A Passage to India

A Passage to India

by

E. M. Forster

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A Passage to India Characters

Dr. Aziz

A young Muslim doctor in Chandrapore who is a widower with three children. Aziz is skilled at his job but his real passion is for poetry. He is emotional and effusive, and befriends Fieldingread analysis of Dr. Aziz

Cyril Fielding

The English principal of the government college. Fielding is an independent, open-minded man who likes to “travel light.” He believes in educating the Indians and treats them like his peers, which separates him from the… read analysis of Cyril Fielding

Adela Quested

A young, honest Englishwoman who comes to India to decide whether or not to marry Ronny. Adela is intrigued by India and desires to see the “real” India and befriend the locals. Later she… read analysis of Adela Quested

Mrs. Moore

An elderly Englishwoman who is Ronny, Ralph, and Stella’s mother. She travels to India with Adela and is intrigued by the country. Mrs. Moore meets Aziz and feels an instant connection, and… read analysis of Mrs. Moore

Ronny Heaslop

Mrs. Moore’s son and the magistrate at Chandrapore. Though likable and sympathetic at first, Ronny is influenced by his Anglo-Indian peers and becomes more prejudiced and unkind to Indians over the course of the… read analysis of Ronny Heaslop
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Miss Derek

A young Englishwoman who works for an Indian Maharani. She is outgoing and carefree, regularly “borrows” her employer’s car, and is considered unseemly by many of the English in Chandrapore. Miss Derek is the person… read analysis of Miss Derek

Mr. McBryde

The superintendent of police, who has his own theory that India’s climate makes Indians behave criminally. He is generally more tolerant than most of the English at Chandrapore, but still generally assumes the superiority of… read analysis of Mr. McBryde
Minor Characters
Professor Godbole
A Brahman Hindu professor at Fielding’s college. Godbole is mysterious and spiritual, a figure associated with universal oneness. He later experiences religious ecstasy at the Hindu festival in Mau.
Mr. Turton
The English collector, or chief British official, who governs Chandrapore. He has been in India for two decades and is very set in his ways. Turton is stern, official, and patriotic, and though he feels an underlying hatred for most Indians he still acts tactfully when needed.
Mrs. Turton
Mr. Turton’s wife, who is outspoken in her hatred of Indians and her sense of snobbish superiority.
Major Callendar
The British civil surgeon and Aziz’s superior, though an inferior doctor. Callendar is especially prejudiced, condescending, and hateful towards Indians. He boasts about possibly torturing Nureddin at his hospital.
Hamidullah
Aziz’s uncle and friend. Hamidullah was educated at Cambridge and became close friends with an English couple there, though he believes such friendship is almost impossible in India. He is also one of Fielding’s close friends until Fielding’s falling-out with Aziz.
Mahmoud Ali
Aziz’s friend, a lawyer who is dramatic, emotional, and passionately anti-English, especially after Aziz’s trial.
Mohammed Latif
A distant cousin of Hamidullah’s who lives off of his money and plays the fool for his others’ entertainment. He is part of the expedition to the Marabar Caves.
The Nawab Bahadur (Mr. Zulfiqar)
A prominent Indian and English Loyalist, meaning that despite being Indian he is strongly supportive of British rule of the Raj. He is wealthy, benevolent, and beloved by the community. However, he renounces his English title after Aziz’s trial.
Nureddin
The Nawab Bahadur’s grandson, supposedly tortured by Callendar at the hospital.
The Soldier
A subaltern who plays polo with Aziz early in the novel, and then drunkenly insults Fielding and the Indians after Adela’s attack.
Dr. Panna Lal
A low-born Hindu doctor, whom Aziz scorns. Lal hates Aziz and offers to testify for the English at his trial.
The guide
An unknown Indian who leads Aziz and Adela through the Marabar Caves. He is possibly Adela’s attacker, but he runs away soon afterward and is never found.
The Rajah
The ruler of an Indian province including Mau. He is old and sick and attended to by Aziz, but he dies during the Hindu festival.
Ralph Moore
Mrs. Moore’s son, a sensitive young man who travels with Fielding to Mau. Aziz is instantly drawn to him, and Ralph seems to share his mother’s mysterious spiritual power.
Stella Moore
Mrs. Moore’s daughter who marries Fielding. She shares her mother’s concerns regarding spirituality.
Amritrao
A famous anti-British lawyer who defends Aziz at his trial.
Das
Ronny’s subordinate, an Indian official who judges Aziz’s trial. Despite being Hindu, he befriends Aziz afterward.
Mr. Graysford
An English missionary who lives outside town.
Mr. Sorley
A young English missionary who feels that monkeys and other mammals might be allowed into heaven.
Mr. and Mrs. Bhattacharya
A friendly couple whom Adela meets at the Bridge Party.
Hassan
Aziz’s slow-witted servant.
Rafi
A young man who likes to spread rumors and cause trouble.
Mrs. Blakiston
An English woman who is usually snubbed but becomes idealized after Adela’s attack.
Lady Mellanby
The wife of the province’s lieutenant-governor, who lets Mrs. Moore travel in her cabin back to England.
Antony
Adela and Mrs. Moore’s rude servant.
Syed Mohammed
An engineer and Aziz’s friend, Rafi’s uncle.
Jemila, Ahmed, and Karim
Aziz’s three children who live with their grandparents and then with Aziz at Mau.