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In my essay I attempt to reveal how the relationship between the two main characters, Dr Aziz and Fielding, changes during the novel Passage to India written by E.M. Forster. Here I would like to show how their relationship and their attitude towards each other and towards the other characters undergoes the change, what events motivate the gradual shift in their behaviour.

Their characters are very important in the novel, as their figures represent the connection between the two cultures, the meeting of the Indian and English culture. In the novel we can see what effects and consequences may derive from this unity that is manifested in the relationship of Aziz and Fielding. As the novel develops, different changes can be noticed in their characters and feelings that is due to the new experiences they get in India. In the followings let us see how the change is taking part in their characters, how the gradual transformation develops during the stages of the novel.

In the relationship between Aziz and Fielding we can discover autobiographical inspirations. Forster became the tutor of an Indian young man, who arose Forster's interest in the Indian culture which had been almost unknown for him before. Forster's emotions were really deep and warm towards him, as he said, he made the experience real and exciting for him. According to his remark, he could not have written this novel without him. To express his gratitude and love, Forster dedicated the novel to Masood, his Indian friend, and to their 17 years of friendship. As the main theme, Forster's belief in friendship is reflected in the relationship of Aziz and Fielding in the novel.

Aziz is an Indian doctor, who lives among the natives according to their culture. His first contact with the English that has a significant effect on him is the scene in the Mosque, where he meets Mrs Moore, who really impresses him. Aziz's harsh behaviour that is due to his surprise changes immediately and he becomes kind and gentle leaving good impression on Mrs Moore. Their mutual sympathy remains alive through the novel, even after the trial. However, Mrs Moore do nothing particular against Aziz's charge, she even travels away from India. She does not give voice to her opinion in public, she just believes it being sure about his innocence.

The characters' attitude towards Aziz is different. The general opinion that is held in the English community about natives relates to his personality as well. The English unwillingly meet the Indians, only if it is really necessary. There are many references about this behaviour, for instance when we can hear the conversation of Mrs Lensey, Mrs Callendar, Ronny and the newcomer ladies. Here the most typical opinions are reflected in their comments when they reflect on Adela's wish to see real Indians. In the followings I have collected some remarks which express their views:

'Wanting to see Indians! How new that sounds!....Natives don't respect one any the more after meeting one, you see.'
'Why, the kindest thing one can do to a native is to let him die,.... He can go where he likes as long as he doesn't come near me.'(p.48).

Ronny's attitude towards the natives and also towards Aziz is similar to the others', let us think of the scene where Mrs Moore speaks about her experiences with Aziz in the Mosque. The first suggestion by Ronny is that Aziz must have been impudent when he started the conversation with his mother. Ronny refuses the idea of having picnic, and he can not understand Adela's inquiry about India either. He lacks of empathy that is reflected in his character. In his figure we can find a very strong antiphaty and resistance against the natives and their culture.

Being an Indian, Aziz is not accepted by the English community that is manifested in the fact that he is not allowed in the Club. He does not complain about this situation, he seems to accept it. Inspite of his exclusion he has positive rather than negative attitude towards the English, especially if we think of Mrs Moore, who is a special person in his eyes. His feelings include admiration, as he says at the beginning of the novel, 'The English take and do nothing. I admire them.' (p.34). His admiration appears together with respect.

The strongest friendship Aziz builds up is his relation to Fielding. Even for the first time they meet personally, Aziz behaves in a rather informal manner: he looks around in Fielding's room making comments about it, he speaks freely and easy. He behaves as if they had known each other for a long time.

The immediate sympathy is not accidental. Aziz and Fielding have many things in common. They both have been living among natives for a long time with having the chance to experience the differences between the two cultures. For Aziz the English experience is the new, while for Fielding, who comes from England, the Indian culture meant the fresh experience.

Aziz and Fielding get close to each other and become very good friends. Aziz's friendship is proved when he shows Fielding the photograph of his wife. With this act he ensures his trust and confidence in Fielding. As Aziz sais, 'I believe in the purdach, but I should have told her you were my brother, and she would have seen you....All men are my brothers, and as soon as one behaves as such he may see my wife.' (p.128). This event makes their friendship deeper, and they become more open and sincere towards each other. Even intimate detailes of their lives are discussed, for instance when they speak about getting married.

