A Passage to India · Chapter
XIX explained
Fielding visits Aziz in prison but finds him unapproachable.
What happens
Fielding visits Aziz in prison but finds him unapproachable. He then meets Hamidullah, who is anxious about the legal proceedings and suggests hiring the anti-British barrister Amritrao. Fielding reluctantly agrees, though he hopes to avoid racial hatred. Later, Fielding has a frustrating conversation with Professor Godbole, who seems more concerned with naming a new school than with Aziz's predicament.
Themes in this chapter
Friendship Across Cultures
Fielding's decision to side with Aziz against his own countrymen strains his relationships and highlights the difficulty of cross-cultural solidarity.
Justice and Injustice
The chapter explores the tension between legal evidence and personal belief, as Hamidullah and Fielding debate the best strategy to secure justice for Aziz.
Misunderstanding and Communication
Fielding's conversation with Godbole exemplifies a profound failure of communication, as Godbole focuses on trivialities while Fielding is consumed by Aziz's crisis.
Characters to notice
- Cyril Fielding
Visits Aziz in prison, confers with Hamidullah about legal strategy, and endures a frustrating conversation with Godbole about school names.
- Dr. Aziz
In prison, unapproachable through misery, accuses Fielding of desertion.
- Hamidullah
Anxious about the legal case, proposes hiring Amritrao, and shows deference to Fielding while being rattled by the situation.
- Professor Godbole
Engages Fielding in a trivial discussion about naming a school, seemingly indifferent to Aziz's crisis.
Key passages
“You deserted me”
Aziz accuses Fielding of abandoning him in his time of need.
Aziz's only coherent remark to Fielding during the prison visit.
“At a crisis, the English are really unequalled.”
Hamidullah praises the English for their composure during emergencies.
Said with complete sincerity after Fielding comforts him.
“To slink through India unlabelled was his aim.”
Fielding wished to remain neutral and not be categorized as pro- or anti-British.
Fielding regrets taking sides, foreseeing he will be called 'anti-British' or 'seditious.'