Passage to India Part One Essay

Summary Chapter IV Mr. Turton invites several Indian gentlemen to the proposed Bridge Party at the club. The Indians argon surprised by the invitation. Mahmoud Ali suspects that the lieutenant general has ordered Turton to hold the companionship. The Nawab Bahadur, one of the just about important Indian lan bug outers in the area, announces that he appreciates the invitation and provide attend. Some accuse the Nawab Bahadur of cheapening himself, but most Indians highly respect him and decide to attend as well. The narrator describes the room in which the Indian gentlemen meet. Outside keep the lowlier Indians who received no invitation.The narrator describes Mr. Grayford and Mr. Sorley, missionaries on the outskirts of the city. Mr. Sorley feels that all men go to heaven, but non lowly white Anglo-Saxon Protestants, bacteria, or mud, because something mustiness be excluded to vary bounteous for those who are included. Mr. Sorleys Hindu friends disagree, however, as they fee l that God includes every living thing. Summary Chapter V At the Bridge Party, the Indian guests stand idly at one side of the tennis lawn while the English stand at the some other.The clear segregation dismays Adela Quested and Mrs. Moore. Ronny and Mrs.Turton disdainfully discuss the Indians clothing, which mixes Eastern and Western styles. several(prenominal) Englishwomen arrive and discuss the earlier production of Cousin Kate. Mrs. Moore is surprised to none how intolerant and conventional Ronnys opinions hold back be scrape. Mr. Turton arrives, cynically noting to himself that each guest has come for a self-serving reason. Reluctantly, Mrs. Turton takes Adela and Mrs. Moore to visit a group of Indian ladies. Mrs. Turton addresses the Indian women in crude Urdu, and thus asks Mrs. Moore and Adela if they are satisfied. One of the Indian women speaks, and Mrs.Turton is surprised to perk that the women k straight English.Mrs. Moore and Adela unsuccessfully try to draw the I ndian women out into much substantial conversation. Mrs. Moore asks one of them, Mrs. Bhattacharya, if she and Adela can visit her at home. Mrs. Bhattacharya agrees to host the Englishwomen the upcoming Thursday, and her married man promises to send his carriage for them. Mr. field, who is in any case at the piece of musicy, affableizes freely with the Indians and even eats on the Indian side of the lawn. He is pleased to learn that Adela and Mrs. Moore have been accessible to the Indians.Fielding locates Adela and invites her nd Mrs. Moore to tea leaftime. Adela complains about how rude the English are acting toward their guests, but Fielding suspects her complaints are in severaliseectual, not emotional. Adela mentions Dr. Aziz, and Fielding promises to invite the doctor to tea as well. That evening, Adela and Ronny dine with the McBrydes and cut down Derek. The dinner consists of standard English fare. During the meal, Adela begins to dread the prospect of a drab married l ife among the insensitive English. She fears she will neer get to know the true spirit of India. After Adela goes to bed, Ronny asks his mother about Adela.Mrs.Moore explains that Adela feels that the English are unpleasant to the Indians. Ronny is dismissive, explaining that the English are in India to keep the peace, not to be pleasant. Mrs. Moore disagrees, saying it is the duty of the English to be pleasant to Indians, as God demands love for all men. Mrs. Moore instantly regrets mentioning God ever since she has arrived in India, her God has knowmed less powerful than ever before. Summary Chapter VI The morning after Azizs encounter with Mrs. Moore, Major Callendar scolds the doctor for failing to report straight off to his summons, and he does not ask for Azizs side of the story.Aziz and a colleague, Dr. Panna Lal, decide to attend the Bridge Party together. However, the troupe falls on the anniversary of Azizs wifes death, so he decides not to attend. Aziz mourns his lovi ng wife for part of the day and then borrows Hamidullahs pony to practice polo on the townspeople green. An English soldier is also practicing polo, and he and Aziz play together skeletonly as comrades. Dr. Lal, returning from the Bridge Party, runs into Aziz. Lal reports that Azizs absence was noticed, and he insists on intimate why Aziz did not attend. Aziz, considering Lal ill mannered to ask such a question, reacts defiantly.By the time Aziz reaches home, though, he has begun to worry that the English will punish