Psychological and Cultural Conflicts in A Passage to India: A Study of Identity and Belonging

Authors

Arshi Sultan, Dr. Ravindra Kumar

Abstract

In E.M. Forster’s A Passage to India, psychological and cultural conflicts are central to the narrative, exploring the complexities of identity and belonging amidst British colonial rule in India. The novel delves into the friction between the colonialists and the native population, revealing the deep-seated prejudices and misunderstandings that shape their interactions. The psychological conflict emerges through characters grappling with their own identities within the constraints of societal expectations and colonial power dynamics. Forster illustrates how personal and collective identities are fragmented by the overarching cultural divide.
The novel's setting—the fictional town of Chandrapore—serves as a microcosm of the larger conflict between East and West. Through characters like Dr. Aziz and Mrs. Moore, Forster examines the struggle for belonging in a world marked by cultural dissonance and power imbalances. Aziz’s quest for self-assertion and the British characters' attempts to maintain control highlight the personal and cultural disjunctions that arise from colonialism. Ultimately, A Passage to India portrays the challenges of reconciling different cultural identities and the human yearning for connection in a fragmented world, underscoring the profound effects of colonialism on individual and collective senses of belonging.

Keywords

Psychological Conflict, Cultural Conflict, Identity, Belonging and Colonialism

Psychological and Cultural Conflicts in A Passage to India: A Study of Identity and Belonging. Arshi Sultan, Dr. Ravindra Kumar. 2024. IJIRCT, Volume 10, Issue 4. Pages 1-5. https://www.ijirct.org/viewPaper.php?paperId=2408070