영어로 읽는 고전 _ E.M. 포스터의 인도로 가는 길
E. M. Forster의 『인도로 가는 길』(A Passage to India)은 1924년 출간된 작가의 마지막 장편소설이다. 이 작품은 영국의 식민 지배 시기 인도를 배경으로, 영국인들과 인도인들 사이의 복잡한 관계와 문화적 충돌을 섬세하게 그려내고 있다.
소설은 인도의 찬드라포어라는 가상의 도시를 배경으로 전개된다. 젊은 영국 여성 아델라 퀘스티드가 그녀의 예비 시어머니인 무어 부인과 함께 인도를 방문하면서 이야기가 시작된다. 이들은 인도인 의사 아지즈를 만나게 되고, 그는 그들을 마라바르 동굴로 안내하게 된다. 동굴 탐험 중 발생한 의문의 사건은 영국인과 인도인 사회 전체를 뒤흔드는 갈등으로 확대된다.
작품은 단순한 문화 충돌을 넘어 진실, 정의, 우정, 그리고 이성과 감정의 대립이라는 보편적 주제를 다루고 있다. 특히 마라바르 동굴이라는 상징적 공간을 통해 인간 존재의 신비로움과 한계를 탐구한다. Forster는 제국주의 시대의 인종차별, 문화적 오해, 그리고 상호 이해의 어려움을 예리하게 포착하면서도, 인간적 교감의 가능성을 모색한다.
이 소설은 출간 직후부터 현재까지 20세기의 가장 중요한 영문학 작품 중 하나로 평가받고 있다. 1984년에는 데이비드 린 감독에 의해 영화로 제작되어 아카데미상을 수상하기도 했다. 작품은 제국주의 시대를 배경으로 하고 있지만, 문화 간 이해와 소통이라는 현대적 의미를 지니고 있어 오늘날에도 여전히 큰 울림을 주고 있다.
Reading Classics in English _ A passage to India by E. M. Forster
E.M. Forster's A Passage to India is the author's last full-length novel, published in 1924. Set in India during the British colonial period, the work delicately depicts the complex relationships and cultural clashes between the British and the Indians.
The novel is set in the fictional city of Chandrapore, India. The story begins when a young British woman, Adela Quested, visits India with her future mother-in-law, Mrs. Moore. They meet an Indian doctor, Aziz, who guides them to the Marabar Caves. A mysterious incident that occurs during the cave exploration escalates into a conflict that shakes the entire British and Indian society.
The work goes beyond simple cultural clashes and deals with universal themes such as truth, justice, friendship, and the conflict between reason and emotion. In particular, it explores the mystery and limitations of human existence through the symbolic space of the Marabar Caves. Forster keenly captures the racism, cultural misunderstanding, and difficulties of mutual understanding in the age of imperialism, while exploring the possibility of human communication. The novel has been regarded as one of the most important works of English literature of the 20th century since its publication. In 1984, it was made into a film by director David Lean, winning an Academy Award. Although the work is set in the age of imperialism, it still resonates today as it carries the contemporary meaning of intercultural understanding and communication.
Summary
"A Passage to India" by E. M. Forster is a novel written in the early 20th century. The book explores themes of colonialism, cultural misunderstandings, and the complexities of friendship across cultural divides, primarily through the experiences of Dr. Aziz, an Indian Muslim, and Mrs. Moore, an Englishwoman. Their interactions set the stage for an insightful examination of British and Indian relations during the British Raj. The opening of the novel introduces the setting of Chandrapore, a fictional Indian city marked by its stark contrasts between the native landscape and the British colonial presence. The narrative shifts between a vivid description of the city and the interactions of Dr. Aziz with his friends, who engage in discussions about the possibility of friendship with the English. Aziz's chance encounter with Mrs. Moore at a mosque serves as a pivotal moment that highlights both the cultural barriers and the potential for connection between the two groups. Through Aziz's reflections and his interactions with English characters, Forster establishes a thematic foundation that promises to delve deeper into the tensions and relationships that define the colonial experience.
Contents
PART I: MOSQUE
CHAPTER I. Except for the Marabar Caves
CHAPTER II. Abandoning his bicycle
CHAPTER III. The third act of Cousin Kate was well advanced
CHAPTER IV. The Collector kept his word
CHAPTER V. The Bridge Party was not a success
CHAPTER VI. Aziz had not gone to the Bridge Party
CHAPTER VII. This Mr. Fielding had been caught
CHAPTER VIII. Although Miss Quested had known Ronny well
CHAPTER IX. Aziz fell ill as he foretold
CHAPTER X. The heat had leapt forward in the last hour
CHAPTER XI. Although the Indians had driven off
PART II: CAVES
CHAPTER XII. The Ganges, though flowing from the foot
CHAPTER XIII. These hills look romantic in certain lights
CHAPTER XIV. Most of life is so dull that there is nothing
CHAPTER XV. Miss Quested and Aziz and a guide
CHAPTER XVI. He waited in his cave a minute
CHAPTER XVII. The Collector had watched the arrest
CHAPTER XVIII. Mr. McBryde, the District Superintendent of Police
CHAPTER XIX. Hamidullah was the next stage
CHAPTER XX. Although Miss Quested had not made herself popular
CHAPTER XXI. Adela lay for several days in the McBrydes’ bungalow
CHAPTER XXII. Adela lay for several days
CHAPTER XXIII. Lady Mellanby, wife to the Lieutenant _ Governor
CHAPTER XXIV. Making sudden changes of gear
CHAPTER XXV. Miss Quested had renounced her own people
CHAPTER XXVI. Evening approached by the time Fielding
CHAPTER XXVII. Aziz, are you awake
CHAPTER XXVIII. Dead she was _ committed
CHAPTER XXIX. The visit of the Lieutenant-Governor
CHAPTER XXX. Another local consequence of the trial
CHAPTER XXXI. Aziz had no sense of evidence
CHAPTER XXXII. Egypt was charming
PART III: TEMPLE.
CHAPTER XXXIII. Some hundreds of miles westward of the Marabar Hills
CHAPTER XXXIV. Dr. Aziz left the palace at the same time
CHAPTER XXXV. Long before he discovered Mau
CHAPTER XXXVI. All the time the palace ceased not to thrum
CHAPTER XXXVII. Friends again, yet aware
