Pasage To India

At the heart of A Passage to India is the clash of cultures. The British represent the West and the Indians represent the East. There has always been a clash between these two cultures and when one country has supremecy over another, this clash is even magnified.

Inside the story lies yet another clash of cultures; that between the Moslems and the Hindus. This clash is best exemplified between the characters of Aziz and Mr. Aritao, a Hindu lawyer who is charged with defending Dr. Aziz. Dr. Aziz loves and respects his Moslem heritage and so it is him stepping outside of himself to accept the Hindu's help.

The clash between the East and the West is most evident at the Bridge Party. Here the British are expected to get to know the Indians, but this does not happen. Although they try to retain good relationships they have no desire to retain relationships. When Ronny replies, after snubbing Dr. Aziz, that he did not even SPEAK to him, this is, indeed the point. That Ronny did not speak to Aziz or even deem that he existed. This epitomizes the extent of the NON relationships between the Indians and the British, the EAst and the West.

Mrs. Moore and Miss Quested are considered the outcasts in that they are truly interested in the REAL INDIA as they keep referring

to it. When Mrs. Moore stops in at the Mosque, she is truly wanting to experience something that is real in the Moslem faith. It is there and only there that she has a real conversation, without biases, with Dr. Aziz.