This article is also the answer to the question given below.
Explain how Forster presented the theme of colonization
in A Passage to India? How did he use the setting and language to highlight
this theme?
First of all, what is colonization? It is the policy or practice
of acquiring full or partial political control over another country. The
people, who are ruling are called colonizers, and the individuals who are
ruled, are called colonized. Colonizers may impose their religion, culture,
norms, and values upon the colonized.
The same happened in India when British people went there and
ruled over India, British people believed that they were in India for the good
of Indians, and they were there to make peace. And it was called the “white
man’s burden”.
Let us discuss the novel's background, why it is about
colonialism, and why E. M. Forster has written this?
E. M. Forster was a British himself and went to India for some time. But
before he went to India, he gained much knowledge about Indians from his Muslim
friend Masood who was with him in England. Then his first visit was
India was in 1912. After his first visit to India, he started writing this
novel, but could not complete it. When Forster went to India for the
second time in 1921 to serve as a secretary to the Maharajah of Dewas
State Senior. He spent his time with both Indians and Englishmen, saw
everything more clearly, and wrote about all the conditions which were there at
that time, and how the colonization was taking place there. This novel portrays
the daily routine life of Indians and British people. Along with this, it also
shows what the conditions there were at that time. How the Englishmen were
ruling, and how the Indians were reacting and facing all hardships. And what
were the opinions of both groups for each other?
Now, here are some examples from the text shows, that how Forster
described the theme of colonization in India at that time.
The first example can be seen clearly in the first chapter,
where Forster describes the city of Chandrapore. There are two sides to
that city, one is of Indians, and one is of Englishmen. The side that is of
Indians is described as dirty, filthy, and made up of mud. The side that
belonged to Englishmen was well disciplined, neat, and clean, with many
facilities. And the space and difference between the colonizers and colonized
can be seen in this description. They are living separately.
“Except for the Marabar Caves-and, they are twenty miles off-the city of Chandrapore represents nothing extraordinary……The streets are mean, the temples ineffective, and though a few fine houses exist they are hidden away in gardens or down alleys whose filth deters all but the invited guest……the very wood seems made of mud, the inhabitants of mud moving. On the second rise is laid out the little civil station, and viewed hence Chandrapore appears to be a totally different place. It is a city of gardens.” (Chapter: 01)
In the second chapter, one can examine the discussion between Dr.
Aziz, Hamidullah, and Mahmoud Ali. They were talking about the issue of
whether Indians and Englishmen become friends or not. So they thought that in
England it is possible, but in India, it is not possible because the system of
colonization has overcome them, and they behave like rulers. There is no
friendship between them.
“-they were discussing as to whether or not it is possible to be friends with an Englishman. Mahmoud Ali argued that it was not, Hamidullah disagreed, but with so many reservations that there was no friction between them.
“It is impossible here. Aziz! The red-nosed boy has again insulted me in Court. I do not blame him. He was told that he ought to insult me. Until lately he was quite a nice boy, but the others have got hold of him.” (Chapter: 02)
Later on, in the same chapter, it is described how Major
Callendar was behaving as a ruler, and every day he called Aziz for
nothing but to disturb him and to show Indians his power, and this is how the
treatment of colonizers was with colonized people.
“Old Callendar wants to see me at his bungalow,” he said not rising. “He might have the politeness to say why.”
“Some case, I daresay.”
“I daresay not, I daresay nothing. He has found out our dinner hour, that’s all, and chooses to interrupt us every time, in order to show his power.” (Chapter: 02)
Further, the rudeness and ruling behavior can be seen in two
English ladies. How rudely they behaved. They took the tonga of Aziz
without letting him know. And they had not regretted that, which shows how
English people discriminated against Indians.
“Mrs. Lesley, it is a tonga,” she cried.
“Ours?” enquired the second, also seeing Aziz, and nothing likewise.
……“O Tonga wallah, club, club. Why doesn’t the fool go?”
“Go, I will pay you tomorrow,” said Aziz to the driver, and as they went off he called courteously, “You are most welcome, ladies.” They did not reply, being full of their own affairs.” (Chapter: 02)
As the novel moves on, one can see that there are so many
incidents that can give readers a picture of colonization. There was a bridge
party in which Indians and Englishmen were meant to be equal, but it is shown
that they both had different places to stay, and the meal for both was
different too. And the way the English ladies talked to Indian ladies, showed
how they were superior and ruling class.
“This isn’t a purdah party,” corrected Miss Quested.
“Oh, really,” was the haughty rejoinder.
“Do kindly tell us who these ladies are.” Asked Mrs. Moore.
“You’re superior to them, anyway. Don’t forget that. You’re superior to everyone in India except one to two of the Ranis, and they’re on an equality.” (Chapter: 02)
This novel is full of examples of colonialism, so leaving
others, let us discuss the last example. The conversation between Mrs. Moore
and her son when he said to his mother that they are here to make peace, so how
should they behave pleasantly with them? They are superiors, and others are
inferiors.
“We’re not here for the purpose of behaving pleasantly!”
“What do you mean?”
“What I say. We’re out here to do justice and keep the peace. Them’s my sentiments. India isn’t a drawing-room.” (Chapter: 05)
So these are some of the examples from the text given here. The
writer has criticized colonization by portraying the picture of the behavior of
colonizers with the colonized. And this is how the theme of colonization is
described in this novel.
Now let us discuss how the setting of the novel is representing
the theme of colonization.
So the setting is set in the city of Chandrapore. Where
Indians and Englishmen live, their city is the same, but homes and lands are so
many different, and only the sky is the same they are sharing. The side on
which Englishmen live is full of facilities, civilized, neat, and clean, and on
the other hand, the side on which Indians live is full of dirt, filth, and everything
of mud, and there is no facility.
By providing the physical appearance of the city and by
portraying the living style of both Indians and Englishmen, Forster set
this setting of the novel to represent the theme of colonization.
And if we talk about the language of the novel, he has used many
typical words for the Indians and Englishmen to show the theme of colonization,
and some words are symbolically significant for the colonization touch.
The word muddle for India shows its discrimination. Then
there are some words like “Mohammedan” for Muslims of India, as they
hate them in a way that even they are not calling them by their names. How
extreme they are in hating. Calling purdah women to the ladies again
shows their superiority over them. And the cruel treatment at the bridge
party. And the name of the party also is a symbol of superiority. A bridge
is something high, so the English people were showing that they were high in
status, and were superior to them. In short, the whole novel is full of the words
like “us” and “them.” These two words are used in the novel to
show the supremacy of “us” (Englishmen) over “them” (Indians).
So this is how the theme of
colonization is depicted in the text of the novel, the setting of the novel,
and the language highlights this theme too.
