The term symbolism is applied in literature to a work, a set of words, that signifies an object or an event which itself signifies something else. Symbolism is a permanent feature of the novel A Passage to India. The novelist makes continuously the use of symbolism in the novel. The symbolic representation in the novel is complicated for both the readers and critics.
The in-depth reading of the novel exposes three forceful symbols: The Mosque, The Temple and the Cave, and critics define them according their mental approach. Here one critic Ruther Field defines the Mosque as men’s emotional nature, and the Cave stands for Mankind and Intellectuality, and the Temple stands for Universal Love in the novel.
But another critic Henry Wanton says, the Mosque stands for Dr. Aziz’s activities and the Muslims’ live, and the Cave stands for fielding’s Knowledge, and the Temple stands for God-bole’s Devotion in the novel.
But the best illustration of the symbolism is considered of Johnson Walter. According to which the Mosque stands for Islamic Brotherhood, the Cave stands for Existence of Evil in India and the Temple stands for Harmony and Happiness in the novel.
Another critic Marshal Willmar who defines the Mosque stands for Islam, the Cave stands for Hinduism and the Temple stands for Christianity in the novel.
An English Lady and Dr. Aziz meets face to face in the Mosque and fall in friendship. In the Mosque the novelist combines two different cultures and languages in the finest way but the friendship is broken in the Cave due to misunderstanding. It means that the Indian and the Muslims cannot live together for a long time. Here Foster uses two terms Muddle and Mystery in the novel. Muddle creates misunderstanding personally and racially and the Muddle is transformed into Mystery.
The Cave is also a difficult symbol in the novel that brings disaster for them, especially for Dr. Aziz. Actually Maraber Caves is a mystery for the readers because the echo in the Cave haunts Mrs. Adela’s mind due to which she could not judge what happened in the with her and soon went into stupefying condition and the Cave did not give her a single chance to explain her happening.
This incident put to the test to the friendship between Dr. Aziz and Fielding. In the words of Foster, nothing, nothing and nothing happened in the Caves. If the Mosque is a fair and holy place for their friendship and mutual understanding, the Cave is
foul place where their hopes and expectations fall down automatically.
The walls of the Maraber Caves were polished due to foreign visitors but the visitors could not understand fully the aim of the polished walls. The Cave-horrible experience of Lady Moore and Adela challenges Islam and Christianity. The dark empty Caves hollowness symbolizes the hollowness of Hindus and the Muslims internally but polished externally like Maraber-Caves.
It means the harmony found in the Mosque broke into pieces in the dark Caves actually nothing happened inside the Caves with any person. The Caves’ echo was the conscious-voice of the Hindus. According to Walter Peter, The Cave’s echo represents the inner thought of Christianity that overcomes Islam and Hinduism for a short time.
The Mosque closed the Hindus to the Christian both are the Holy Book holders but the Hindus tried technically to break the friendship between the two using the Caves-echo for their mental destruction while the Temple gave a ray of hope to together at one platform the three culture, the Hindu-culture’s, the Islamic-culture’s and the Christian-culture’s expectations, hopes and friendship.
These incidents reveal hope of unity as the birth of Lord Krishna, the meeting of Lady Moore and Adela, turning turtle of the boat in the river, the last riding of Fielding and Dr. Aziz show that there was a ray of friendship but shattered knowingly using Maraber-Caves mystery.
The last riding in the boat and the gathering of Roney, Adela Dr. Aziz and Fielding in the Temple show temporary gathering not permanent gathering.
To sum up, Foster’s symbols are unique and meaning full but a bit complex for the readers and critics in explaining. But these symbols give a clear-cut background of Hindus, Muslims and Christians when they were living together in the Subcontinent. Here Dr. Lambert says, ‘the upper surface of Foster’s novel is realistic and comic but the inner surface of the novel shows conflicting ideas of the three nations; the Hindus, the Muslims and the Christians.’
Foster uses symbols to show his feelings about the races of the subcontinent in the finest way. In-depth study of the novel reveals that the Muslims and the Christians may come together due to having the same ideas about Almighty that disturbs the Hindus mentally and spiritually. The Cave-Echo symbolizes the same thing and broke the unity of the two cultures.
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The problem you encounter is that many people do not understand the symbolism. They interpret in their own venue, if they even appreciate the symbolism.
For example, in Scripture you will read something like how man was formed from the 'dust of the ground'. This means from among the population for dust of the ground is often used to refer to large populations.
It is not that Genesis II 'forgot' that 'man' was already created in Genesis I it is symbolic.
Symbols or symbolism in real life is most important because symbolism is the language of God. Have you heard..when we slumber, God speaks in number. It is a symbolism and tricky symbolism.
As we see Cross is the sign of Jesus Christ regardless of who makes it on earth but we respect and worship it because it represents Jesus Christ.
So the moral of the story is: 'Caves are bad for a man if he goes inside one with a troubled unhappy woman.' Sorry. The plot of this story is so serious, need to take a break for some occasional humor.
With regard to symbols, they are only as significant as the person who is regarding them in that manner. One person kneels at the statue of Buddha. Another person will put that statue in their bathroom as a decoration. One soldier will hold up the flag of his country with pride. A foreign soldier will piss on that same flag. One person will wear an astrological sign around their neck as a piece of jewelry. Another person won't because it violates their Christian beliefs. One says: “It's just jewelry.” The other says: “It's unChristian. We don't believe in stars. We believe in The Light!” As for me, I really like doves and what they symbolize. That's a really nice featured image. :)
You are talking about a story. The use of symbols in the stories you are telling is very nice. But I think we use symbols indirectly and directly in our daily life. There are many materials that signifies a lot of things in out day to day life. Colours also signifies a lot in our life. Animals also signify a lot in our practical lives.
Red color symbolizes danger or quiting or stopping. Right from our traffic light, red signs signifies that every car should stop. When you enter a bush and see a tree tied around with red clothes, it means the fruits of the tree is restricted from passers-by. It means the fruits are meant for the owners only. Outsiders are not allowed.
Black colour signifies bad luck and evil. Anywhere black material is used it symbolizes evil and misfortune. That is why devil is being painted black.
Animals like lion symbolizes strength and power, it symbolizes leadership. Anywhere a lion is drawn, the place is at an extent a place for the Kings or the leaders. That is why kings are always happy when they are being called lions. Even Jesus is being called the lion of Judea. But people get angry when they are being called sheep or goat because they both symbolizes cowardice and stupidity. Every thing around us in one way or the other symbolizes one thing or the other.
Symbols has a lot of significance to play in our everyday life.
I also forgot to talk about white color. Any material with white color doesn't scare people but embraces people. White among all other colour symbolizes peace, purity and goodness. When we pray to God, we ask for forgiveness by telling him to wash our sins so that we can be whiter than snow. Why don't we say wash us so that we can be blacker than coal. Because black symbolizes evil, white symbolizes purity. That is why dove symbolizes purity. The white color of dive makes it a pure bird among all other birds. In the churches, white is the dominant colour of every decoration(materials). When you talk of catholics, their reverend fathers wear white garment not black due to what white signifies. White colour signifies purity. White candles are mostly the candle used in most churches due to the colour symbol. White symbolizes peace and unity and doesn't represent evil. Even the evil alters most times are scared of white colours. The evil ones always use vulture or any other black bird but will never use dove as a symbol in their alter. They go on am assignment in form of vulture but can never go in form of dove. That is why the black colour of vulture and it's feeding habit has made it an isolated animal.
Dove is a bird which every one wish to see and behold it's white colour beauty.