In the first fifteen chapters of A Passage to India, EM Forster prepares for the tragedy of the Marabar Visit quite successfully. The tragedy is perceived as the failure of the Marabar expedition and its consequences: Adela Questad's accusation of Aziz's improprieties and Mrs. Moore's loss of sanity. From Forster's depiction of symbolic issues to his description of the Marabar hills to the experiences of women in the caves, he has implanted various connections that allude to the tragedy of the Marabar visit. The use of foreshadowing gives readers a sense of impending disaster: Forster implies that the English and the Indians can never be friends. This pessimistic outlook and interracial tension explain the underlying cause of the Marabar Caves tragedy. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The main issue addressed by Forster in A Passage to India is the possibility of friendship between the English and the Indians. The controversy is first raised in the conversation between Hamidullah and Mahmoud Ali, and then again through the Bridge Party. Hamidullah argues that cross-cultural friendship is only possible in England. The men agree that it is impossible for them to live harmoniously in India, because the structure of the colonial system turns the attitude of the British towards the Indians into a disrespectful one. From the beginning, Forster makes it clear to readers that cross-cultural friendship is useless and that friction between the two nations is inevitable. As newcomers to the country, Mrs. Moore and Adela express a desire to see the "real India," unfiltered through the lens of the English. In response to this wish, a Bridge Party is organized. The Bridge Party, intended to bring together people of different nationalities, turns out to be a failure. The Bridge Party represents all the problems of intercultural exchange between English and Indians. Racial distinctions are highlighted through the portrayal of Mrs. Turton. The failure of the Bridge Party foreshadows the futility of the attempt to bring about a union between British and Indians. Forster implies that people of both countries have difficulty accepting each other. Interracial tensions are depicted through interactions between the two nations. The Indians are offended by the English attitude of superiority. Aziz is summoned to Major Callendar's house during dinner only to discover the Englishman. Mrs. Callendar and Mrs. Lesley took Aziz for a servant and stole his tonga. Although Aziz was offended, he is still friendly towards Mrs. Moore and Adela. He invites them on an expedition to the Marabar Caves, proclaiming that the caves are extraordinary and worth seeing. Both English women are delighted with the invitation. However, the friendship between Aziz and the two English women is not based on solid foundations. Only Godbole remains detached from the drama of the plot, recognizing the hidden evils of the Marabar caves. She sings for her visitors a Hindu song in which a milkmaid begs the Hindu god Krishna to come to her and her people. Godbole admits that Krishna did not go to the milking machine, meaning that the request for God's grace and blessings is ignored. Mrs. Moore becomes aware of a spiritual presence greater than her own Christian God. This sudden realization scares and confuses her; she is convinced that human interactions are meaningless compared to this spiritual presence. Mrs. Moore is despondent and becomes spiritually drained after hearing the song; this translates into his disinterest in theexpedition and his disillusioned reaction to hearing the echo of the caves. It is ironic that Mr. Fielding misses the train to the Marabar Caves, because the English are typically punctual. Godbole's miscalculation of the morning prayer is what explains the delay in their arrival. It seems that not even the Hindu gods give their blessing to the success of the expedition; the expedition is doomed before it even begins. Without Mr. Fielding, Aziz, who has never been to the Marabar Caves, is forced to act as a guide. Ronny Heaslop allowed women to join the expedition only on the condition that Fielding accompanied them. Fielding's absence from the expedition puts Aziz in a position of responsibility and leaves him without an intermediary between him and the English. This contributes to problems that will arise later in the journey. The announcement that "Indians are incapable of responsibility" leads readers to anticipate bad luck. The expedition, full of misunderstandings, begins with a crisis. Exaggerated gossip led Aziz to believe that English women were very eager to see the Marabar Caves. The truth is that neither side particularly wants to go into the caves. Adela and Mrs. Moore's disinterest is reflected in the dull and empty appearance of the landscape. Forster uses the image of a "cocoon" to describe the emotional isolation of English women. Before the expedition, Adela had a keen interest in seeking the "real India" and Mrs Moore had a genuine spiritual understanding and sincerity towards her people, but Forster suggests that the women are separate, unable to understand each other and uninterested in doing anything . a real connection. The change is drastic: the alarming differences speak to the powerful impact Godbole's song had on them. Forster's description of the Marabar Hills foretells the tragedy to come. The emphasis on the primitiveness of the hill confuses and isolates visitors. The word “nothing” occurs in the description of the hills; their strange and haunting beauty radiates a sense of menace that sets the appropriate tone for the dissolution of a friendship. The cave itself embodies nothingness and emptiness and gives readers a sense of unease. Caves are "older than spirits"; there is something mysterious and spooky about the appearance of the Marabar Caves. Their strange landscape suggests that the power of illusion can be so great that it destroys one's sense of reality. India's natural environment also contributes to the preparation of the tragedy. India is a country oppressed by its natural forces. Oppressive heat and intense sunlight determine a man's attitude and perception. The dehumanizing effect of the intense climate triggers the irrationality and hallucinations that Mrs. Moore will experience. The sun is described as a powerful but brutal creature; its heat is destructive. Warm weather foreshadows the heat, turmoil, controversy, and inexplicable sadness to come. The heat of the caves disorientates Mrs. Moore and confuses her thoughts, intensifying her illusions. The darkness of the caves also contributes to Mrs. Moore's madness: "She lost Aziz and Adela in the darkness she didn't know who was touching her, she couldn't breathe... For an instant she went mad, hitting and panting like a fanatic." In the confusion, Mrs. Moore could not control herself. Both Mrs. Moore and Adela face their deepest fears in the caves. The terrifying echo haunts Mrs. Moore, forcing her to abandon her spiritual beliefs and interest in human relationships. The contrast between his silence and the "boom" sound of the echo ruins it. In the cave she becomes aware of the darker side of her spirituality and her growing ambivalence towards God. Adela faces the shame and embarrassment of realizing that she and.