Summary: Chapter IV
Mr. Turton invites several Indian gentlemen to the proposed
Bridge Party at the club. The Indians are surprised by the invitation.
Mahmoud Ali suspects that the lieutenant general has ordered Turton
to hold the party. The Nawab Bahadur, one of the most important Indian
landowners in the area, announces that he appreciates the invitation
and will attend. Some accuse the Nawab Bahadur of cheapening himself,
but most Indians highly respect him and decide to attend also.
The narrator describes the room in which the Indian gentlemen meet.
Outside remain the lowlier Indians who received no invitation. The
narrator describes Mr. Grayford and Mr. Sorley, missionaries on
the outskirts of the city. Mr. Sorley feels that all men go to heaven,
but not lowly wasps, bacteria, or mud, because something must be
excluded to leave enough for those who are included. Mr. Sorley’s
Hindu friends disagree, however, as they feel that God includes
every living thing.
Summary: Chapter V
At the Bridge Party, the Indian guests stand idly at one
side of the tennis lawn while the English stand at the other. The
clear segregation dismays Adela Quested and Mrs. Moore. Ronny and
Mrs. Turton disdainfully discuss the Indians’ clothing, which mixes
Eastern and Western styles. Several Englishwomen arrive and discuss
the earlier production of Cousin Kate. Mrs. Moore
is surprised to note how intolerant and conventional Ronny’s opinions
have become.
Mr. Turton arrives, cynically noting to himself that each
guest has come for a self-serving reason. Reluctantly, Mrs. Turton
takes Adela and Mrs. Moore to visit a group of Indian ladies. Mrs.
Turton addresses the Indian women in crude Urdu, and then asks Mrs. Moore
and Adela if they are satisfied. One of the Indian women speaks,
and Mrs. Turton is surprised to learn that the women know English.
Mrs. Moore and Adela unsuccessfully try to draw the Indian women
out into more substantial conversation. Mrs. Moore asks one of them,
Mrs. Bhattacharya, if she and Adela can visit her at home. Mrs.
Bhattacharya agrees to host the Englishwomen the upcoming Thursday,
and her husband promises to send his carriage for them.
Mr. Fielding, who is also at the party, socializes freely
with the Indians and even eats on the Indian side of the lawn. He
is pleased to learn that Adela and Mrs. Moore have been friendly
to the Indians. Fielding locates Adela and invites her and Mrs.
Moore to tea. Adela complains about how rude the English are acting
toward their guests, but Fielding suspects her complaints are intellectual,
not emotional. Adela mentions Dr. Aziz, and Fielding promises to
invite the doctor to tea as well.
That evening, Adela and Ronny dine with the McBrydes and Miss
Derek. The dinner consists of standard English fare. During the
meal, Adela begins to dread the prospect of a drab married life among
the insensitive English. She fears she will never get to know the
true spirit of India.
