Trace the elements of mysticism in A Passage to India.
Ans. Mysticism implies a belief in the existence of unseen,
spiritual forces in the universe. E.M. Forster presents the unseen and
invisible forces interpenetrating the seen by contriving and
controlling events and by influencing and revealing character. Again
in Forster, we find a blend of agnosticism and mysticism. That is his
mystical tendencies have to fight against his agnostic faith. In other
words, his mysticism is held in check by his rational beliefs,
producing an impression of vagueness.
The mystical elements in A Passage to India may be traced
mainly in the character of Mrs. Moore, her experience in the cave and
its effects on her, and the character and philosophy of Godbole.
A devout Christian, Mrs. Moore is fully responsive to the religious
sentiments of the Indians. She is quite aware of the presence of God
in the precincts of the mosque. and so she readily takes off her shoes
before entering them. Her love and sympathy transcend all barriers and
limitations. Even a wasp is not denied to her all-embracing universal
love. She openly expresses her love and sympathy for Aziz despite the
annoyance and displeasure of her son Ronny. Mrs. Moore has
a terrifying experience in the caves. She almost faints, hitting against
something and gasping like a fanatic. An echo of “boum” or “bo-um”
appears to haunt her mysteriously undermining her very hold on
existence.
Professor Godbole, the Hindu Brahmin has been portrayed as a
votary of Krishna and a mystic. He is portrayed so because of
Forster’s own bent towards mysticism. Godbole sings the milk-
maiden’s song, addressed to Lord Krishna, with perfect sincerity and
fervor. Fielding is astonished at Godbole’s indifference to Aziz’s
arrest but actually, this professor is very peaceful and coolheaded in
the midst of the crisis that affects Aziz primarily and all the Indians
indirectly. In fact, he is indifferent to everything. He gives a discount»cse
on good and evil and says that both of them are aspects of the 1K”.’d
Almighty. ‘the festival of Gokul Ashtami heightens his philosophic@!
mysticism, love of devotional songs, and a general sense of kinship
all living beings not even excluding a wasp. He remembers a
which he had seen perhaps on a stone. He feels that he loved
wasp as much as he loved Mrs. Moore.
A Passage to India A Passage to India A Passage to India A Passage to India A Passage to India A Passage to India