him for not attending. His mood improves when he opens Fieldings invitation to tea. Aziz is pleased that Fielding has civilizedly ignored the fact that Aziz forgot to respond to an invitation to tea at Fieldings finally month. Analysis Chapters IVVI The wildly unsuccessful Bridge Party stands as the clear focus of this portion of the novel. Though the event is meant to be a time of orchestrated interaction, a bridge between the two cultures, the only result is heigh tened suspicion on both sides.Indians such as Mahmoud Ali suspect that Turton is throwing the society not in good faith, but on orders from a superior. Turton himself suspects that the Indians attend only for self-serving reasons. The party remains segregated, with the English hosts regarding their guests as one bighearted group that can be split down only into Indian types, not into individuals. Though the Bridge Party clearly furthers our idea that the English as a whole act condescendingly toward the Indians, Forster also uses the party to examine the minute differences among English attitudes.Mrs.Turton, for instance, represents the attitude of most Englishwomen in India she is flatly bigoted and rude, regarding herself as superior to all Indians in seemingly every respect. The Englishmen at the party, however, appear less malicious in their attitudes. Mr. Turton and Ronny Heaslop are representative of this type through their naturalize they have come to know some Indians as individuals, and though somewhat condescending, they are far less overtly malicious than the Englishwomen. Cyril Fielding, who made a brief appearance in Chapter III, appears here to be the model of successful interaction between the English and Indians.Un identical the other English, Fielding does not recognize racial distinctions between himself and the native population. Instead, he interacts with Indians on an individual-to-individual basis. Moreover, he senses that he has found like-minded souls in Adela Quested and Mrs. Moore. Of the two, Fielding is more closely akin to Mrs. Moore than Adela Fielding and Mrs. Moore are unself-conscious in their friendship with Indians, whereas Adela consciously and actively seeks out this cross-cultural friendship as an interesting and enriching experience. Forster fleshes out the character of Adela Quested significantly in these chapters.As part of this effort, the author uses Fielding as a sort of moral barometer, a character whose belie fs we can trust. In this regard, we can see Fieldings judgment of Adelathat she appears to object to the English treatment of the Indians on an intellectual, quite a than emotional levelas Forsters own judgment. Adela, perhaps because of this intellectual, unemotional curiosity about Indian culture, conducts her interactions in India in a negative sense rather than a positive oneattempting to not act like the other English rather than attempting to actively identify with Indians.Adela always acts s an individual, rejecting the herd mentality of the other couples at the English club. charm the other English try to re-create England in India through meals of sardines and plays like Cousin Kate, Adela hopes to experience the real India, the spirit of India. Yet we sense that Adelas idea of this real India is vague and somewhat romanticized, especially when compared to Mrs. Moores genuine interaction with Aziz or Fieldings enthusiastic willingness to partake in Indian culture. The pri mary Indian protagonist, Aziz, develops in these chapters as significantly distinct from English expectations of Indian character.While the English pride themselves on dividing the Indian character into types with identifiable characteristics, Aziz appears to be a man of indefinable flux. Forster distinguishes Azizs non-homogeneous guisesoutcast, poet, medical student, religious worshiperand his ability to slip easily among them without warning. Azizs whims fluctuate in a way similar to his overall character. In Chapter VI we see Aziz shift from mood to mood in the space of minutes first he wants to attend the Bridge Party, then he is disgusted with the party, then he despairingly mourns his dead wife, then he seeks companionship and exercise.Ironically, one of Azizs only constant qualities is a characteristically English quality an pressing upon good breeding and polite manners. This quality makes Aziz slightly prejudicedit leads him to reject his friendship with Dr. Lalyet it al so allows him to disregard racial boundaries, as when he feels