In his novel A Passage to India, Forster uses a series of repeated misunderstandings between cultures, which become hardened into social stereotypes, to justify the uselessness of attempts to bridge cultural gulfs. In many instances, the way in which language is used plays a great role in the miscommunication between the English and the Indians, as well as among people of the same culture. This is exemplified in the way in which people use the same words, but do not hear the same meaning. It is also displayed through the British characters Aziz meets and befriends, through a series of invitations and through time and true mistakes.

Two significant instances of miscommunication occur when Aziz meets the British characters in the novel that will end up being very close, yet controversial friends. Upon his encountering Mrs. Moore at the Mosque, he sees a British woman and right away develops a series of misconceptions about her. He believes that she is like all other British women (bring up conversation on women being alike):

'Madam, this is a mosque, you have no right here at all; you should have taken off your shoes; this is a holy

This is why Mrs. Moore is so revered by Aziz and the other Indians. She is too new a visitor to have become hardened, not having been there the six months Aziz and his friends agree are required for English ladies, and she still treats the Indians as people. She never advocates British withdrawal but she doesn't understand why they can't be more 'pleasant' to the natives. Perhaps there is a clue to answering this question in the experience Mrs. Moore has at the Caves.

face she liked, 'I wonder whether you would allow us to call on you some day.'

'Do I mispronounce that well-known name? Is he not your wife's brother?'

'When?' she replied, inclining charmingly.

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Approximate Word count = 1432
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)