Women, Education, and Social Welfare
Vol. 2 No. 2 (2025): December 2025 | Women, Education, and Social Welfare

Of Slight, Spite, and Suspicion: The Treatment of India in E. M. Forster’s A Passage to India

Debashish Biswas (Jagannath University (Bangladesh))
Samia Yesmin (Norh South University (Bangladesh))
Prakash Chandra Biswas (Islamic University Kushtia (Bangladesh))



Article Info

Publish Date
18 Dec 2025

Abstract

This study analyzes E. M. Forster’s A Passage to India through the lens of colonial psychology, examining the intricate dynamics between the British colonizers and the Indian populace. The research focuses on the recurring themes of "slight," "spite," and "suspicion," highlighting how these attitudes manifest in the interactions between British and Indian characters. Through a detailed analysis of Forster's portrayal of colonial attitudes, this paper explores how the British perceive India through a lens of superiority, condescension, and distrust, reinforcing a racial hierarchy that permeates social, cultural, and religious domains. By interpreting these psychological underpinnings, the study reveals the lasting effects of colonialism on both the colonizers and the colonized, emphasizing how imperial ideologies obstruct genuine human connection. The research applies a qualitative approach, using textual analysis and postcolonial theory, with a particular focus on the symbolic use of space, language, and the Marabar Caves incident. This paper contributes to postcolonial scholarship by offering a critical re-evaluation of A Passage to India, focusing on the colonial mindset and its implications for cross-cultural relations.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

jiswel

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Education Environmental Science Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice Social Sciences

Description

As the mother of the generation, women hold a pivotal and indispensable position across all facets of life. This journal is a peer-reviewed journal dedicated to disseminating academic research on women, education, and social welfare. By fostering scholarly dialogue among researchers, it aims to ...