An Analysis Of The "Marginal Man" In E.M.Forster’s Works

E.M.Forster is one of the most important writers in English literary history of thetwentieth century, who has established his own position in the history of Englishliterature by six novels. Due to the ingenious technique of expression, the unique shapingway of characters, as well as the profoundly significant subjects and themes, he plays apivotal role in the development of literature. This article aims to analyze the “marginalman” in Forster’s novels, especially based on two of those works: A Passage to India andMaurice. The reasons why the “marginal man” were intimately concerned with by theauthor are explicitly explored and their common features are clearly expounded. Thenthis paper focuses on describing several types of the “marginal man”, including the malehomosexuals and the colonial people, and those in spiritual marginality, and explorestheir attempts that they have made to seek the soul redemption and the harmonious life.This paper is composed of three parts: introduction, the main body, and conclusion.The introductory section is about the brief introduction of Forster and his works, theresearch on Forster at home and abroad, and the practical significance and feasibility ofthis research on the “marginal man”.The main body consists of three chapters: The first chapter is divided into threesections: the first section is about the introduction of the “marginal man”, which refers tothe group of spiritual wanderers. They find themselves to lead a culturally drifting lifeand cannot settle in a certain position; the second section is mainly discussing the reasonsfor the appearance of the “marginal man”: firstly, it is closely related to Forster’spersonal experiences: his loneliness and inferiority caused by the loss of paternal loveand his overdependence on others for living; his sexual disorientation caused by the lackof timely proper education and parental attention; his confusion about the life; thecolorful travel experiences when Forster was influenced by the arts of different culturesand aroused his creative inspiration; secondly, it was mainly about the social impact. Atthat time, Britain was beset with difficulties both at home and abroad before the SecondWorld War and the mainstream values was developing and transforming; the third sectionis about the interpretation of the common characteristics of the “marginal man”: theanalysis of their social status as “the other”; the analysis of their inner anxieties anxietiesabout self-realization which are just proved to be the anxieties of the writer as an elite intellectual of the British middle class; the analysis of their revolt against the traditions.The second chapter is composed of three sections, mainly focusing on the generalanalysis of several types of the “marginal man” in Forster’s novels: the homosexuals inthe dilemma between love and moral, who were afflicted by both the lust for homosexuallove and the betrayal of traditional ethics in his novel Maurice; the Indian people whocannot find themselves under the British colonial rule, for the women were deprived ofthe right to speak, and the men intellectuals were totally westernized; the spiritualmarginality caused by the regional marginality, which can be clearly seen in the character:Aziz living in the cottage or Maurice in the suburban villa.The third chapter still includes three sections, mainly discussing how the “marginalman” seek soul redemption. The only way for them to find their spiritual home is throughthe connection, such as the connection between individuals and nature, the connectionbetween individuals and art. Forster believes that the “marginal man” are yearning for thebeautiful nature where they can find spiritual home. Maurice finally fulfilled hispermanent connection with his beloved Alec in the nature with no so-called inherenthierarchy where the hero found his physical and spiritual position; they can also findthemselves from music and poem, just as Aziz, the hero of A Passage to India, eventuallysought the spiritual redemption from the poem.This article explores the reasons for the emergence of the “marginal man” fromcultural and the historical elements, and it also pays more attention to the embodiment ofthe “marginal man” in the novels. The emergence of the “marginal man” reflects theauthor’s keen concern for the social trends. In the conclusion part, it is believed that the“marginal man” in the works are connected with the social reality. They also reflect theirvalues and outlook on life of that era. Nearly all the heroes are trying to break free fromthe constraints of the traditional social customs to seek personal liberation and start a newlife. At the same time, they also make great efforts for the progress of the mankind, andthe mutual connections among a variety of cultures. Concerned about the marginalizedgroups is an inexorable trend in pursuit of the stability and social development.