Passage to India

E.M. Forster’s “A Passage to India” deals directly with the position of Britain as the ruler of India and its affect on personal relationships. One of these relationships is between the elderly British woman Mrs. Moore and her son Ronnie. Britain rule changes the social balance of India and, like many other relationships, causes Mrs. Moore and Ronnie to lose connection.

Mrs. Moore is a very respectful, kind, and open woman. She demonstrates these qualities when she takes off her shoes in the mosque and when she befriends Doctor Aziz. Mrs. Moore represents the genuinely good people in society. She holds an air of innocence when witnessing prejudice against the Indian people. She judges people based on merit, not race. Mrs. Moore is motivated by her passion for life, her internal goodness, and her desire to expand her worldview. Ronnie, on the other hand, is very unlike his mother. He is a strict follower of the rules set by his government and his society. He is also very emotionally detached, as he so demonstrates through his attitude toward Adela.

Ronnie represents the viewpoints of the majority of the English during the time of Imperialism. He finds the Indians inferior to himself and acts towards them accordingly. Ronnie is motivated by his need to uphold his image and position in society.

Because