The Silver Box' is the first play in a series written by John Galsworthy. The play is a social commentary on the injustice and inequality in British society at the turn of the 20th century. The story revolves around the theft of a silver cigarette box from a wealthy man and the subsequent trial of the thief. Through the characters and their actions, Galsworthy highlights the contrast between the privileged and the less fortunate members of society. The play emphasizes the corruption and injustices prevalent in the legal system and how it often favors the wealthy and powerful over the poor and disadvantaged. Galsworthy uses 'The Silver Box' to highlight the societal issues of the time and advocate for social reform. The play challenges the audience to question their own beliefs and assumptions about justice and equality in society.
English author and dramatist John Galsworthy OM (14 August 1867 – 31 January 1933) was born in England. A Modern Comedy, The Forsyte Saga (1906–1921), and End of the Chapter are notable works. He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1932. Galsworthy was born in Kingston Hill, Surrey, England, in what is now known as Galsworthy House (at the time, it was known as Parkhurst). His family had a sizable home in Kingston upon Thames and was well-established and rich. In 1893, while serving as the first mate on a sailing ship docked in Adelaide, Australia, he met Joseph Conrad. The two quickly become close. From the Four Winds, a collection of short stories, was John Galsworthy's first book to be published in 1897. His writings, especially The Forsyte Saga, a trilogy about the titular family and their interconnected lives, have made him more well-known in recent years. He underlines their arrogant, acquisitive attitudes and moral norms while yet being sympathetic to his characters. Galsworthy died on January 31, 1933, and following his passing, his ashes were dropped from an airplane over the South Downs. In addition to monuments in Highgate Cemetery and the cloisters of New College, Oxford, he was cremated at Woking.
