A Passage to India in Reading the Classics

Jul 28, 2016 Henry Avila rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Adela Quested a plain looking young , affable and naive English school teacher travels to distant India in the early 1920's accompanied by the elderly , kind Mrs. Moore (maybe her future mother-in-law) a widow twice and see the real country, more important to decide if she will marry Mrs. Moore's son the magistrate, of the unimportant city of Chandrapore disillusioned Ronny Heaslop ( he dislikes Indians now)...Conditions are very uneasy in India the natives hate the British rulers and seek indep Adela Quested a plain looking young , affable and naive English school teacher travels to distant India in the early 1920's accompanied by the elderly , kind Mrs. Moore (maybe her future mother-in-law) a widow twice and see the real country, more important to decide if she will marry Mrs. Moore's son the magistrate, of the unimportant city of Chandrapore disillusioned Ronny Heaslop ( he dislikes Indians now)...Conditions are very uneasy in India the natives hate the British rulers and seek independence and in turn the conquerors, despise what they perceive as an inferior local race, besides the Hindu and Muslim populations are always ready to riot against their enemies, foreign and domestic the tense, volatile situation needs the strong hand of the British army to keep peace but for how long ? Mrs. Moore like her female companion Adela, wants to see and feel India, experience its atmosphere no matter how alien, breathe in the romantic flavors, customs and particularly the strange exotic, mysterious and nevertheless engaging people of this dangerous but fascinating nation. Warned not to go alone the old lady does, visits a mosque and hears a voice in the dark telling her to take off her shoes, she had by Dr. Aziz a young Indian Muslim physician, ignorant foreigners in the past had shown disrespect, unexpectedly they later become great friends the two so completely different... Cyril Fielding the head of the modest local college is the only British man to show any sympathy for the poor native people, he hates how they are treated, the Indians especially the English women who do not hide their contempt . Yet can friendships develop and last between the Indian and the British in the colonial era, such as the emotional Dr. Aziz and the calm Mr. Fielding ? There is not much to see in the unattractive dirty city, no spectacular monuments or building, nothing the Ganges River flows leisurely by not causing any impact mostly ignored by the population, it isn't sacred here occasionally a dead body is spotted, not devoured by the crocodiles as it floats down to the ocean...In the local British Club no Indian members of course, they gossip drink play cards and the highlight, tennis when the notorious weather permits, scorching heat waves that crush the spirit and monsoon rains pouring ceaselessly down, causing widespread devastating flooding. Still twenty miles away in the Marabar Hills are countless caves to explore, nobody knows what makes them exciting though the areas only attraction, a tour is organized and led by Dr. Aziz composed also of Mrs. Moore, Miss Quested, Mr. Fielding and prominent Indians both Hindu and Muslims yet plans are not facts they do not go accordingly, a disaster ensues which will effect many people, lives are changed...A very interesting exploration of India during an unique period in its history, even today is still relevant to her destination as a rising superpower both economically and militarily...Yes things change... ...more

140 likes · Like · see review