Plot Construction A Passage to India

 

Plot Construction: "A Passage to India ‘s

 

"A novel is based on a story which is a narrative of events arranged in time sequence", so, says Forster in his book, Aspects of the Novel.

 

There should be some suspense in the story to prepare the reader to move on with the movement of the story. A reader must be always asking the question, "what next"? It is this question that keeps his interest in the story alive till the end. If this question disappears along with it is over the interest of the reader who throws away the book never to read it again. Dr. Bhupal Singh says ; "The plot of this novel is simple". This statement must not be taken at its face value that the novel has no mystery. It merely means that it is easy to understand the novel. The novel tells a good mystery-story. The central part of the story-the Marabar Caves-is both a muddle and a mystery leading to unforeseen developments.

 

Main plot

 

Mrs. Moore and Adela Quested came to Chandrapore to meet Ronny Heaslop and to see India. Both the ladies found that neither the Anglo-Indian officials nor the servants of the Anglo-Indians re presented India. They wanted to explore the real India. Mrs. Moore soon formed friendship with a Moslem doctor, Aziz, assistant to the Civil Surgeon, Major Callendar. Aziz was a cultured and sensitive soul. He invited both the ladies along with Fielding and Godbole to a picnic at the Marabar Caves. Miss Adela Quested accused Aziz of criminal assault. Dr. Aziz was arrested. It was not clear what actually happened. But the author made it plain that Dr. Aziz was innocent. The incident roused the bitterest of racial feelings. The supposed assault was taken by the Anglo-Indians as a big challenge to their honour. Fielding and Mrs. Moore were the only sane Englishmen who were open to reason. The trial took place under a Hindu magis- trate. Miss Adela Quested heroically, and to the chagrin of her community, admitted that probably she had made a mistake. Aziz was acquitted. Adela Quested was deserted by her community, displayed the worst passions in the heat of the moment; no less unseemly was the behaviour of the Indians who welcomed the decision as their personal victory. Aziz left the government service, became anti O British and went to the service of a Hindu King and concluded that no friendship could be lasting between the Englishman and the Indians. This is the gist of the plot.

 

on: The first two sections are packed with action. The author has paid sufficient attention to the weaving of the plot. There is an artistic concentration on action. A series of connected events and incidents are well-knit to form a well-constructed plot. The story unfolds with the romantic and the realistic touches, interspersed with moral seriousness which takes the form of direct philosophical comments. This does not obstruct the flow of the narrative, rather gives an impression that event there is something larger than life. The object of the writer is not  only to entertain the readers but is also to make them think. The blend of social comedy and moral seriousness makes it more than a story

Climax and denoument

 

The story is divided into three parts. Mosque, Caves and Temple. ps his These parts may be unequal in length but not in importance. The Spears first section which is introductory is well connected with the second, away leading to a climax and the second is well connected with the third plot of leading to denouement.

 

Importance of the third part

 

The story appears to be ending in the second section after Aziz's trial and Adela's return to England. The third section may look like an unnecessary addition. But Forster himself remarked that it was architecturally necessary. "I needed a lump, or a Hindu Temple if you like a mountain standing up. It is well placed and it gathers up some strings". But there ought to be more after it. "The lump, sticks out a little too much." If it is recollected that Forster's objective is not merely to tell a story but to drive home a lesson, the last section (Temple) would not seem to be superfluous. It is this last section that completes the circle and preaches a moral that love in the form of Shri Krishna is the only hope of unity. Without the third part, the story would have been complete but not the purpose of the novel.

 

Unity of design

 

The three parts are to be accepted as a part of the same design. The first part 'Mosque' gives the background, unfolding the plot and introducing the characters. The background is of India under the British yoke. The relations between the rulers and the ruled are married on mutual suspicion and mistrust. Aziz and Mahmoud Ali feel that they are purposely insulted by the British officials daily on one pretext or the other. Mr. and Mrs. Turton, Mr. and Mrs. McBryde, Ronny Heaslop and Miss Derek constitute a group typical of the Anglo Indian community : Aziz Hamidullah, Mahmoud Ali, Godbole and Nawab Bahadur form the other group representing the Indians Between these opposing groups stand a third group, of Fielding Adele and Lady Moore. The third group, because of its foreign outlook and background produces all the complications in the plot

 

Mrs. Moore and Miss Adela Quested antagonised the Anglo. Indian community through their sympathetic and open mixing with the Indians. They violated the most accepted rule of the official community that Indians were always and at all costs to be kept at a safe distance. This attitude leads to complication in the plot.

