THE MARABAR CAVES: THEIR IMPLICATIONS IN THE ENCOUNTER IMPASSE BETWEEN WEST AND EAST

Abstract

The Marabar caves of Chandrapore constitute the central part of E. M. Forster’s A Passage toIndia where the entire events revolve around them. The presence of the caves in the first section, thenthe setting of the second section, and finally most part of section three refers to their powerfulsignificance in the structure of the narrative. E. M. Forester utilizes the tragic event in the caves to castlight on the impossibility of establishing friendship between East and West as long as India suffersfrom the British colonization. Forster accentuates this fact in the disastrous end of the Marabar caves’expedition which Aziz plans for Mrs. Moore and Adela Quested to see the real India.Keywords: Marabar Caves, colonialism, Anglo Indians, Indo Europeans, prejudice, racismIntroduction: