte much too young, it was at my grandparents and I was attracted by the beautiful image on the book. Anyway I read whatever my grandma had, not necessarily in the right order, and I didn't understand so many things. For ex I didn't understand the infamous "scene" (Irene and Soames) or why she was so mean to her husband LOL. Anyway just recently I re-read some of it (still don't like Dinny btw) and it hit me like a ton of brick: Soames = George (I'm a big fan of Poldark the show and the book).
spoilers
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They're both low key sociopathic, don't often do emotions, obsessed with their first wife even well after it's over, want to be accepted in society, they're basically cold except when they get possessive or challenged, they are pitiful in a way and upstarts/upstart family but they want their wife to love them.
The second wife is just a convenience thing, from which they want a son. They get cuckolded twice. Second wives are there for the money and status, bedroom isn't a big deal ("for what else had he married her but to have a lawful heir") even with first. Yes there are some differences, George would never act like Soames but again Elizabeth doesn't flaunt cheating and kick him out.
Both were rational enough for this obsession to be out of character. They could have someone without baggage but no. George knew Elizabeth's history (Francis even complained she refuses relations and loves Ross) and took the risk despite her postponing once (after taking forever to decide if she'll marry him). Soames even worse, he proposes what, seven times? six times? and agrees to her condition that he releases her if she's unhappy. That's quite strange for such cold minded men (their entourage agrees).
I googled to see if I was crazy but some others see it, and some suggest Damian Lewis as George LOL. It is very interesting that in those times - I may have other books in mind but the titles escape me, maybe one from the Rougon-Macquart saga, there's Oscar in Les Thibault but he didn't remarry - it is more the "cool" character who is promiscuous while the villain is non sexual or faithfully married. When nowadays it's the opposite. Also this is where the villains are punished, on the thing they did right. Very puzzling.
(obvious differences is that Elizabeth learns to enjoy life with George and George goes for widows and social status, while Soames doesn't rely on marriage to progress, Soames marries girls and George widows)