 

Mrs. Moore and Aziz met at a mosque and came closer. Adela met many Indians at the Bridge Party. Fielding invited both the to his house at a party where Indians were also to be invited. It was there that a picnic to the Marabar Caves was planned. Ronny Heaslop introduced bitterness at Fielding's and drove away with both the ladies on the pretext of watching a polo match. From here begins the conflict between Ronny and Adela Quested. The engagement was broken and revived after an incident in the Nawab Sahib's car.

 

To test the strength of relationship between the Indians and the Englishmen, an expedition to the Marabar Caves was arranged. Dr. Aziz, Adela Quested. Mrs. Moore, Prof Godbole and Fielding were to attend it. Godbole and Fielding miss the train. Aaiz, Mrs. Moore and Adela Quested made the trip that became the cause of the big trouble. Mrs. Moore could not stand the stench of the cave. The echo in the very first cave "Boum' terrified her. She never thereafter recovered from the shock till her death on the sea. Aziz was arrested Fielding stood by his friend to the annoyance of his community Adela withdrew the charge as she was not sure what actually happened. Aziz was set free. Adela's engagement with Ronny was broken and she left for England. The experiment at the Mosque met a dismal failure in a cave. Aziz became staunchly anti-English.

 

Purposeful

 

The story seems to come to an end here. It is, however, continued or in the words of some critics, dragged on forcibly in the third part called. Temple' to give purposeful finale to the whole design. Godbole, Aziz and Fielding were brought together again in the Hindu Slate of Mau. Godbole was the Minister of Education. Fielding was the Inspector of Schools in British India. Dr. Aziz was the head of the health services of the State. Fielding had married Stella, Mrs. Moore's daughter, who, like her mother, was inclined towards Hindu philosophy. Though almost all misunder standings between Fielding and Aziz were sought to be removed, yet the big question of racialism still persisted. Dr. Aziz, who spoke for Forster stated plainly that no true friendship between the Indians and the Englishmen could be lasting, as long as the Englishmen were the masters. The only solution was to end the British Raj. Aziz and Fielding separated symbolically.

 

Though the story ends in the second section, yet the problem of human relationship is not solved. Mosque held the promise : Caves showed failure of the attempt to connect the East and the West because it was prompted by the head and not the heart ; the Temple symbolizes reconciliation through love. It draws Godbole. Aziz, Fielding, Stella and Ralph together. The union was temporary but it suggested the way of union through universal love. It could not be achieved quickly. Aziz and Fielding separate symbolically. Forster himself stated that the third part, "Temple', was architecturally necessary. He also admitted that there ought to be more after it

 

Compactness

 

Whatever the criticism, the plot on the whole seems to be compact. There is nothing irrelevant or unnecessary. Even the smallest detail promotes the action, develops the character, produces the necessary atmosphere and fulfils the purpose of the novel. The concentration on the main theme is well maintained to achieve the desired purpose. All the strings are gathered at the end to give the final touch.

 

Significance of the Title: "A Passage to India

 

Allegorical in meaning

 

It is significant that E.M. Forster chose the title of his novel from Whitman's poem "Passage to India". Outwardly and superficially, the title of the novel may signify journey to India. There have been invaders on ransacking spree and going back with heavy loot. The rulers have been pouring in to establish themselves on the throne missionaries have been coming with religious messages to remove the darkness and to spread the gospel of light everywhere. India has been attracting tourists who come to see the beautiful architecture, the bewitching natural spots, the fascinating lakes, the holy rivers and, above all, the spiritual abodes. These globe trotters come and go. Their visit to India is of a qualified and professional kind. If we take the meaning of the title in this way, it is quite simple and easily understandable. This is a layman's view and cannot be easily accepted by those who can afford to see beneath the surface.

 

The problem is not as simple as it appears to be. The title is obviously suggestive and needs careful study, to unfold the real meaning. It may carry a surface meaning but it is also loaded with symbolism and allegory. As a matter of fact, there is more than that meets the eye. The novel was not meant for the layman only. It was the scheme of the novel to make it widely read by different classes of people. For that purpose E.M. Forster presented parallel meanings to plot, situation and characters.

