A Passage to India

The English women reflect with regret on their past disinterest in including Adela into their more intimate society: “If she wasn’t one of them, they ought to have made her one, and they could never do that now, she had passed beyond their invitation” (199). At the club, the English meet to discuss Adela’s misfortune. Mr. Turton directs the meeting, first addressing the ladies and calming their worries before consigning them to another room as he talks to the men. Each feels that “his simple words had reminded them that they were an outpost of Empire” (202).

Turton is staunchly against Aziz, so much so that he must remind himself that Aziz is not yet proved guilty. He attempts to quiet the men’s passionate response to the ordeal, as each was obsessed with the ideal of “women and children” that they must protect. The men decide to send their female relations away from Chandrapore.

Major Callendar enters and gives a vague account of Adela’s healing. Callender is determined to instigate Fielding to confess. Rumors spread through the group that there is a disingenuous member among them.

Ronny enters, causing a wave of resolve to spread through the men: “He seemed to appeal for their protection in the insult that had befallen him” (208). The men stand out of respect for him, except Fielding, who remains seated. Both the subaltern and Turton demand to know why Fielding won’t stand, which allows Fielding to finally address the entire group and proclaim his opinion that Aziz is innocent. If Aziz is proven guilty, then Fielding plans to resign from his post in India. Either way, he resigns from the club. He leaves after a short physical altercation with the subaltern. Fielding returns home dissatisfied with his entire experience in India, believing that he could have done something more worthwhile with his life.

Fielding goes to meet his new allies and plan for Aziz’s trial. The impending festival of Muharram is evident around the bazaar, with children dressed as animals and “the city beat a good many drums, but seemed good-tempered” (213). Alongside the Nawab Bahadur, Hamidullah, Mahmoud Ali, and other influential Indian gentlemen, they send a telegram to Amritrao explaining their desire to hire him. During their meeting, Fielding is distracted by nearby musicians, but the Nawab Bahadur denies that they should be dismissed off the grounds: “He said that musicians, who had walked many miles, might bring good luck” (213).

They apply for bail and Amritrao accepts their request. That night, Fielding considers reaching out to Professor Godbole again to discuss morality, but the Professor leaves the hostile and threatening atmosphere of Chandrapore before Fielding can get in touch with him.

Adela recovers at the McBrydes’ house. She had escaped the Marabar Caves down the hillside, running through cactuses. Mrs. McBryde and Miss Derek pick spines from her skin while Adela struggles to recover from her shock. She is “always reminding herself that no harm had been done” (215) and that Aziz never really touched her but cannot help becoming upset when thinking about that day.

Adela wants Mrs. Moore’s company and advice desperately, but Mrs. Moore is ill and does not visit Adela. Once the cactus spines are picked out and Adela feels well again, Ronny arrives to take her back to his home with Mrs. Moore. Ronny tells her of the near-riot during the Muharram festival; he and McBryde discuss the implications of Das, Ronny’s Indian-born subordinate, presiding over Adela’s case in court.

McBryde reveals that Fielding wrote to Adela but that McBryde opened the letter without her permission during the Muharram riot in case there was any information in it. In the letter, Fielding tells Adela that Aziz is innocent. Adela becomes upset and considers how hurtful and insubordinate Fielding’s words are to Ronny.

They drive to Ronny’s home. Ronny warns Adela that Mrs. Moore has been ill, irritable, and different than usual. When they arrive, Mrs. Moore does not greet them with kindness or allow Adela to come close to her; Mrs. Moore’s sole interest is when she will return to England. Adela describes the echo in her ears that she’s been hearing since the incident. She pleads with Mrs. Moore to explain the phenomenon to her, but Mrs. Moore refuses.

Likewise, Mrs. Moore refuses to be involved in the trial and won’t appear on the witness stand. She leaves to find playing cards, during which Adela says, “Ronny, he’s innocent; I made an awful mistake’” (225) and notes that the echo in her ears is lessening. Upon returning, Mrs. Moore says that Aziz is undoubtedly innocent but still refuses to be involved in the trial. Mrs. Moore believes it is too late for Adela to change things: “She has started the machinery; it will work to its own end” (229). Believing Mrs. Moore to be a liability in the case, Ronny considers how to best return his mother to India as soon as possible.