The Difficulty of English-Indian Friendship
A Passage to India begins and ends by posing the question of whether it is possible for an Englishman and an Indian to ever be friends, at least within the context of British colonialism.Through the first half of the novel, Fielding and Aziz represent a positive model of liberal humanism: Forster suggests that British rule in India could be successful and respectful if only English and Indians treated each other as Fielding and Aziz treat each other--as worthy individuals who connect through frankness, intelligence, and good will.Yet in the aftermath of the novel's climax--Adela's accusation that Aziz attempted to assault her and her subsequent disavowal of this accusation at the trial--Aziz and Fielding's friendship falls apart.Fielding suffers from an English literalism and rationalism that blind him to Aziz's true feelings and make Fielding too stilted to reach out to Aziz through conversations or letters.The strains on their relationship are external in nature, as Aziz and Fielding both suffer from the tendencies of their cultures.