Fraternity

"Fraternity" by John Galsworthy is a story set in the early 1900s that looks closely at how people connect with each other and the big differences between social classes. The book follows Cecilia Dallison, a woman struggling to understand herself and her place in the world. She lives a comfortable life, but she's aware of the hardships faced by those less fortunate, like Mrs. Hughs, a seamstress with a troubled husband. The story opens with a vivid scene of a spring day in Kensington, showing different social classes interacting, especially at a dress shop. Cecilia, about to buy a dress, feels conflicted between wanting nice things and recognizing the struggles of others, including Mrs. Hughs. As Cecilia deals with her family, including her husband and daughter, her worry for Mrs. Hughs grows, leading to a deeper look at class differences and the moral duties of those who have more. The beginning sets up themes of empathy and the difficult moral choices people face in a society divided by class.