The Bridge Party (Part 1, Chapter 5) is a satire of the British takeover of India. First organized by Mr. Turton, this gathering immediately turns into a politicized event, during which the English and Indians separate themselves into two groups. The term "bridge party" is ironic, because the party does not create a bridge between the groups—rather, it intensifies the division between them:
THE BRIDGE PARTY was not a success—at least it was not what Mrs. Moore and Miss Quested were accustomed to consider a successful party. They arrived early, since it was given in their honour, but most of the Indian guests had arrived even earlier, and stood massed at the farther side of the tennis lawns, doing nothing.
In this passage, the narrator describes how the party is both awkward and unsuccessful: the Indian guests gather on one side of the lawn while the English stand on the other. Ronny observes that "no one who's here matters" and makes fun of the Indians' clothing. Mrs. Moore and Adela sadly consider the scene without participating. Fielding socializes with the Indians at the cost of isolating himself from the English.
As a whole, this scene speaks to the larger issue in the novel of the social and political divisions between England and India—divisions that are only intensified by the colonial presence of England. Despite Mr. Turton's attempts to be tactful and inclusive by organizing this party, he retains a strong dislike for Indians, and most of the other Englishmen are outright rude to them. Forster often takes a satirical approach to the ridiculous and inconsiderate nature of the British officials.
The Collector of Chandrapore (Mr. Turton) is a great example of a character whom Forster portrays in a satirical manner, as is evident in Part 2 Chapter 17:
The Collector could not speak at first. His face was white, fanatical, and rather beautiful—the expression that all English faces were to wear at Chandrapore for many days. Always brave and unselfish, he was now fused by some white and generous heat; he would have killed himself, obviously, if he had thought it right to do so. He spoke at last. “The worst thing in my whole career has happened,” he said. “Miss Quested has been insulted in one of the Marabar caves.”
Forster employs satire with sarcasm, irony, and exaggeration in order to show how silly Mr. Turton is. The main satirical tool in this passage is verbal irony; Turton obviously would not have killed himself if he had thought it right to do so. He thinks too highly of himself to take his own life. He also speaks in an exaggerated manner of "the worst thing in my whole career" while using a euphemism to describe a possible rape as an "insult." Nor is he beautiful (though perhaps he believes he is so compared to other races).
Turton is a chief British official who governs Chandrapore. Having been in India for a couple of decades, he is very set in his ways. He feels hatred toward most Indians, and Forster clearly disapproves of people like him. These disparities between Turton's words and the story's reality make him seem ridiculous. Forster often used satire to ridicule the British officials; here, he sends the message that Mr. Turton is not a character to be admired. The subsequent conversation between him and Fielding brings Turton's negative characterization into even greater relief and supports Forster's use of satire in the beginning of this chapter.
