International Conference on Education, Language, Art and Intercultural Communication (ICELAIC 2014)

3-D Cultural Encounters Expressive of A Passage to

India

Zhengshun Han Dan Zhou

School of Foreign Languages School of Foreign Languages
Wuhan Textile University Wuhan Textile University
Wuhan, China Wuhan, China
e-mail: hanzhengshun@126.com e-mail: windy_zhou@163.com

Abstract—A Passage to India is the masterpiece of E.M. distant from ordinary Indians. However, there were a few
Forster and a classical work of the early 20th century, which exceptions to the common image of the British as aloof from
exposes the insuperable chasm between the Great Britain and the Indians and heavily tied to the United Kingdom, notably
India. The book is full of bitter irony, beautiful lyrics, Adela Quested and Mrs. Moore, who were looking forward to
meaningful symbol and far-reaching philosophical predict. In “seeing the other side of the world”.
1996, it was voted as one of the “100 Greatest Books of the
Century.” The novel was translated into silver screen in1984， A Passage to India can be roughly divided into three long
directed by David Lean, starring by Judy Denis. It won the sections, which correspond, in Forster’s viewpoint, to the
nomination of the 57th Oscar Award for the best film, the best three seasons of the Indian year-Mosque (the cool weather),
director, the best actress the best photography, so on and so Caves (the hot weather), and Temple (the rains). This
forth, totaling 11 in 1985. Mysterious, Subtle and rich in breath-taking film, relates, likewise, to an emotional and
symbolism, the novel works on several levels through this exotic deeply personal story of love and class –struggle in 1928 of
trip. It presents us a movie with a profound theme, picturesque India. Adela Quested(starring by Judy Denis) travels to India
shooting, intricate plots, eye-pleasing and yet thought to visit her fiancée who was the city magistrate of fictional
–provoking at the same time. The message is clear: lonely is
city of Chandapore. She is on an adventure accompanied by
human, and communication is all but impossible between them.
The gulf between the British and native Indians grows wider
his mother, Mrs Moore, an elderly woman who is appalled at
than ever despite Aziz’s dropping of the case, and the novel ends the treatment of Indians by the British who rule and occupy
on an ambiguous note. This thesis ventures to sort out the Chandapore. Both women befriended with a young Indian
complex and complicated strands of cultural phenomena from man; Dr. Aziz, who overstepping the accepted boundaries
the following three dimensions, that is, (1) the religious spectrum. between the classes, invited the women on a picnic excursion
(2) the ruling class perspective, (3) the ruled class/the civilian to the Marabar Cave. In a strange turn of events, the young
level. The writer of this thesis attempts to explore and clarify the doctor is accused of attempting to rape Miss Quested. What
underlying reasons that contributes to the cultural clashes actually did happen in the Marabar Cave remains the central
present in the movie so as to shed more light on those who are riddle of this lush engrossing movie.
doing cross-cultural interactions between the East and the West,
to avoid pitfalls, embarrassments, and above all, unnecessary II. THE RELIGIOUS SPECTRUM ILLUMINATING THIS MOVIE
misunderstandings.
What meets the eye from the start of this movie is the
painting of a Hinduist picture featuring decorated female
Keywords—Passage to India; cultural clashes;
statues with one in the foreground and many behind to mark a
misunderstandings; Oriental
Hindu celebration with a faded brown background. It strikes
I. INTRODUCTION us impressively in this oriental religion：mysterious，exotic
In the eyes of westerners, India was viewed as a and otherworldly or pagan. This is in stark contrast to the
mysterious, enchanting place, as it was portrayed as a land of usual Christian images of Jesus’ crucifixion on the Cross or
riches and a land of mystery. Such a view is especially other related images. Next scene comes the chance encounter
harbored by Ms Adela Quested, who came “to see the real between Aziz and Ms Moore in the mosque at night. Dr, Aziz
India” and looks forward to going on an adventure throughout went there to seek peace and comfort in soul after he was
India. Quested’s “real India,” which involved interacting with tricked by his immediate overlord as an exercise of his power
the appreciating the natives, serves as the antithesis to the of being a superior, while Ms. Moore ventured to experience
India of the British expatriate, as symbolized in the the Muslim mood and was enveloped in an aura of nightly
Chandrapore Club, which was off-limits to Indians, as grandeur. Aziz thought he met a ghost and resented someone
members or even guests. This club was regarded as the who refuse to take off his/her shoes when coming into the
symbol of British aloofness among the populace of British mosque for no one is being present or for convenience’s sake.
India, as in practice, they lived apart from them and were truly However, out of his expectation, he ran into this kind, old lady
who respected and revered the religious practice of removing