Aziz is attached to Fielding, as he is the only person he knows well from the English community. His figure represents the connecting link between Aziz and the English. Aziz feels him to be in safe only when Fielding is also present. This can be seen when the tea party is organised, or when the company is ready to go to the picnic and Fielding misses the train. Aziz feels rather disappointed about this accident, because he has counted on the presense of Fielding. As Aziz sais, 'Jump on, I must have you. .....Mrs Moore, Miss Quested, our expedition is a ruin.' (p.144). We can perceive this remark as a reference to the later events, as well, as if he foretold the fatal consequences of their trip.

Fielding arrived to India in his early middle–age, but still the country made significant impression on him. He is the one in the English company who feels sincere sympathy towards the Indian natives. 'He had no objection to adding Indians.... He had no ratial feeling.... He had found it convenient and pleasant to associate with Indians and he must pay the price.'(p.79–81). This is the feature about his character why Aziz feels sympathy towards him, and that is what the members of the community cannot understand. He is accepted by them, of course, but because he is English.

Fielding's thoughts and feelings differ from the others' to a great extent. As for his creed, 'The world, he believed, is a globe of men who are trying to reach one another and can best do so by the help of goodwill plus culture and intelligence.' (p.80). This statement expresses his belief in humanity and in the possibility of reaching equal relationships and understanding. This is the idea that governs his behaviour. The feature of humanity raises him out from the group of the other characters, and this is his value which is recognised by Aziz as well.

Similarly to Fielding, Aziz also shares this characteristic feature. He is a goodwilled person, who is eager to help people – let them be his patients or the newcomer English woman. Aziz offers his service and help to Mrs Moore and Adela immediately when he meets them for the first time. This act proves his absolute benevolence.

Except for Fielding and the newcomers, the other members of the English community are separated from the natives, they live in their closed world keeping away from the contact with them. Their only attempt to meet Indians by the request of Mrs Moore and Miss Quested – the 'Bridge Party' – fails, which is due to its artificial nature. Neither Mrs Moore, nor Adela is impressed. They are looking for natural and spontanious relationship with the Indian culture, which seems to be a valid but still a bit naive idea. They are seeking for new experiences and impressions, which they hope to find during their trip to the Marabar Caves.

The most significant point in the novel that initiates the change in the two main male characters is the scene in the caves. Mrs Moore and Adela have mystical experience in the caves, where something unknown happens to them. As they experience the unknown in the caves they experience this within themselves. I think, the caves here may symbolize the inner self of the characters, they get to recognize certain things as they discover themselves through the echoes that are present. After this recognition Adela seems to grow up with getting rid of her former naivity and uncertainity about herself.

The ladies' experience has an affect on the behaviour of the other characters as well. The antiphaty towards the natives culminates and manifests in the judgement of one single character, Dr Aziz. The charge seems to justify their presupposition and prejudice about Aziz being a native. The English charge Aziz unanimously exept for Fielding. He is the one who believes in Aziz's innocence, and who insists on maintaining his opinion during the case. Being close friends, Fielding can not think of Aziz to be guilty. As he says, 'The news gave me a very great shock, so I must ask you to forgive me. I cannot believe that Dr Aziz is guilty....The man's manner is perfectly natural; besides, I know him to be incapable of infamy.' (p.173).

Human prejudice works very hard in the English, especially if we think of Mr McBrycle's character, who represents the official power. His theory reflects the sense of superiority as a characteristic feature of the English colonists, which appears in the opinion of the other characters as well, let us think of the Turtons or Ronny for example. As Mr McBrycle says, 'All unfortunate natives are criminals at heart, for the simple reason that they live south of latitude 30. They are not to blame, they have not a dog's chance – we should be like them if we settled here.' (p.176). This approach highly contradicts Fielding's humanism, and it makes him cling to his opinion more strongly. In this respect the conversation between Mr McBrycle and Fielding has a crucial significance. Fielding wants to ask Adela personnaly about the incident, as someone, who is on the natives' side. As he says, 'But I wanted to ask her. I want someone who believes in him to ask her....She is among people who disbelieve in Indians.' (p.179).

