Question

Who is the protagonist in the novel A Passage to India ?

• A. Adela Quested
• B. Dr. Aziz
• C. Cyril Fielding
• D. Mrs. Moore

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Dr. Aziz

E.M. Forster's 'A Passage to India': Dr. Aziz as the Protagonist

• Central Character: Dr. Aziz, a Muslim Indian physician, is widely considered the protagonist of E.M. Forster's seminal 1924 novel, A Passage to India.
• Narrative Focus: The novel's narrative primarily revolves around Aziz's experiences, his friendships with the English characters, and his personal journey amidst the backdrop of British India.
• Character Arc: Aziz undergoes significant character development, showcasing his initial idealism, his disillusionment with the British Raj, and his eventual resignation and emotional withdrawal.
• The Marabar Caves Incident: The central event of the novel, the alleged assault on Adela Quested in the Marabar Caves, directly implicates Aziz and forms the crux of the plot, highlighting his victimhood and the racial prejudices of the time.
• Thematic Significance: Aziz's story embodies the novel's exploration of cultural misunderstandings, the complexities of the Indo-British relationship, and the quest for connection across racial and social divides.
• Perspective: While other characters like Mrs. Moore and Fielding are crucial to the narrative, the story's emotional core and critical turning points are most intensely tied to Aziz's perspective and fate.
• Literary Significance: A Passage to India won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction in 1924 and is a key text in discussions of post-colonial literature and the portrayal of British imperialism.
• E.M. Forster's Life: Forster's own experiences in India during his visits in 1912-13 and 1921 informed the novel's setting and its critical examination of colonial society.