The Social Lie Exposed in The Pillars of Society :: Pillars of Society Essays

The Social Lie Exposed in The Pillars of Society  The deteriorating impact of the Social Lie, of Duty, as an inconvenience and shock, and of the soul of Provincialism, as a smothering element, are carried out with dynamic power in The Pillars of Society.  Consul Bernick, driven by the origination of his obligation toward the House of Bernick, starts his vocation with a horrendous untruth. He sells his affection for Lona Hessel as a byproduct of the enormous share of her progression sister Betty, whom he doesn't adore. To overlook his foul play, he goes into a furtive relationship with an entertainer of the town. At the point when astounded in her room by the intoxicated spouse, youthful Bernick leaps out of the window, and afterward generous acknowledges the proposal of his chest companion, Johan, to let him assume the fault. Johan, along with his dedicated sister Lona, leaves for America. As a byproduct of his dedication, youthful Bernick assists with looting his companion of his great name, by submitting in the bits of gossip circling in the town that Johan had broken into the safe of the Bernicks and taken an enormous aggregate of cash. In the initial scene of The Pillars of Society, we discover Consul Bernick at the stature of his vocation. The most extravagant, generally incredible and regarded resident of the network, he is held up as the model of a perfect spouse and gave father. To put it plainly, a commendable mainstay of society. The best women of the town meet up in the home of the Bernicks. They speak to the general public for the Slipped by and Lost, and they accumulate to do a little altruistic sewing and a great deal of magnanimous tattle. It is through them we discover that Dina Dorf, the ward of Bernick, is the issue of the alleged venture of Johan and the entertainer. With them, offering unctuous otherworldly guidance and speaking to the virtue and profound quality of the network, is Rector Rorlund, hidebound, pretentious, and extremist. Into this stifling air of mental and social provincialism comes Lona Hessel, reviving and fortifying as the breeze of the fields. She has come back to her local town along with Johan. The second she goes into the place of Bernick, the entire structure starts to totter. For in Lona's own words, Fie, fie- - this ethical cloth here scents so spoiled - simply like a cover. I am acquainted with the quality of the prairies now, I can let you know.