mechanically affectionate toward Fielding because of the Englishmans politeness. Furthermore, Forster uses these chapters to begin to develop one of the major ideas he explores in A Passage to Indiathe inclusiveness of the Hindu religion, especially as compared to Christianity.Forster portrays Hinduism as a religion that encompasses all, that sees God in everything, even the smallest bacterium. He specifically aligns Mrs. Moore with Hinduism in the earlier scene from Chapter III in which she treats a small wasp kindly. The image of the wasp reappears in Chapter IV as the wasp that the Hindus assume will be part of heavena point on which the Christian missionaries Mr. Grayford and Mr. Sorley disagree. Mrs. Moore is a Christian, but in Chapter VI we see that she has begun to call her Christianity into question during her stay in India. Whereas God earlier was the greatest thought in Mrs.Moores head, now the woman appears t o sense something beyond that thought, perhaps the more inclusive and all-encompassing worldview of Hinduism.Summary Chapter VII In every remark Aziz found a meaning, but not always the true meaning, and his life though vivid was largely a dream. (See 0pl,) Fieldings many worldly experiences keep him from creation insensitive toward Indians like the rest of the English are. The English mildly distrust Fielding, partly out of suspicion of his efforts to educate Indians as individuals. Fielding also makes improvised comments that distress the English, such as his remark that whites are actually pinko-grey. Still, Fielding manages to remain friendly with the men at the English club while also socializing with Indians. Aziz arrives at Fieldings for tea as Fielding is dressing. Though the two men have neer met, they treat each other informally, which delights Aziz. Fielding breaks the collar stud for his shirt, but Aziz quickly removes his own and gives it to Fielding.The relations be tween the two men sour only briefly when Aziz misinterprets Fieldings dismissive comment about a new school of painting to be dismissive of Aziz himself. Aziz is disappointed when Mrs.Moore and Adela arrive, as their presence upsets the intimacy of his conversation with Fielding. The party continues to be informal, though, even with the women present. Aziz feels comfortable addressing the women as he would address men, as Mrs. Moore is so elderly and Adela so plain looking. The ladies are disappointed and confused because the Bhattacharyas never sent their carriage this morning as promised. Adela pronounces it a mystery, but Mrs. Moore disagreesmysteries she likes, but this is a muddle. Fielding pronounces all India a muddle.Aziz denounces the rudeness of the Hindu Bhattacharyas and invites the women to his own house. To Azizs horror, Adela takes his invitation literally and asks for his address. Aziz is ashamed of his shabby residence and distracts Adela with commentary on Indian architecture. Fielding knows that Aziz has some historical facts wrong, but Fielding does not correct Aziz as other Englishmen would have. At the moment Fielding recognizes truth of mood over truth of fact. The last of Fieldings guests, the Hindu professor Godbole, arrives.Aziz asks Adela if she plans to settle in India, to which Adela spontaneously responds that she cannot. Adela then ca-cas that, in making this admission, she has essentially told strangers that she will not marry Ronny before she has even told Ronny so herself. Adelas words fluster Mrs. Moore. Fielding then takes Mrs. Moore on a tour of the college grounds. Adela again mentions the prospect of visiting Azizs house, but Aziz invites her to the Marabar Caves instead. Aziz attempts to describe the caves, but it becomes clear that Aziz has never seen them.Godbole has been to the caves, but he does not adequately describe why they are extraordinary in fact, Aziz senses that Godbole is holding back information. Suddenl y, Ronny arrives to take Adela and his mother to a polo match at the club. Ronny ignores the Indians. Aziz becomes high-keyed and overly intimate in reaction to Ronnys rude interruption. Fielding reappears, and Ronny privately scolds him for leaving Adela alone with Indians. Before the ladies leave, Godbole sings an odd-sounding Hindu song in which the singer asks God to come to her, but God refuses.In her ignorance, Adela regarded Aziz as India, and never surmised that his outlook was limited and his method inaccurate, and that no one is India. (See Important Quotations Explained) Summary Chapter