Para disfrutar de la libertad de actuar en nombre de una gran institución, una persona debe despojarse de toda una serie de vínculos y afectos restrictivos

Lewis Mumford - Libro Historia de las utopías (1922)

La lectura del libro Historia de las utopías de Lewis Mumford me conduce a una cita referida a John Galsworthy, Premio Nobel de Literatura en 1932: dice Mumford que el retrato que hace Galsworthy de un líder sindicalista en su obra de teatro Strife (1909), que pierde su poder para defender a los que le siguen como consecuencia de las presiones que afectan de forma continuada a los círculos familiares. A lo que Mumford expresa de forma brillante es lo que trasciende en ese choque moral entre el poder y la ética social: "Para disfrutar de la libertad de actuar en nombre de una gran institución, una persona debe despojarse de toda una serie de vínculos y afectos restrictivos". Mumford está haciendo referencia a la República, cuando Platón menciona que los círculos familiares generan pequeñas utopías que protegen su bienestar frente al mundo de los otros. 

En Strife se manifiestan los dos polos opuestos en Trenartha Tin Plate Works, situada en la obra en el límite entre Inglaterra y Gales, donde asoma la falta de empatía demostrada tanto de los dueños de las fábricas como de los sindicalistas en huelga, al tiempo que llama la atención sobre el sufrimiento de las familias de los trabajadores. 

En nuestra actual escena social y política surgen murallas difícil de entender: los gobernates y los ciudadanos, en principio una gran comunidad que  la realidad demuestra que no es así, sino que  actúan como dos comunidades antagónicas dando la espalda al bien común.

El consejo Mumford, despojarse de vínculos y afectos restrictivos, es más que nunca esencial.

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Strife
Synopsis[edit]







 
The action takes place on 7 February at the Trenartha Tin Plate Works, on the borders of England and Wales. For several months there has been a strike at the factory.

Act I[edit]
The directors, concerned about the damage to the company, hold a board meeting at the home of the manager of the works. Simon Harness, representing the trade union that has withdrawn support for the strike, tells them he will make the men withdraw their excessive demands, and the directors should agree to the union's demands. David Roberts, leader of the Men's Committee, tells them he wants the strike to continue until their demands are met, although the men are starving. It is a confrontation between the elderly company chairman John Anthony and Roberts, and neither gives way.

After the meeting, Enid Underwood, daughter of John Anthony and wife of the manager, talks to her father: she is aware of the suffering of the families. Roberts' wife Annie used to be her maid. She is also worried about the strain of the affair on her father. Henry Tench, company secretary, tells Anthony he may be outvoted by the Board.

Act II, Scene I[edit]
Enid visits the Roberts' cottage, and talks to Annie Roberts, who has a heart condition. When David Roberts comes in, Enid tells him there must be a compromise, and that he should have more pity on his wife; he does not change his position, and he is unmoved by his wife's concern for the families of the strikers.

Act II, Scene II[edit]
In an open space near the factory, a platform has been improvised and Harness, in a speech to the strikers, says they have been ill-advised and they should cut their demands, instead of starving; they should support the Union, who will support them. There are short speeches from two men, who have contrasting opinions. Roberts goes to the platform and, in a long speech, says that the fight is against Capital, "a white-faced, stony-hearted monster". "Ye have got it on its knees; are ye to give up at the last minute to save your miserable bodies pain?"

When news is brought that his wife has died, Roberts leaves and the meeting peters out.

Act III[edit]
In the home of the manager, Enid talks with Edgar Anthony; he is the chairman's son and one of the directors. She is less sympathetic now towards the men, and, concerned about their father, says Edgar should support him. However Edgar's sympathies are with the men. They receive the news that Mrs Roberts has died.

The directors' meeting, already bad-tempered, is affected by the news. Edgar says he would rather resign than go on starving women; the other directors react badly to an opinion put so frankly. John Anthony makes a long speech: insisting they should not give in to the men, he says "There is only one way of treating 'men' — with the iron hand. This half-and-half business... has brought all this upon us.... Yield one demand, and they will make it six...."

He puts to the board the motion that the dispute should be placed in the hands of Harness. All the directors are in favour; Anthony alone is not in favour, and he resigns. The Men's Committee, including Roberts, and Harness come in to receive the result. Roberts repeats his resistance, but on being told the outcome, realizes that he and Anthony have both been thrown over. The agreement is what had been proposed before the strike began.