Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - The English Drama - John Galsworthy
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
JOHN GALSWORTHY
1
power of the modern drama as an
interpreter of the pressing questions of
our time is perhaps nowhere evident
as clearly as it is in England to-day.
Indeed, while other countries have come al
most to a standstill in dramatic art, England is the
most productive at the present time. Nor can it
be said that quantity has been achieved at the ex
pense of quality, which is only too often the case.
The most prolific English dramatist, John
Galsworthy, is at the same time a great artist
whose dramatic quality can be compared with that
of only one other living writer, namely, Gerhart
Hauptmann. Galsworthy, even as Hauptmann, is
neither a propagandist nor a moralist. His
background is life,
"
that palpitating life," which
is the root of all sorrow and joy.
His attitude toward dramatic art is given in
the following words :
"
I look upon the stage as the great beacon light
of civilization, but the drama should lead the so
cial thought of the time and not direct or dictate it.
The great duty of the dramatist is to present
life as it
really is. A true story, if told sincerely,
196
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
