Analysis and Interpretation of a Theme in a Passage to India (Coursework Sample)

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26th April 2016
Analysis and Interpretation of a theme in ‘A Passage to India’
Introduction
‘A Passage to India’ is one of the widely acclaimed novels written by the great author and novelist, E.M. Forster in the year 1924, when the major cracks in the British Empire in India had started surfacing. In general, this novel serves as a critique of the British rule in India and though the British are not expressed as tyrannical peoples, it sure exhibits the failure of the British in understanding the culture and the tradition of India. The British are solely convinced in their opinion that all the Indians are their inferiors and are incapable of delivering a proper leadership and also a proper government. It vividly portrays the convolutions of the modern era with a critical look at the everyday dynamics of the politics and the very difficulties that it involves. Forster through this novel transports us to the India before independence, just prior to 1947 and shows us the real human face of repression and subjugation under the pretext of political power in which the ultimate values of the human relationships, the people and the places involved run as a fine thread. The focal point or the ultimatum of the novel is just a single question, ‘Can Indians always remain as good friends of the British?’ and depicts the theme of universal harmony and understanding, which is rightly our ultimate focus here. Forster while penning the novel, has carefully planted some indications in the form of objects, with which he implicitly pronounces the relation between the Indians and British and the sentiments of both.
The whole novel itself begins in Chandrapore and although it is a fictional city, it nevertheless is a miniature form of India. Using the railway crossing that exists in the city, he places the fact that there subtly exists an unannounced bifurcation between the elitists and the commoners and it is quite unsurprising that the whole novel is centered around a bunch of elitists only. The ‘Marabar caves’ which is the turning point of the novel, is a manifestation in itself and explains the sentiments of both the British and the Indians in different strata. The analysis of the major character in the novel ‘Dr. Aziz’ would be more apt, as it through him, the whole story of the novel is taken forward and through the explanation of the characterization, we can easily portray the various subtle interplays that Forster has sprinkled throughout the novel.
Analysis of the characterization of Dr. Aziz
Dr. Aziz, the central character of the novel, a highly skilled surgeon in Chandrapore is portrayed by Forster as a bunch of contradictions and a mesh of extremes as he is highly elated at one moment and slips into a deep depression at another moment. He is the real epitome of the phrase, ‘the muddle of India’ that Forster often uses in the story. This is manifested from “Forster’s words”,
A mystery is only a high sounding term for a muddle. No advantage in stirring it up, in either case. Aziz and I know well that India is a muddle (73).
Aziz is impulsive, change opinions about everyone frequently and jumps himself into different moments without any warning. He shifts his careers and his choices often, thereby changing his individuality throughout the novel, wherein he doubly serves as both the physician and as a poet. He has a wacky sense of humor that borders on lunacy and practicality and through this character trait of his, Forster explains his icy nature towards the Britishers. Not too barefaced, with this portrayal Forster mirrors the viewpoints of the then Indians in general. Like many of his friends, Aziz too dislikes blatant honesty and prefers sugar coated words and his way of morality is more exhibited as a social code and his religious codes borders more on hospitality, rather than both being an innate one. This quality is more pronounced when Aziz reads the private letters of Mr. Fielding’s and he placates himself that this attitude of his serves a good intention only. Also, alike the majority of Indians, Aziz too is shown to be despising the British rule in India and feels that the Indians are oppressed by the British. Yet, he appreciates the advancements the British has brought from the west, which clearly shows that he is a storehouse of contradictions. Aziz can neither completely oppose the rule nor can completely accept it. In fact, his characterization is left to dangle between these two extremes.
Despite all these contrary views, down the heart, Aziz is shown as a gentle and an affectionate character. This will be evident from his conversations with Mrs. Moore, who clearly chastises her son for his rude behavior towards the Indians and Mr. Fielding, who wants to bring a sea change in India. If we look at the interpretation of Aziz closely, we can see the traits of imaginative sympathy with him, which acts as a two-edged sword throughout the novel. This can be particularly seen from the hatred that he nurses towards Mr. Fielding after his initial trial, which is solely based on misinterpretation and misunderstanding of the real situation. This view of us is synonymous with the views of the work, ‘Racial Politics in E. M. Foster’s A Passage to India’ wherein the authors too express the same opinions (Mahapatra 2015). Through Aziz, Forster shows the debauched state of the Muslims in the then British India. The westernized Muslims find it extremely hard to go in tandem with the beliefs of Aziz. This is particularly apparent from the cynicism that Aziz shows towards the principles of his religion, but is highly proud about the roots of the religion. As a narrator himself, “Forster” explains this view in his words as,
But he [Aziz] himself was rooted in society and Islam. He belonged to a tradition, which bound him, and he had brought children into the world, the society of the future. Though he lived so vaguely in this flimsy bungalow, nevertheless he was placed, placed. (sic) (131).
He is an eclectic combination of strength and sensitivity th...