| The friendship between the Indians and the English is | | | | rather it exhibits it more strongly. At the Bridge |
| the main theme of Forster's novel. Under the pretext | | | | Party, the Indian guests stand idly at one side of the |
| of every episode the reference to this particular | | | | tennis lawn while the English stand at the other and |
| theme can be easily identified. The writer highlights | | | | no interaction between the two takes place. At one |
| the nature of their relationship not only as being | | | | time Mr.Turton tried to develop some degree of |
| Indians and English but also as ruling and ruled classes. | | | | familiarity with his Indian guests but his wife did not |
| The second chapter of the novel opens with a | | | | permit him to do so and took him back to the other |
| discussion on the same topic by a few educated | | | | side where only the English were present. Of all the |
| Muslims who were discussing whether friendship | | | | English people gathered in the party it was only Mr. |
| between English and Indian is possible. Hameedullah, | | | | Fielding who showed politeness with the Indians and |
| who has been in Cambridge, expresses his | | | | intermingled with them in a friendly environment. So |
| experience that friendship with English is possible only | | | | the common attitude of the Englishmen is not civilized |
| in England. He says, "I only contend that it is possible | | | | towards natives nevertheless they have been invited |
| in England, it is impossible here." | | | | by Englishmen. |
| This he said after an acute observation of English | | | | There is segregation between the ruler and the ruled. |
| people who think themselves to be superior creature | | | | The English ladies do not want to be with the Indians |
| on entering India whereas in England their conduct is | | | | or to eat with them. Despite this attitude the English |
| vice versa. They also have a strong belief that the | | | | think that this party is extraordinary event to get |
| attitude of English ladies is more negative than the | | | | familiar with the natives and old type of "Burrah |
| Englishmen. Hameedullah says, "They all become | | | | Sahibs" could not practice such a humble act because |
| exactly the same not worse, not better. I give any | | | | this is considered against the honor of the English |
| English man two years. And I give any Englishwoman | | | | race. These are the feelings of doing something that |
| six months. All are exactly alike." (Forster 35). | | | | compels the wife of the collector to say: "It's enough |
| Callendar's Summon for Dr. Aziz | | | | to make the old type of Burra Sahib Turn in his |
| Aziz, Hameedullah and Ali are about to have dinner, | | | | grave. (Forster 65)" |
| when Aziz is summoned by the civil surgeon, Major | | | | This attitude is purely snobbish because the English |
| Callendar. Before responding to this call, Aziz says | | | | ladies, who are here in the party, are ordinary British |
| that Callendar has called him just to show his | | | | ladies. Who are compared and considered equal to |
| authority and he does not really need him. He says | | | | the Indian ladies; which are cream of the society. |
| that "he has found out our dinner-hour, that's all, and | | | | The gap between the two races strengthens further |
| chooses to interrupt us every time, in order to show | | | | during the trial period drawing a clear cut line |
| his power." (Forster 39) | | | | between English and Indians. Now every all the |
| As Aziz approaches Callendar's compound he gets | | | | Indians are favouring Aziz and on the other hand the |
| down from tonga because the English rulers want the | | | | whole English community is with Adela. No one |
| Indian to approach any English official on foot as it is | | | | except Fielding is ready to find out what actually has |
| the most suitable way for the servants. To exhibit | | | | happen in Marabar Caves. In such a situation it was a |
| their power and to observe the servility of the | | | | crime for an English man to side with Aziz; therefore |
| natives they forced to be humble and servile like a | | | | Fielding was criticized bitterly for his favouring Aziz, |
| submissive and obedient subject. | | | | an Indian. Even the Collector who never spoke |
| As the matter of fact, when Aziz reaches to Mr. | | | | otherwise, was so infuriated that he lost his head and |
| Calender's place, he finds that Major Callendar has left | | | | said with utmost disgust: 'you have sunk to the level |
| for the club without leaving any message for him. | | | | of your associates; you are weak, weak, that is |
| This proves Dr Aziz's suspicion that Mr. Callendar has | | | | what is wrong with you". |
| called him at such odd time of dinner just to exhibit | | | | Fielding and Aziz |
| his power. | | | | The only friendship that takes place in the novel, |
| This particular incident shows the friendship can't | | | | though for a short period of time, is between Fielding |
| exist as far as English people consider the Indians an | | | | and Aziz. This starts when Aziz was invited to a tea |
| object to be governed and ruled. It's so because the | | | | party by Fielding at his home. There they talk with |
| foundation of friendship is laid when there is equality | | | | each other in a quite friendly atmosphere until Ronny |
| on both the sides. It can not | | | | came and destroyed the charm of the party. |
| The Chandrapore Club and the Indians | | | | However, this acquaintance turned into friendship |
| The Chandrapore club is the centre of leisure time's | | | | when Aziz showed Fielding a picture of his late wife. |
| activities, particularly for the English. The Indians have | | | | On Fielding's question that the Indian ladies follow |
| been banned to go there. The reason behind this | | | | "purdah", Aziz answers, "I should have told her you |
| restriction is that the natives are uncultured and | | | | were my brother". Fielding takes it as a great |
| primitive so they are not capable of being a member | | | | compliment and proves his friendship in the time of |
| of the club. This is the reason that when Mrs. Moore | | | | need. During the trial of Aziz, it was only Fielding who |
| invites Dr. Aziz to join the club, he simply replies that | | | | even being a British national assisted the lawyers of |
| "Indians are not allowed into the Chandrapore club | | | | Aziz and faced the harsh condemnation by his own |
| even as guest." (Forster 48) | | | | race. |
| Bridge Party | | | | The ultimate end of this friendship, however, was |
| The purpose of the bridge party was to bridge the | | | | not a success. It ended at the end when mixed up |
| gulf between the English and the natives. Forster (52) | | | | with the elements of suspicion on part of Aziz. When |
| refers to it as "it was not the game, but a party to | | | | Fielding requested his Indian friend to refrain from |
| bridge the gulf between east and west." | | | | suing Adela, Aziz could not understand the real |
| The name of the party has a symbolic background. It | | | | intension of Fielding and instead of it took it as if |
| is the game of a card game called "bridge game". In | | | | Fielding wanted to help Adela so as to get a chance |
| this game the trump card is the strongest card and | | | | to marry her. Even after two years when Fielding |
| one player decides which the trump card is and this | | | | visited Aziz, the latter showed cold shoulder on his |
| player is the strongest player who commands over | | | | arrival assuming he had married Adela Quested. This |
| the others because all players are not equal in this | | | | distrust reveals the real story and we are now able |
| game. In this sense, the English and the Indians are | | | | to say that their belonging to different traces was |
| players in bridge party and the English has to decide | | | | the main reason for which they could not unite into |
| the trump card because they are superior. | | | | the bond of friendship. |
| However, the Bridge Party does not narrow the gulf | | | | |