Forster, E. M.: 1879-1970

A Passage to India, 1924 - Thematic Parallels: Cultural Conflict

Forster, E. M.: A Passage to India, 1924
The novel raises the question: Can East and West ever truly understand each other and coexist as equals? Forster leaves the answer open-ended and ambiguous.
The following books are thematically similar. They lend themselves well to being read in groups, compared with one another, or used to teach a similar topic over an extended period with a class:
- Achebe, Chinua: Things Fall Apart, 1958, ~200pp
  The novel explores colonialism, cultural conflicts, and the impact of British imperialism on traditional African society—echoing the clash between colonizer and colonized, and issues of identity and cultural misunderstanding seen in A Passage to India.
  Both novels critique colonialism, explore the failure of cross-cultural understanding, and seek to humanize the people affected by empire. Their enduring power comes from how they illuminate the psychological and cultural devastation caused by imperialism—not just politically, but personally and spiritually.
- Kadish, Rachel: Tolstoy Lied, 2006, ~320pp
  This novel often explores cultural and ideological conflicts, which relate to Forster’s themes of misunderstanding and oppression.
  Both novels expose how societal systems (whether academia - "Tolstoy Lied" - or empire - "A Passage to India") inhibit genuine human connection and personal fulfillment. Personal relationships become battlegrounds for larger ideological and societal conflicts.
- Moore, Brian: Lies of Silence, 1990, ~210pp
  This novel deals with political violence and personal conflict, which may engage with themes of division and cultural conflict.
  Both novels portray the damaging effects of oppression, occupation, and political unrest on individual lives and relationships. They explore the theme of isolation, where characters are unable to fully belong to any side in a divided world. Both authors use their novels as political critiques, showing how institutional power often fails to deliver justice or protect the innocent. Neither novel offers a neat resolution; instead, they leave readers with a realistic sense of ongoing conflict and division.
- Paton, Alan: Cry, the Beloved Country, 1948, ~250pp
  Set in South Africa during the era of apartheid, this novel addresses racial division, injustice, and the search for reconciliation—resonating with Forster’s focus on prejudice and the complexity of relationships across power divides.
  Both novels explore the tensions of colonial and racial injustice, the clash of cultures, and the possibility (or impossibility) of reconciliation in deeply divided societies. In both cases, the land reflects emotional and societal turmoil. That change is slow and painful, but not entirely impossible is suggested in both works.
List of general discussion questions on Cultural Conflict (pdf)
List of essay prompts on Cultural Conflict (pdf)