viii Driving away from Fieldings, Adela expresses annoyance at Ronnys rudeness. Adela mentions Azizs invitation to the Marabar Caves, but Ronny immediately forbids the women to go. Ronny mentions Azizs unpinned collar as an example of Indians general omission to detail. Mrs. Moore, tired of bickering, asks to be dropped off at home.Adela feels emergently ashamed of telling those at the tea party of her intention to leave India. After the polo match at the club, Adela quietly tells Ronny that she has decided not to marry him. Ronny is disappointed, but he agrees to remain friends with her. Adela sees a green bird and asks Ronny what type of bird it is. Ronny does not know, which confirms Adelas relish that nothing in India is identifiable. Ronny and Adela begin to feel lonely and useless in their surround they suddenly feel they share more similarities than differences.The Nawab Bahadur happens by and offers Ronny and Adela a ride in his automobile. Riding in the back seat, the two feel dwarfed by the dark night and expansive landscape surrounding them. Their hands accidentally touch, and they feel an animalistic thrill. The car mysteriously breaks down on a road outside the city. They all climb out and determine that the car must have hit something, probably a hyena. After a short while, Miss Derek drives past them offers them a ride back to Chandrapore. Drivin g back to Chandrapore, Miss Derek jokes about her employer, an Indian noblewoman.Ronny and Adela feel drawn together by their shared distaste for Miss Dereks crass manner and for the Nawabs polite but long-winded speeches. When Adela and Ronny arrive back at the bungalow, Adela says that she would like to marry Ronny after all. He agrees. Adela, however, immediately feels a sense of disappointment, believing she will now be labeled the same as all the other married Englishwomen in India. They go inside and tell Mrs. Moore of their plans. Adela begins to feel more pleasant, joining Ronny in poking recreation at the Nawab Bahadur.When Ronny and Adela tell Mrs.Moore of the strange car accident, the older woman shivers and claims that the car must have hit a ghost. Meanwhile, down in the city of Chandrapore, the Nawab Bahadur describes the accident to others. He explains that it took place near the site where he ran over and killed a drunken man nine years ago. The Nawab Bahadur insi sts that the dead man caused the accident that occurred this evening. Aziz is skeptical, however, and feels that Indians should not be so superstitious. Analysis Chapters VIIVIII Though Fielding himself disregards racial boundaries, his tea party does not quite develop into a successful version of the Bridge Party.Aziz and Adela both appear overexcited during the tea, while Mrs. Moore and Professor Godbole remain withdrawn from the others chatter. The sudden cultural interaction carries Adela away and convinces her, almost subconsciously, that she cannot remain in India and become a wife at the clubprompting the spontaneous admission that upsets Mrs. Moore. The tea sours when Ronny arrives, though his rudeness appears only to bring out tautnesss that already existed. Aziz becomes grotesquely overfamiliar, Adela blames herself and Ronny, Fielding becomes annoyed, and Mrs. Moore becomes spiritually drained by Godboles Hindu song.The tea party is further disturbed by a disparity betwe en what Forster calls truth of fact and truth of mood. Thus far in A Passage to India, we have seen that the Indian characters often tend to say one thing when they mean another. Forster presents this tendency as problematic only for the English, among whom words are taken at face value. Indians appear skilled at identifying the undertonesthe unspoken elementsof a conversation. Indeed, we see that Aziz recognizes from tone, rather than words, that Godbole is withholding information from his description of the Marabar Caves.Moreover, when Aziz invites Mrs. Moore and Adela to his house, the mood of his questionhis sincere nip of goodwill and hospitality to the Englishwomenis all that Aziz means to convey. Adela, however, takes the invitation literally and asks for Azizs address. The misunderstanding makes Aziz uncomfortable, as he is in fact embarrassed about the appearance of his home. Fielding, too, reacts negatively to Adelas literal-mindedness. This disconnect between cultural u ses of language is an important division between the English and Indians in the novel.Forster explores another divide between the English and