© 2014. The authors - Published by Atlantis Press 695

her shoes at the entrance to the mosque and remarked that unheard of at home and, thus, completely unexpected, means
“God is here.” Here we see the strict observance of Muslim that his assignment in India has made him distrustful of other
custom by her and witnessed the fusion of religious beliefs at people and easily bad-tempered. Forster uses the comparison
the average level. Then the scenario moves to Adela’s between his present behavior and his behavior back in
exploring of the real country by riding a bike. She ventured to England as an illustration of the effects of colonial India on
spot some stone carvings and rocky hills with native religious the corrupted elite and the excluded Indian populace, who
connotations, particularly one plump woman with her female were cast as outsiders in their own land, as they were
figures well-outlined so clearly that her face resembling the effectively barred from the highest-paying jobs and positions.
solemnity of a Buddha, with necklace around her neck, still
Another problem between the British rulers and the
more with her two breasts and teats protruding prominently,
Indians is not of exclusivity, but of mistrust between both
and with her two hands joining each other cuddling a cup over
her stomach. Lying on the grass (These are Hinduist images of these two peoples. This is best represented through Turton’s
invitation of the “numerous Indian gentlemen in the
sexual intercourses). All these heavy religious images hit hard
neighborhood” for a party, known as the Bridge Party, which
on her. In particular, she was chased by a group of ferocious
is not warmly received among the Indians, who are skeptical.
monkeys showing their teeth who jump off the stone hills one
One of them, Mahmoud Ali, viewed this invitation as one
after another in haste. What a terrible and frightening scene
from afar, as many of the officials live far from them. Forster
she came across against this strongly religious cultural
establishes the skepticism regarding the party, which was set
backdrop. Besides, another benevolent figure, Mrs. Moore,
up by a British official as a cross-cultural exchange between
her name becomes closely associated with Hinduism,
the Indians and the British.
especially the Hindu tenet of the oneness and unity of all
living things. This symbolic side to her might even make her Thirdly, the ruling class in the British Colony governed in
the heroine of the novel, the only English person able to a ruthless and cold-blooded manner by harboring pride and
closely connect with the Hindu vision of unity. Later on, when prejudices against the Indians At the outset, these new arrivals
professor Godbole showed his indifference to Aziz’s plight, may be quite courtly and courteous, nevertheless, after
and asked Fielding to name his school, Fielding demanded sometime, “I give it six months, All are exactly alike. ” “be he
why? He just remarked that the result is the same whatever Turton or Burton. It is only the difference of a letter.” They
you do about it. It is predestined. This truly demonstrated his run over people in their cars pompously. Again, Ronny fit this
belief in “the wheel of life, death and rebirth.” His subsequent precisely. He attempt to rise in the rank system by ill-treating
song-singing towards the end of the movie remained the Indians as a career which he didn’t want to damage. This
incomprehensible to the audiences of the movie and failed to incurred strong criticism from his own mother as an “exercise
summon the deities. These rich religious coloring dominates of power and display of personal superiority”. Forster’s
and permeates this movie like the majestic azure shy and the emphasis is on the change that happened before the novel
immense Himalayas overlooking the insignificant human begins as a sort of case study, an exploration of the restrictions
beings, isn’t it? that the English colonials’ herd mentality imposes on
individual personalities. All of Ronny’s previously individual
III. THE RULING CLASS PERSPECTIVE tastes are effectively dumbed down to meet group standards:
As for the British colonial administrators, they were in self arrogance and belittling of the natives He devalues his
India for economic reasons, that is, to pursue lucrative intelligence and learning from England in favor of the
investment opportunities and to pursue lucrative careers, as “wisdom” gained by years of experience in India. The
bureaucrats and administrators, instead of integrating open-minded attitude with which he has been brought up has
themselves into Indian society, they came a caste unto itself, a been replaced by a suspicion of Indians. In short, Ronny’s
ruling caste, of British people in exile. As members of a tastes, opinions, and even his manner of speaking are no
self-created caste, they didn’t associate themselves with the longer his own, but those of older, ostensibly wiser British
natives of India, as they considered themselves far above Indian officials. This kind of group thinking is what ultimately
them. causes Ronny to clash with both Adela and his mother, Mrs.
Moore. The best and finest manifestation is in the statement
First thing first, it was best exemplified in the exclusivity remarked by Mr. McBryde. “that the darker races are
of the Chandrapore Club, which was closed to Indians, physically attracted by the fairer, but not vice versa---not a
whether as members or even guests. Simply put, they did not matter for bitterness this, not a matter for abuse, but just a fact
consider India home, as best said by Ronny Heaslop, a British
which any scien-tific observer will confirm”, (Chapter XXIV,
administrator, who came to view the locals with blatant p.219.) which set the tone for the trial. Do you still need to
contempt, with his post in India leading to him “having ask?
developed sides of his character that [Ms. Quested] had never
admired”, an obvious consequence of the colonial system in IV. THE RULED CLASS LEVEL
force. Ronny thinks that the local Indians are never up to any
From this aspect, however, such people like Ms. Quested
good, and that there is a devious meaning “behind any remark
and Mrs. Moore were among the minority of Britons who
[the Indian] makes,” portraying the educated Indians as
actually appreciated “the real India”, and thus refuse to
devious and untrustworthy in their attempts to please the
conform to their assigned roles in society so as to appreciate
British. Mrs. Moore’s noting of Heaslop’s present behavior as
India’s cultures. As one of a kind, Mrs. Moore, and Miss

