A Passage to India by E.M. Forster. A book of racism and misunderstanding, explores the consequences of two seperate cultures intermingling.

Essay by T03 August 2002

download word file, 1 pages 3.4 1 reviews

Downloaded 121 times

Throughout the novel, the English demonstrate their belief that they are superior to the Indians. "Forster draws an unforgettable picture of the tensions between colonial rulers and the Indian professional class (Critical Survey of Long Fiction.1141)." The comments and treatment that the Indians receive from the English characters in the novel show the common attitude toward the Indians during this time. One theory states that the behavior of the two classes is influenced by the government of Britian, the Rajah. It is implied that Englishman and Indians will not be able to be friends until the government changes which will allow the influence to be kept to a minimum.

'One of the major issues that the novel attempts to address is introduced in the second chapter through a conversation in which Dr. Aziz, Mahmoud Ali, and Hamidullah discuss "whether or not it is possible to be friends with an Englishman (Forster.

II. 6-7)" (Novels for Students. Lilburn 248).' Later in the novel, Aziz is befriended by two Englishwomen and Mr.Fielding, regardless of the fact that he is loyal and he gives his trust to them. While some of the characters intermingle and trust each other, in the end, they end up saying things that are partial to their specific government and people.