Because of his feelings he is not understood by the English, their attitude towards the natives is conveyed to him as well. Their conflict culminates when he cuts the contact with the Club members. On one hand, he does not want to belong to their world any more, on the other hand his believes are not accepted either. That way no connection can be held. 'He was glad that he had broken with the Club, for he would have picked up scraps of gossip there, and reported them down in the city, and he was glad to be denied this opportunity.' (p.198). He does not mind to quit the ideas he does not share.

Fielding's character changes after the incident, especially as far as his feelings and opinion about Miss Quested is concerned. He gets in contact with her after the trial, and starts to understand her behaviour and character. Fielding appreciates her strength and bravery to withdraw her charge when she recognizes her mistake inspite of the strong pressure of her environment. To be merciful is what Fielding suggests to Aziz, to forgive her.

For Aziz the case causes a significant change in his life, especially as far as his attitude towards Adela and Fielding is concerned. As Fielding gets closer to Adela, he starts to get away from his friend. Aziz becomes offended and disappointed after the trial, even the provement of his innocence can not modify his feelings. He did everything to delight the ladies, to show them the real India, even if it costs too much for him. The prize of his intention is the spiritual harm he got that is impossible to forget. In his state of offence he is about to cut all the relations which contact him to the English community. He can not even stay in the British–Indian territory. The only solution for him is to escape from the slightest connection to the English world. As he says, 'You think that by letting Miss Quested off easily I shall make a better reputation for myself and Indians generally. No, no. It will be put down to weakness and the attempt to gain promotion officially. I have decided to have nothing more to do with British India, as a matter of fact. I shall seek service in some Moslem state,..., where Englishmen cannot insult me any more.' (p.251).

The changes in Aziz's feelings do not avoid his relation to Fielding. In their conversation (XXVII.ch.) the increasing tention between them can be discovered, where they speak about Aziz's strange behaviour and about their friendship. At the end of the conversation we can see how Aziz looses his belief in Fielding, which is due to the harm he has got from the others. Aziz can not believe that Mrs Moore is dead, the only person who was important for him.

Aziz feels that their friendship is spoiled, and a 'tragic coolness between him and his English friend' takes the place of their former warm and sincere friendship. They both feel they have to part which will put an end to their friendship.

In the last part of the novel –Temple– their parting comes to be real. Fielding decides to go to England, which means he has to cut his Indian relations. As he says at the beginning of the novel, 'He had discovered that it is possible to keep in with Indians and Englishman, but that he who would also keep in with Englishwoman must drop the Indians, The two wouldn't combine.' (p.80). He has made his choice, but still he travells away with ambivalent feelings, because he knows that with his departure their relationship is broken off. Aziz refuses to answer his letters that indicates his final decision about cutting all the links that connected him to the 'other' world.

Fielding's last visit in India is a crucial part in the novel relating to the development of their relationship. Here Fielding is the one, who initiates the meeting, and who tries to make the misunderstanding clear. Their conversation brings them close again, but they both know their parting is necessary. They are 'friends again, yet aware they would meet no more.' (p.310). They go to their 'last ride', where – once more– they can be together.

Aziz tries to wipe out the harms caused by the incident by forgiving his 'enemy', Adela , and Fielding as well. They would be ready for a new start of their friendship, but the external circumstances do not allow them to complete their intention. The differences that occur make a gap between them, which is too wide to across. " 'Why can't we be friends now? ...It's what I want. It's what you want. ‘But the horses didn't want it– they swerved apart; the earth didn't want it, sending up rocks through which riders must pass single–file...they didn't want it, they said in their hundred voices, ‘No, not yet, ‘and the sky said, 'No, not there.' " (p.316).

Political references appear in the novel constantly, where the British and Indian conflicts are emphasised. Inspite of the explicit presense of political standpoints, it is not the main purpose of the novel to give political propaganda. As Forster said, it is 'about something wider than politics'. The real conflicts in the novel are present on the level of personal relationships, which is manifested in the friendship of Aziz and Fielding. The gaps and rocks that rise between them indicates the cultural differences that may appear, but it also symbolises the common differences that can exist between two people when they get in contact with each other. The way the writer presents the fundamental personal relations makes the novel special: the personal differences are emphasised by the image of cultural and ratial oppositions.