A Passage to India: Part 2, Chapter 20 Summary & Analysis

The English all gather at the club, feeling especially patriotic and selfless towards Adela, even though most of them hadn’t liked her before. The women especially feel a “sisterhood” with her, and even the stern Mrs. Turton cries to think of how she was mean to Adela before. At the sight of Mrs. Turton’s tears all the women regret not being kinder to Adela.

More Englishmen arrive, and as they look out at the scenery they recognize again that everything is foreign and strange to them. More people than usual are at the club, including some families with children. Mrs. Blakiston, the wife of an unimportant official, is usually snubbed by her compatriots, but on this evening she seems symbolic of English innocence. Mrs. Turton stands next to her and resolves to “not be such a snob” in the future.

Major Callendar addresses the women and warns them to remain calm, but not to go into the city or talk in front of their servants. Callendar then dismisses them, and as they leave they are reminded that they are “an outpost of Empire.” Once the women are gone, Turton addresses the men. He tries to restrain his anger at Fielding and his hatred of the Indians, and he doesn’t want to have to call in military reinforcements. There is only one soldier in the room, and he is drunk. Turton longs for “the good old days” when the English didn’t have to compromise with Indians, but he knows he must be moderate and peaceful in this situation.

The men are all filled with emotion, imagining that their women and children are in danger. The drunk soldier recommends that the military should come in. Turton addresses them and cautions them to stay calm, and “assume every Indian is an angel.” The soldier recalls having played polo with one friendly Indian, and muses that the natives are “all right” when they’re alone.

Major Callendar enters to inform them that Adela is recovering. He seems angry at the sight of Fielding, and tries to bait him by criticizing Aziz and the “Englishman” who accompanied the expedition. Callendar then converses with the soldier, gossiping that Aziz bribed Adela’s servant to stay outside of the Marabar Cave, and that Godbole was bribed to make Fielding late to the train. He goes on, saying that Aziz also paid the villagers to smother Mrs. Moore in the cave. Callendar ends his speech by advocating that troops be called in.

Fielding is angry that so many Indians are being insulted, but he doesn’t let himself be provoked. He observes that “the evil was propagating in every direction.” Meanwhile Callendar continues to cast aspersions on Fielding’s character, bringing up the fact that Fielding visited Aziz in prison earlier. Callendar is then interrupted by the arrival of Ronny Heaslop. He looks pale and tragic, like a martyr. The men all stand up to honor him as he enters, but Fielding remains seated, feeling that it is finally time for him to protest.

Turton welcomes Ronny and inquires about Mrs. Moore’s health. The drunk soldier calls out Fielding’s rudeness in staying seated, calling him a “swine.” Fielding takes the opportunity to make a statement, declaring that he believes Aziz is innocent. Turton asks why he should still behave so rudely to Ronny, but Fielding doesn’t answer. Fielding declares that if Aziz is convicted, then he will resign his position and leave India. He resigns from the club immediately. Turton becomes enraged, and the soldier tries to block Fielding’s way, but Ronny, almost crying, tells them to let him go.

Fielding exits the club, wishing he hadn’t been rude to Ronny, but glad that he has “muddled through” and is now open about his position regarding Aziz and the English. Fielding goes out onto the veranda and looks at the Marabar Hills, wondering about the frightening echo in the cave, and whether the guide has been found yet. Fielding wonders if he has been “successful as a human being,” and considers that maybe he has been going about life with the wrong purpose. He feels sad.