Women in 'A Passage to India'

Women in 'A Passage to India'

1. Indian Women and Purdah

   • Purdah during the bridge party: “Indeed, all the ladies were uncertain, cowering, recovering, giggling”
   • Progressive Purdah: “ I believe in purdah, but […] all men are my brothers, and as soon as one behaves as such, he may see my wife.”
   • Purdah at the time 'A Passage to India' was written:

2. Anglo-Indians

   • "Why doesn't the fool go?" (Page 11)
   • "You're superior to them anyway, don't forget that" (page 33)
   • "I give any Englishman two years" "And any Englishwomen six months" (page6)

3. Adela and Mrs Moore; Newcomers in India

   • Polite and respectful when interacting with the Indians as opposed to the other English who are "Haughty and Venal"
   • Adela comes independently to India but falls into the stereotype of a vulnerable English women who needs tp be protected from the lusting Indians
   • Adela is intellectual whilst Mrs Moore is more emotional, they are antithesis to each other