Prejudice and impeded relationships in E.M Forster’s 'A Passage to India'

‘“Why, the kindest thing one can do to a native is to let him die.”’ – p. 24. So says Mrs Calendar, in just one of the many examples of casual racism that litter this novel. While I think it would be missing out a lot to state that this work is purely a novel about racism, this theme is so very clearly evident that it cannot be ignored. Rather, I would argue that it is a main theme and also one of the many prejudices used to demonstrate the ways in which our differences, and our attitudes towards them, can influence and impede relationships with others. Sex/ gender, class, age, and religion are all differences which lead the characters in this novel to feel a certain disdain, fear or antipathy towards one another, even whilst at the same time themselves suffering from some form of prejudice. It is these ideas that I found myself becoming embroiled in and would like to explore further.

A Passage to India has been a wonderful read, especially so because of the way in which it is open to interpretation from many different schools of thought. I came away from it reluctant to put it down, full of praise and, perhaps most importantly of all, warmed by a damn good STORY!

 

Clearly, when looking at the issue of race in this novel, it would be inane to point out the obvious examples and bemoan the characters for their lack of insight and humanity. I would prefer to have a go at looking at the issue of race from another angle. Racism is a very important theme in A Passage to India; many of the outrageous comments are made in passing, and within the confines of places or groups of individuals which one might consider safe, as they should in theory all agree. Due to Ronny’s absolute outrage when he realises his mother is speaking about an Indian when she conversationally mentions a meeting with Dr. Aziz, he thinks angrily, ‘Why hadn’t she indicated by her tone of voice that she was talking about a native?’ –p. 27. Ronny is scandalized, and also a little fearful. In fact, this fear is a serious undercurrent of the casual racism voiced at the Club; the fear not only of the natives themselves, but also of any white English person who has an opposing view. This idea develops later on, through the character of Cyril Fielding.

The Club itself serves as a safe haven for the English men and women – a place in which they are totally separate from the Indians, a state of affairs perfectly well accepted, it would seem, by everyone. Dr. Aziz, for example: ‘“Indians are not allowed in the Chandrapore Club, even as guests,” he said simply’. – p.20. Throughout the novel, I did feel a sense of ‘impending doom’, as it were; the feeling that something bad going to happen and that all of this hatred for each other could not simply continue festering. After all, the heat was coming…

 

It did occur to me at one point to consider whether or not this was a ‘protest novel’; Forster himself was a pacifist and a humanist, with many years of experience in India. Indeed, many believe that he was in love with an Indian man. However, I gave this idea up after a while, as it became apparent that Forster was not simply writing about how bad things were for Indians living under British imperialism. While this was something he touches upon, quite clearly, I believe that Forster shows a disdain for all exclusive systems or hierarchies, be it that they are based upon sex, religion or class. In fact, the parallels drawn between the British class system and the Indian caste system are quite interesting.

Fairly near the beginning, Adela’s impending marriage, and the restraints it would place upon her (as it did upon most middle class married women in this period), fill her with a sudden dread. This passage, for example, ‘In front, like a shutter, fell a vision of her married life [in India]. She and Ronny would look into the club like this every evening, then drive home to dress; they would see the Lesleys and the Calendars and Turtons and the Burtons, invite them and be invited by them, while the true India slid by unnoticed.’ – p 42. As the novel progressed, I began to consider whether or not the incident in the caves (to be precise, Adela’s perception of the event), could be in a way a reflection of her feelings about her marriage. The concept of being owned by a man and also by an oppressive society, coupled with the oppressive nature of the caves themselves, could easily have been a factor in what happened, if not a clear bit of symbolism.

