Author : E.M. Forster
Genre : Novel
Published : 1910
Country : United Kingdom
Challenge : LMRC - Novemeber (Beat Generation or Bloomsbury Group)
The Beat Generation was a group of authors whose literature explored and influenced American culture in the post-World War II era. The bulk of their work was published and popularized throughout the 1950s. Central elements of Beat culture are rejection of standard narrative values, the spiritual quest, exploration of American and Eastern religions, rejection of materialism, explicit portrayals of the human condition, experimentation with psychedelic drugs, and sexual liberation and exploration. (Source - Wikepedia)
The Bloomsbury Group was an influential group of associated English writers, intellectuals, philosophers and artists. Much of the literature produced by Bloomsbury Group was revolutionary. They formed a bridge between the Victorians and the Moderns.
Howards End
The story revolves around three families from different socioeconomic strata. Schlegels are cultured, intellectual upper class who lives on an inherited income. The wilcoxes are practical, business minded who made wealth in colonies. Basts are the lower level working class.
The Wilcoxes invite Schlegels to Howards End, their country house at Hilton after their acquaintance in one of their European trip. Helen visits Howards End but Margaret could not accompany her as their brother is sick. Helen describes Howards End to Margaret in her letters. The novel in fact begins with a series of letter from Helen to Margaret. Helen falls in love with the younger son of Wilcox, but it ends in a span of twenty-four hours. The Schlegels and Wilcox part wishing not to meet in the future. Few years later the Wilcoxes move to Schlegels neighborhood. Friendship blooms between Mrs. Wilcox and Margaret. Mrs. Wilcox dies, leaving a note wishing that Howards End be given to Margaret. Wilcoxes burns the note in fire. Soon Mr. Wilcox takes a liking to Margaret. One day, he proposes to her, awkwardly though. Margaret to her surprise was happy and accepts his proposal. When Helen is against her marrying Mr. Wilcox, Margaret tells her,
Margaret knew all the faults of Mr. Wilcox. She knows that he is a practical man with no emotions. But she understands and hopes that she could change him.
After twists and turns, the novel ends with Mr. Wilcox, Margaret, Helen and her illegitimate child living at Howards End. Helen is finally able to see the goodness in Mr. Wilcox as her sister. Mr. Wilcox also leaves his rigid attitude and become an understanding man.
By weaving the lives of three families, Forster portrays the social divisions, gender divisions and materialism in the Burgeoning England at the turn of the 20th century. Howards End symbolically represents England. The burgeoning England should not lose its culture to materialism. Like his protagonist Margaret, Forster wants to only connect the both. He envisions an England where people can connect and live harmoniously.
The novel is filled with philosophical ideas; nevertheless it is an engaging read. Forsters writing is rich and eloquent. I would definitely like to read it again in future.
"If Wilcoxes hadn’t worked and died in England for thousands of years, you and I couldn’t sit here without having our throats cut. There would be no trains, no ships to carry us literary people about in, no fields even. Just savagery. No- perhaps not even that. Without their spirit life might never moved out of protoplasm. More and more do I refuse to draw my income and sneer at those who guarantee it."
Margaret knew all the faults of Mr. Wilcox. She knows that he is a practical man with no emotions. But she understands and hopes that she could change him.
"Only connect! that was the whole of her sermon. Only connect the prose and the passion and both will be exalted and human love will be seen at its height. Live in fragments no longer."
After twists and turns, the novel ends with Mr. Wilcox, Margaret, Helen and her illegitimate child living at Howards End. Helen is finally able to see the goodness in Mr. Wilcox as her sister. Mr. Wilcox also leaves his rigid attitude and become an understanding man.
By weaving the lives of three families, Forster portrays the social divisions, gender divisions and materialism in the Burgeoning England at the turn of the 20th century. Howards End symbolically represents England. The burgeoning England should not lose its culture to materialism. Like his protagonist Margaret, Forster wants to only connect the both. He envisions an England where people can connect and live harmoniously.
The novel is filled with philosophical ideas; nevertheless it is an engaging read. Forsters writing is rich and eloquent. I would definitely like to read it again in future.
