The Symbolic Art In E.M. Forster's Howards End

E. M. Foster, the famous British novelist in the 20^th century, owns a heavy sense of tradition and innovation of himself. Since 1960's. more and more, the critics have emphasized his modernist tendency and attempted to prove the complexity of his creative skills and the innovative factors in his novels, especially the usage of poetic rhythm and symbols. Nowadays, the critic circle is apt to view Forster as a "modem symbolist". He was once famous for acting as the spokesperson to conserve the bourgeosic tradition of freedom and social justice. He is against imperialist policy and he believes that the natural sentiment from human heart is holy. Also Forster pays a lot of attention to the importance of the connection between individuals. He thinks that, under the tough atmosphere of the British Public School, it is very hard to establish a real "connection". His longing for the connection and his research of this word constitute the significant theme of his novel. He calls the genuine relationship between every person the ""only connect".This thesis is taking the symbolism as the main thread and it emphasizes the symbolic usage in the aspect of characters, things and setting in Forster "s most serious and the deepest novel: Howards End. All these three aspects have so surpassed their verbal meaning that makes the novel a high sense of symbolism. Adding its seriousness and ideological content of the theme, Howards End has been highly above all the former novels of E.M. Forster.