 

I will come back to the strange notion of ‘the real India’ later on, because for now I want to have a look at Forster’s views on the patriarchy. Dr. Aziz is actually, I found, not a particularly sympathetic character; he is equally as prejudiced and unpleasant to people as the Englishmen, when it comes to servants and Hindus, and has some pretty patriarchal views on women. Take, for example, his first meeting with Mrs Moore and Adela Quested, ‘Beauty would have troubled him, for it entails rules of its own, but Mrs Moore was so old and Miss Quested so plain that he was spared this anxiety.’ – p. 62. Here we have an example of a man feeling intimidated by female beauty; mistrusting of its ‘rules’. Later on, the cultural differences in perception of beauty come to the forefront, when Dr. Aziz ‘analyses’ the body of Adela. ‘Adela’s angular body and the freckles on her face were terrible defects to his eyes… his attitude towards her remained entirely straightforward as a consequence.’ – p.62. Aziz, as a heterosexual man, could not treat a pretty woman ‘as a man’ and therefore could not take her seriously. Later, we are told that, ‘it enraged him that he had been accused by a woman who had no person beauty; sexually, he was a snob.’ – p.227. However, while Dr Aziz is unpleasant, he is at least real, and it is here that we see Forster’s true genius – creating these incredibly real, loveable, despicable, human characters.

 

Class (or caste) distinctions are also very clearly represented in A Passage to India. There are examples from the members of the Club, as well as Aziz himself: ‘He detested ill-breeding’ – p.53. In a strange way, Aziz and Ronny are quite similar – both are supportive of a classist patriarchy, even if they do not agree on matters of race and religion. Religious tension is also presented in A Passage to India; on page 96, Mr Haq states that, ‘“All disease proceeds from Hindus”’. It’s interesting to see these prejudiced opinions stated so freely and conversationally on both ‘sides’.

 

I’d just like to reference a very interesting passage in Critical Theory Today by Lois Tyson: ‘Jack Babuscio argues that gay sensibility has something to offer everyone: the relevance of its insights is not limited as some critics believe , to the gay community… [Tennessee] Williams’s heroines are Williams himself in drag, so to speak, expressing his own anxieties about being gay… Williams’s experiences on the margins on mainstream America, as an object of ‘fear, suspicion and, even, hatred’, gave him a privileged position from which to understand the conflicts of human life’. From this, I was led on to analyse the many forms of prejudice Forster examines in A Passage to India. While Forster was, of course, a closeted homosexual, the feeling of being on the margins of society, as Williams was, would have been present, and I would argue also gave him the ability to understand other forms of prejudice in a way which those existing within the realms of White/ Straight/ Male Privilege could not. I have also been wondering if perhaps the sexism, racism and classism looked at in this novel could in some way be ‘standing-in’ for an examination of homophobia.

 

Adela is obsessed with attempting to discover the ‘real India’. I read somewhere (I’m terrible, I never remember to note down where I read things) that Forster himself did not like the idea of a ‘real India’. Indeed, it is Adela’s hunt for this false notion that we are led to believe has some link with the incident in the caves. Take this, for example: ‘In her [Adela’s] ignorance she regarded him [Aziz] as ‘India’, and never surmised that his outlook was limited and his method inaccurate and that no one is India.’ – p.65. ‘[Adela] placed him on a pinnacle which he could not retain’. – p.66.  Forster never treats Adela unkindly as a character, despite disagreeing with the naivety with which she approaches India. In fact, while all of the characters are treated with compassion by Forster (even Ronny!), it is really only Mrs. Moore and Mr. Fielding who hold similar views to Forster. This novel is really a complete exploration of the prejudices and ridiculous notions that people of all colours and creeds hold, and of how they are nothing but impediments to relationships.

Adela does begin her time in India with the best of intentions, calling up those who she feels are unfair or rude. Mrs Moore attempts to do the same. I came to feel that throughout this novel it is the circumstances of Imperialism that create the attitudes people hold and exacerbate the problems that come about. ‘… the net Great Britain had thrown over India’ – p. 14 express this perfectly; the oppressive social situation, the oppressive heat the oppressive caves – all symbols of the bubbling melting pot which eventually erupts into a social catastrophe. 

 

I have tried not to give too much away about the plot here, as I really do think that this novel needs to be read to understood. All I will say, though, is that it is a true work of genius and a piece I will most definitely revisit. Very much looking forward to seeing what is said about this in my new book club and will hopefully report back.

Thanks for reading!

-K