 

The journey of the soul

 

If we ponder deeply, we catch a deeper meaning and a thoughtful message with all the attendant implications. It is not an ordinary journey of the tourist. It is, so to speak, the journey of the mind in search of new ventures, a journey of the soul to understand thoroughly what India really is. It is the journey of one nation into another; the journey of one religion into another. It is a contact of two different civilisations. Can there be positive relations between e ruling nation and the rules one? Can the domination of one over the other lead to any cementing bond between the two ? That is precisely the question posed in the book and the whole book is an attempt to find a workable solution to it.

 

10 Clash of two cultures

 

Different mental make-ups, various temperaments, various view. points are brought together to find out a satisfactory solution. Principal Fielding who represents the best in English culture sought passage to India so as to project the real image of the English al character to the Indians. His journey was from one heart to another. To understand the Indians he talked of friendship, tolerance, mutual respect and understanding. He made a sincere attempt to display these qualities in his dealings with the Indians.

 

The officials tried to understand the Indians from a respectable rom distance. They had their own point of view. They looked upon ally, the Indians from the angle of superiority. Their understanding of een the Indians was based on prejudiced opinions, haughtiness and The hatred. Mr. Turton also perceived the necessity of "Impartiality and justice, fair play and order" but as an official he said: the "Intercourse, Yes courtesy by all means : intimacy never." McBryde and Ronny did not need these things to comprehend India. All Indians to them were criminal by nature, unreliable and untrustworthy.

 

Mrs. Moore and Miss Adela's visit constitute fresh attempt to It explore the inner recesses of the Indian's mind. Mrs. Moore was quite sincere in her efforts to understand not only India but Indians also. Here was a journey of a soul. Her approach was based on love, justice and fairplay. She was quite consistent in her outlook. She was not disturbed by minor irritants. She went to the mosque is to understand Islam and its followers. She formed friendship with Aziz and went on defending him at different times. She did not mind his shouting at her to take off her shoes because a Christian would have done the same thing if a non-Christian had entered the Church with a hat on Indian's were to be treated equally because they were created by the same God who created Englishmen. After Aziz's arrest she told Adela that Aziz was innocent. Similar was the approach of Fielding. Mrs. Moore did not help Aziz actively by appearing as the witness in the court. Fielding, on the other hand, made earnest endeavour to save him even to the annoyance of his community composed of hard-hearted and narrow-minded officials.

 

The drunken Major remarked that Indians knew one language and that was the language of force. He wanted the city to be handed over to the army to make the natives behave properly.

Professor Godbole travelled on the path of universalism. "L. us all live and let live." The world is wide enough for both of us Dr. Aziz talked of "brotherhood on many terms" which included pride of Islam in history.

 

Truly speaking this was a journey of reactions to the central problem. E.M. Forster tried to find a conclusion in the state Mau. But the problem was so ticklish that it evaded solution Forster had to admit that the maintenance of personal relationship on the basis of mutual confidence was not always sure and it failed moments of crisis. Secondly, the racial question was admittedly insoluble. Fielding and Aziz could not go on as friends because their horses moved in different directions. The journey of one nation especially the ruling one into the heart of the ruled. failed. Two ra could meet only on an equal footing. Aziz frankly declared that friendship of equals could be lasting whereas between unequals- it could not endure for long. Fielding and Aziz could not become friends as long as English men were the masters. The novel comes to an end with the temporary coming together of Aziz and Fielding only to separate again.

 

Attempt at reconciliation

 

An attempt has been made to bring Aziz and Godbole closer in Mau. But that attempt also does not succeed. It is not a union of hearts. It is a union of convenience. Dr. Aziz could not live in British India anymore after what had happened. Professor Godbole got Aziz fixed up well in Mau because of the latter's skill as a surgeon.

 

Miss Quested's journey also failed. She had tried to understand India without knowing the Indians. Such attempts made a mess of everything

 

Mrs. Moore's last journey was very significant. She could not leave the Indian Ocean because it was she who had tried to know India and the Indians. She was the only lady who got success in her objective. She was buried in the Indian Ocean but it appears that her spirit travelled back to India to exercise its subtle influence over Aziz, Fielding and the common man. The passage to India ended in India. The title A Passage to India is apparently the most suitable title that Forster could have conceived.