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The Pillars of Society 13
THE PILLARS OF SOCIETY
THE disintegrating effect of the Social Lie, of
Duty, as an imposition and outrage, and of the
spirit of Provincialism, as a stifling factor, are
brought out with dynamic force in
"
The Pillars
of Society."
Consul Bernick, driven by the conception of his
duty toward the House of Bernick, begins his
career with a terrible lie. He sells his love for
Lona Hessel in return for the large dowry of her
step-sister Betty, whom he does not love. To for
get his treachery, he enters into a clandestine re
lationship with an actress of the town. When sur
prised in her room by the drunken husband, young
Bernick jumps out of the window, and then gra
ciously accepts the offer of his bosom friend,
Johan, to let him take the blame.
Johan, together with his faithful sister Lona,
leaves for America. In return for his devotion,
young Bernick helps to rob his friend of his good
name, by acquiescing in the rumors circulating in
the town that Johan had broken into the safe of
the Bernicks and stolen a large sum of money.
In the opening scene of
"
The Pillars of So
ciety," we find Consul Bernick at the height of his
career. The richest, most powerful and respected
citizen of the community, he is held up as the
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