A Passage to India is a 1984 drama film written and directed by David Lean. The screenplay is based on the 1924 novel of the same title by E.M. Forster and the 1960 play by Santha Rama Rau that was inspired by the novel.I haven't read the novel yet but the film was an unforgettable experience. On the basis of the movie , I would like to discuss few things which seem to be important to me at present.
In the movie, I discerned the theory of Orientalism (as proposed by Edward Said in his book Orientalism ,published in 1978). The following pointers will show my understanding of Orientalism through the movie-
1.) In the beginning of the story when Mrs Moore and Adela are going to the Chandrapore , a fictional city of India ,the wife of collector says to them " East is East. It is a matter of culture." Thus indicating the Eurocentric Universalism which takes for granted the Superiority of West and inferiority of what is not (i.e. East).
2.) In the movie , the mindset of Westerners / Imperialists is very adroitly captured. The Indians are despised. They are treated as surrogate or even underground self. They are not supposed to befriended. East becomes the projection of those aspects of Westerners which they themselves refuse to acknowledge (cruelty, barbarism, laziness, sexuality and alike.) When Dr. Aziz is accused of attempted rape on Adela , White people says disdainfully that darker men are attracted towards white ladies (thanks to Mr. Amrit Rao who objects with a memorable repartee " Even if the lady is not so attractive?" ).
3.) Recognizing East as undeveloped pool of barbarism , at the same time and paradoxically , Westerners tend to recognize East as a fascinating realm of exotic, mystical and seducing. This is presented through the characters of Adela and Mrs Moore. Both are fascinated by India and seized by Indian spirit. Mrs Moore wonderfully utters her view of India when she says , " India forces you to come face to face with your real self." And it really does so in both Mrs Moore and more overtly in Adela's case.
These are three important factors of Orientalism which are so truly reflected in the movie. On the plain of symbolism also the movie excels. The presentation through cinematography is so keen. When the camera pauses on the moon-lit holy water of Ganga , seducing ancient statues in isolated places and dark caves of Marabar hills you are deeply shocked like protagonist and forget you are watching an English movie. The after-effect is so mesmerizing. The story presents an inter relation between explicit motifs like monkey , seducing statues and caves. Motifs stress the sexual tension of protagonist as well as her confrontation of this tension. Adela Quested is engaged to Ronny Heaslop. When she watches the Chandrapore from distance she is troubled by her loveless engagement with Ronny Heaslop. She questions Dr.Aziz about his marriage and whether he loved his wife before marriage. Later, the echoes in the cave (echo of her own unconscious self) greatly disturb her and make her confront her real self which she misinterprets as a sexual assault by Dr. Aziz. Thus the novel becomes rich on the psychological and symbolical level.
At the end of the novel , Dr. Aziz does not befriend Richard Fielding but waits and prays for the day India would be released from British Colonial Rule. Forster employs Ambivalent attitude towards East and its relationship with West of which Homi Bhabha talks in Post Colonial Theory. The movie is a great treat for those who want to but can not read all literature under the sun. And interestingly, I found the movie A Passage to India better than other movies based on novels. I bet you wont regret watching it even if you are no good a reader because it provides ample food for mind and spirit. And if you are a proud scholar of literature then you can't miss it because it not only helps to understand Post Colonial Theory and Orientalism but it also gives you an insight of the most important work of a major twentieth century writer E.M Forster.
1.) In the beginning of the story when Mrs Moore and Adela are going to the Chandrapore , a fictional city of India ,the wife of collector says to them " East is East. It is a matter of culture." Thus indicating the Eurocentric Universalism which takes for granted the Superiority of West and inferiority of what is not (i.e. East).
2.) In the movie , the mindset of Westerners / Imperialists is very adroitly captured. The Indians are despised. They are treated as surrogate or even underground self. They are not supposed to befriended. East becomes the projection of those aspects of Westerners which they themselves refuse to acknowledge (cruelty, barbarism, laziness, sexuality and alike.) When Dr. Aziz is accused of attempted rape on Adela , White people says disdainfully that darker men are attracted towards white ladies (thanks to Mr. Amrit Rao who objects with a memorable repartee " Even if the lady is not so attractive?" ).
3.) Recognizing East as undeveloped pool of barbarism , at the same time and paradoxically , Westerners tend to recognize East as a fascinating realm of exotic, mystical and seducing. This is presented through the characters of Adela and Mrs Moore. Both are fascinated by India and seized by Indian spirit. Mrs Moore wonderfully utters her view of India when she says , " India forces you to come face to face with your real self." And it really does so in both Mrs Moore and more overtly in Adela's case.
 |
| Adela Quested |
These are three important factors of Orientalism which are so truly reflected in the movie. On the plain of symbolism also the movie excels. The presentation through cinematography is so keen. When the camera pauses on the moon-lit holy water of Ganga , seducing ancient statues in isolated places and dark caves of Marabar hills you are deeply shocked like protagonist and forget you are watching an English movie. The after-effect is so mesmerizing. The story presents an inter relation between explicit motifs like monkey , seducing statues and caves. Motifs stress the sexual tension of protagonist as well as her confrontation of this tension. Adela Quested is engaged to Ronny Heaslop. When she watches the Chandrapore from distance she is troubled by her loveless engagement with Ronny Heaslop. She questions Dr.Aziz about his marriage and whether he loved his wife before marriage. Later, the echoes in the cave (echo of her own unconscious self) greatly disturb her and make her confront her real self which she misinterprets as a sexual assault by Dr. Aziz. Thus the novel becomes rich on the psychological and symbolical level.
At the end of the novel , Dr. Aziz does not befriend Richard Fielding but waits and prays for the day India would be released from British Colonial Rule. Forster employs Ambivalent attitude towards East and its relationship with West of which Homi Bhabha talks in Post Colonial Theory. The movie is a great treat for those who want to but can not read all literature under the sun. And interestingly, I found the movie A Passage to India better than other movies based on novels. I bet you wont regret watching it even if you are no good a reader because it provides ample food for mind and spirit. And if you are a proud scholar of literature then you can't miss it because it not only helps to understand Post Colonial Theory and Orientalism but it also gives you an insight of the most important work of a major twentieth century writer E.M Forster.
| Mrs Moore (Peggy Ashcroft) who becomes at the age of 77, the first oldest actor to receive Academy Award for best Supporting actress |
No comments:
Post a Comment