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Quested, who can’t make up her mind whether or not to marry British should leave India. However, the British lack any
Ronny and wants to see him “on the job” in India before ability to question their own basic assumptions about race and
deciding. Both women are anxious to see “the real India” and Empire, and as such they become the objects of Forster’s
are bored by the dull, parochial round of British tea parties biting satire: The British claim to be in India for the good of
which is all they’ve seen so far. When Major Turton, Ronny’s the Indians, whereas in fact, they are there to increase their
superior, hears that they want to meet some Indians, he own wealth by setting up a system of trade that is entirely
obligingly offers to arrange a “Bridge Party” for them, to beneficial to themselves. In terms of culture clash, the English,
which both nationalities will be invited. The other British schooled in a fairly simple version of Christianity, are unable
ladies are amused and faintly shocked that anyone should to understand the mysterious spirituality of India. Mrs. Moore
want to meet Indians, but Mrs. Moore and Adela gratefully shows some interest in the topic when she first arrives in the
accept Mr. Turton’s offer. But their greetings are cold and country. She likes the idea of “resignation”-being passively
perfunctory. Even Mrs. Moore and Miss Quested, with all the resigned to the will of God-which she associates with Indian
good will in the world, cannot get much response from the thought. She is also attracted to the unity of everything in the
Indians after this pattern of British frigidity has been universe, another idea she associates with India. But the
established. They ask to call on one of the Indian ladies-Mrs. incident in the caves, when she hears the echo, unnerves her.
Bhattacharya – and are met with a bewildering combination of The echo annihilates all distinctions in the name of the unity
friendliness and ignorance. of life, and also annihilates distinctions between good and evil.
This is far from the Christian view of life, at least in Mrs.
Ms. Moore doesn’t think Ronny behave pleasantly to
Moore’s view, and leads her into despair and apathy.
Indians. He exclaims “how like a woman to worry over a
side-issue!” and when his mother objects, he adds “We’re not The clash of cultures can be seen not only in Mrs. Moore’s
here for the purpose of behaving pleasantly. We’re out here to response to India but also in Fielding’s. Fielding does not
do justice and keep peace.” Mrs. Moore, however, retorted believe in God and therefore has no interest in the contrast
that “the English are out here to be pleasant… because India between Eastern and Western spirituality, but nonetheless, as
is part of the earth. And God has put us on earth in order to be chapter 32 shows, he feels far more at home with the forms of
pleasant to each other. God… is… love.” His mother’s Western architecture he encounters in Venice than with the
argument makes Ronny “gloomy,” however. He knows this temples of India. The temples represent to him merely the
“religious strain in her” and regards it as a “symptom of bad “muddle” of India, whereas Western architecture presents him
health.” with a view of “the harmony between the works of man and
the earth that upholds them, the civilization that has escaped
What’s more, Dr. Aziz, the mouthpiece of friendly and
muddle, the spirit in a reasonable form, with flesh and blood
courteous Oriental, was eager to befriend these
subsisting.”
“other-worldly” women, and invited them to accomplish their
goal of seeing a “real India.” In this course, he paid a huge In a word, the bridge over cultures is hinted even in the
price of both fame and finance, to be frank, totally destructive title: A Passage to India, but the passage remains dark,
to him. But their intentions of building a brilliant bridge over dangerous and uncertain. The gate is strait and the way is
these two peoples are well praised and commended. The narrow, echoing rich religious and cultural overtones.
motifs of the movie is to foster intercultural communication,
to achieve harmony and great unity between different races
and cultures. REFERENCES
V. CONCLUSION [1] Dean Halverson. The Illustrated Guide to World Religions. Lion
Hudson plc.2003.
The huge gulf between these two groups is a physical as [2] Edward Morgan Forster, A Passage to India Foreign Language
well as a social one. Indeed A Passage to India is a critique of Teaching Press.1992.8.
British rule of India. The British are not shown as tyrants, [3] Larry A. Samovar, Richard E. Porter, Edwin R. McDaniel.
although they do fail to understand Indian religion and culture. Communication Between Cultures. Peking University Press. 2009.7.
They regard Indians as their inferiors, incapable of leadership. [4] Spark notes .A Passage to India Analysis of Major Characters.
And yet, in their own way, they try to rule in a just way. http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/passage/themes.html
Ronny, is completely sincere when he says that the British [5] S.M. Gilbert. Analysis of E.M. Forster’s A Passage to India
http://www.angelfire.com/ny/gaybooks/ passagetoindia.html.
“are out here to do justice and keep the peace” (chapter 5).
And there is no trace of satire in the passage that shortly
follows this, which describes Ronny’s daily routine: “Every
day he worked hard in the court trying to decide which of two
untrue account was the less untrue, trying to dispense justice
fearlessly, to protect the weak against the less weak, the
incoherent against the plausible, surrounded by lies and
flattery.” Ronny is also aware of the hostility between Hindus
and Moslems, and believes that a British presence is
necessary to prevent bloodshed. Even Fielding, the most
sympathetic of the English characters, does not argue that the

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