Comment on Forster’s Treatment of the Theme of Friendship in ‘A Passage to India’

 Forster’s Treatment of the Theme of Friendship in ‘A Passage to India’

Aziz Fielding relationship in ‘A passage to India’ is a complex study of human behavior. It points to the difficulties those men of different races face in trying to understand one another. There are real differences of opinions between the two, but it is the much more subtle and pervasive differences of temperament and mutual misunderstandings, common to persons of two different races that finally separate Dr. Aziz and Fielding. 

 

The fundamental differences of character and outlook between Aziz and Fielding rise to the surface after Aziz’s arrest and release. Aziz is determined to take revenge upon Adela for running his career. Fielding, moved by pity for helpless Adela urges Aziz not to persist in his demand for compensation. Aziz refuses and Fielding is distressed to find that Aziz’s unforgiving and revengeful attitude is based on his sexual snobbery. Aziz thinks that Fielding’s is pleading for Adela because he wants to marry her for her money, and this idea leads him to break with Fielding on this issue.

When Aziz and Fielding meet each other again in the last section of the novel, there is no joyous reunion between the two friends. During the festival of Sri Krishna’s birthday Aziz happens to meet Ralph, son of Mrs. Moore. At first Aziz wants to take revenge on the helpless boy for what the British had done to him. But the memory of Mrs. Moore softened his mind and he also finds Ralph like his mother. So he warms towards the boy and in friendship takes him out on the river where the festivities are taking place. Meanwhile Fielding and his wife are also in another boat, having come to witness the Hindu ceremony of pushing a clay-model of Gokul, Krishna’s absorbed in enjoying the ceremony that their 8boats collide with each other and there is total confusion. The boats capsize and Fielding, Ralph and Stella together are plunged in water and undergo a sort of purification, a sort of spiritual baptism. The holy water seemed to wash away all the suspicions, hatred and pettiness. Aziz finds that not Adela but Stella is Fielding’s wife. The holy water seemed to wash away all the suspicions, hatred and pettiness. Aziz finds that not Adela but Stella is Fielding’s wife. The relationship between Aziz and Fielding becomes somewhat normal once again. The day before Fielding becomes somewhat normal once again. The day before Fielding’s departure, Aziz accompanied his friend for a fide in the jungle of Mau. They bring their horses nearer to embrace each other but the horses swerve apart. This indicates that sub-human India is hostile to inter-racial friendship and therefore, their union by necessity is transitory.

To sum up, in the concluding chapter the writer makes is clear that friendship is possible only among equals. As long as the British were masters in India, there could be no lasting bond of friendship between the English and the Indians.