ENG220 LECTURE NOTES A PASSAGE TO INDIA

English 210
A Passage to India


Lecture 1:


 Novel is about failed relations:
- At bridge party: image of kites flying overhead represents death of attempt to create bridge
between East & West
- Ill feeling between Hindu & Muslim characters: once again an indication of failed relations (no
successful relations of this nature observed)
- Deterioration between English & Indian relations


 After WW2:
- Clear that England could no longer take occupation in India & left in 1947
- With independence came partition: Hindu majority and Muslims couldn’t agree on how to create
a unified India
- Religious disputes between Muslims & Hindus: religion is an important factor in Indian politics


 Constant idea that white man is serving colonial subject:
- Pretense that young European men in colonial state to civilize but truth is they desired profits




Lecture 2:


 Indian mutiny/ First war in independence:1857
- British showed that didn’t care about Indian sentiments
- Growing resentment of missionaries resulted in revolt against them
- After all damaged caused by British: missionaries banned from India by royal proclamation


 Racialism & fear in post-Mutiny India:
- Fear of miscegenation (mixing of races) disguised as fear of rape & sexual violence against
treasured white women & children
- Stereotype that Indians wanted to ravish white women: constant upholding of dignity of them
- Racial & political contamination joined with hatred of climate & diseases: consequence was
emotionally charged atmosphere
- People were constantly in state of hysteria: rape & disease played on mind


THIS IS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF JENNA ROSE LOPES- DO NOT ILLEGALLY DISTRIBUTE.
(SUMMARIES MADE USING ENG 210 LECTURES FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA: INTELLECTUAL
CREDIT IS DUE TO THE LECTURERS OF THIS MODULE.)

,  Hinduism: [majority of Indian population in novel]
- Karma: placid acceptance of things rather than striving to do good (key element of Hinduism)
- Non-proselytizing: Hindus don’t try to force people to convert to their faith
- Polytheistic: praise multiple Gods
- Way of life rather than institutional religion
- Most powerful characteristic = caste system; caste determined each mans social function, loss
of caste resonated in Christian terms with kind of hell


 Islam: [biggest minority group is Muslims]
- Monotheistic: praise 1 God
- Iconoclastic= importance of destruction of icons & monuments for religious/ political reasons




Lecture 3:


 Forster’s liberal humanism embodied by Mr Fielding- he represents these values of liberalism &
humanism:
- Liberal: without prejudices of people in other classes & races
- Humanism: don’t follow religious prejudices, rather follow ideologies of human psychology
[Mr Fielding]
= Unorthodox (thinks for himself)
= Believes in importance of education
= Doesn’t follow prejudices
= Shows keen interest in India
(Able to escape from stereotypes if are educated: education is key element to becoming humanist &
liberalist)
= Interchanges ideas with different people
= Personal relations are extremely important to him
= Atheistic: characteristic that divides him from his Indian friends


 Forster’s satirical treatment of Anglo-Indian arrogance & of Indian intransigence:
(examples of satirizing religious intolerance in novel)


THIS IS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF JENNA ROSE LOPES- DO NOT ILLEGALLY DISTRIBUTE.
(SUMMARIES MADE USING ENG 210 LECTURES FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA: INTELLECTUAL
CREDIT IS DUE TO THE LECTURERS OF THIS MODULE.)