Abstract：A Passage to India is the most famous novel by British novelist Edward Morgan Forster in the 20th century. This monumental novel has been widely spread more than nine decades. E. M.Forster was born in an architect family in London. His father died early. He attended Tonbridge School in Kent where endless disagreeable experience led to his aversion to the British upper middle class. His novels always reflect the spiritual poverty of the British upper middle class.The protagonist in each of his story tries to break the social and institutional constraints to seek personal liberation. The subject throughout his work is the concern for the "stunted heart" of the British middle class, the desire of trying to be cured by "connected" way, and his deep thought and reflection for living conditions in the early 20th century British society. In this work, the author used a unique way to describe the cultural conflicts, as well as people's mental state under the colonial rule.

Key Words: Cultural Conflicts; Colonial Rule; British Middle Class; Only to Connect

CONTENTS

摘要

Abstract

Introduction1

1. About Cultural Conflicts3

1.1 Orientalism4

1.2 Western culture6

1.3 British culture (origins , background ,progress)7

1.4 Indian culture (origins , background ,progress)8

2.1 Cultural conflict between Britain and India9

2.2 Cultural conflict between Eastern and Western Culture10

3. The Characters That Reflect Cultural Conflicts10

    3.1 Dr. Aziz: a Radical Hindu nationalist intellectual11

    3.2 Mr. Cyril Fielding: a Would-be Go-between11

3.3 Mrs. Moore: a Humanitarian12

3.4 Miss Adela Quested: a Questioned Girl13

3.5 Ronny Heaslop: a Typical British Colonial Ruler.14

Conclusion15

References16

Acknowledgment17