Indian cultures through the idea of naming or labeling. If the English in the novel always say exactly what they mean, they also are quick to attach name calling or labels to objects and people around them. When Adela and Ronny sit together at the club, Adela wonders aloud what kind of bird sits on the tree above them. Ronny does not know, which depresses Adela even more meanwhile, the narrator notes that nothing is identifiable in India, as things disappear or change before one can name them.The British in India realize that with the ability to name or label things comes power. It is for this reason that Fieldings remark that whites are really pinko-grey upsets the men at the club by deflating labels like white and brown, Fielding implicitly challenges the assertive naming and labeling power of the English in India. If white really only refer s to skin tonerather than also connoting superiority, advanced religion, technology, and moralitythen whites have no inherent right to rule India. Adelas conflicted view of naming or labeling constitutes a major tension within her character.On the one hand, Adela recognizes that the ability to label gives one poweror, as she might say, a purpose or place in the world. Indias resistance to identification, symbolized by the nameless green bird, challenges Adelas sense of individuality. On the other hand, Adela realizes that being on the receiving end of a label can leave one powerless. It is for this reason that she remains resistant to marrying Ronny, knowing that she will be labeled an Englishwoman in Indiaa club wifeand that her behavior will be restricted accordingly.When Adela feels her individuality challenged by Indias resistance to identification, she seems more likely to turn to Ronny for marriage yet, when she recognizes the tyranny of labels like Englishwoman in India, she feels reluctant to marry Ronny. We see in these chapters that the natural environment of India has a direct effect on Ronny and Adelas engagement. As soon as Adela tells Ronny she does not want to become engaged, their surroundings begin to overwhelm them, making them feel like lonely, sensual beings who share more similarities than differences.In particular, they feel that the night gear swallows them during their ride with the Nawab Bahadur. The sky makes Ronny and Adela feel indistinct as individuals, suddenly part of a larger mass that is somehow fundamentally united. Therefore, when their hands touch accidentally in the car, both Ronny and Adela are attuned to the animalistic thrill of sensuality. Their experience under the engulfing Indian sky draws Ronny and Adela together, forcing them to assert themselves as important, distinct individuals through a commitment to each other.Furthermore, the social environment of Indiathe Indians who surround Ronny and Adelacontributes to t his shift in perspective in the couples relationship, their new feeling that they are more alike than different. Specifically, Ronny and Adela feel a bond through their shared distaste for Miss Derek and the Nawab Bahadura bond that leads Adela to suddenly reverse her decision and renew her engagement to Ronny. In this regard, Forster implies that the join of marriage requires a third presence, against which husband and wife can define themselves as similar.Indeed, after announcing their renewed engagement, Adela shows her openness to her future with Ronny through her willingness to make fun of the Nawab Bahadur with him. While Ronny and Adela feel a sense of unity against the muddle that is India, we see Mrs. Moore grow even more spiritually attuned to the minds of Indians. First Mrs. Moore appears to be most aligned with the religious figure of Professor Godbole. Godboles song, in which God is called but does not come, profoundly affects Mrs. Moore, deepening her sense of separat ion from her Christian God.Then, when Ronny and Adela tell Mrs.Moore of their car accident with Nawab Bahadur, the elder woman strongly feels that a ghost caused the accident. Though Ronny and Adela ignore Mrs. Moore, we learn a short while subsequently that the Nawab Bahadur, too, suspects that a ghost caused the accidentthe ghost of the drunken man that he ran over nine years ago near the same spot. While Ronny and Adela begin to segregate themselves from the social and natural landscape that surrounds them, Mrs. Moore surrenders to the overwhelming presence and mysticism she feels in India, attuning herself to a sort of collective psyche of the land she is visiting.