A Room With a View By E.M. Forster

It took me longest to put across and structure my views for this Classic. Weighing light as a physical copy, but out-weighing any other thematically, this book delineates complex-sensitive issues of religion, passion, respectability and coming-of-age, without rendering itself into a rebellion or a mundane tone for a wee! It subtly highlights – Experience is the most valuable teacher! As we witness the prime character of Lucy, growing into a female with grit and determination, from a docile young woman, all through her multifold experiences!

 

E.M. Forster’s novel, A Room with a view, in written as an omniscient narration, with Lucy Honeychurch (a young woman living in a restrained culture) as the prime-focused character. She is the edifice for the coming-of-age theme, and her journey from adolescence into adulthood is beautifully portrayed. In this process of growing-up, she not only affects her own life, but of the people she stumbles into. Lucy has a challenge to find strength and conviction to claim her own happiness, and comes out of the shackles of timidity and subservience. (Pardon me, if I sound too critical and passionate with my words, but this is the side-effect of this sensible, sensitive and overtly passionate novel!).

 

The novel opens in Florence, Italy, where Lucy along with her chaperone, her cousin, Charlotte Bartlett, has arrived at a Pension. It is here where Lucy's life is set on a spin, and her "coming of age" theme is catalysed and ends up meeting-up many unconventional characters. Charolette , complaining upon not being offered rooms with a prime view, meets a warmly gentleman and his son, George Emerson, who offer to trade their rooms with them, but in a tactless manner.

 

Charlotte, who subscribes to the rule of social niceties, finding the Emersons “ill-bred”, and for the impropriety of the offer, turns down the offer. The following morning, the two meet, Mr. Beebe, the new vicar from neighbourhood, who convinces them to accept the Emerson's offer without fear of impropriety.

 

 

Lucy, as she copes with the repressive Charlotte, the tactless Emersons, and the mildly interfering Mr. Beebe, is described as “bewildered”. Charlotte, in no mood to leave the room, allows Lucy to frolic and explore the city, along with an independent woman, Miss Lavish, whom they met the evening before. Miss Lavish, tells Lucy-

“I will take you by a dear dirty back way, Miss Honeychurch, and if you bring me luck, we shall have an adventure.”

Additionally, she insists Lucy to liberate herself from the travel-guide/ Baedeker and explore Italy by wandering aimlessly.

“I hope we shall soon emancipate you from Baedeker. He does but touch the surface of things. As to the true Italy—he does not even dream of it. The true Italy is only to be found by patient observation.”

Soon giving up on the enjoyable mate, Lucy, all peevish, regretting giving up the Baedeker, attempts finding her way back to the Pension all-alone.

 

The pernicious charm of Italy, plays its magic on her, and, instead of acquiring information, she happily puzzles out of the Italian notices, forbading people, introducing their dogs to the church and not to spit in the church, considering the sacredness of the edifice, the church.

Soon Lucy finds herself in close proximity with old Mr. Emerson, as both rush to help a stumbling child. He says , "Here's a mess; a baby hurt, cold and frightened. But what do you expect from a church?" These lines were abominably impertinent for Lucy. The rigid tenets of Christianity are pitted and spouted by Mr. Emerson. Mr. Emerson later in the book, confesses that his resistance to conventional religious beliefs is caused by his own wife's death, and any kind of extreme spiritual dogma can prove dangerous.

( I am neither "in" nor "against" this religious representation by the author, as for me, religion/spirituality is a personal-affair, and the extent to which one follows is again a personal-choice! 😊)

 

So Mr. Emerson remains the centre of the exposition of the religious and moral beliefs, just like Lucy represents themes of “coming-of-age” and “passion”!

 

Lucy, sets out on a solitary stroll, when upon witnessing a fight/murder, she faints, just to wake up in the arms of George Emerson. Embarrassed due to the impropriety of the situation, requests George not to disclose to anyone that she was caught in his arms.

 

The entire gang, Lucy and her cousin, the Emersons, Mr. Eager (the chaplain who threw Lucy and the Emersons out of the Giotto earlier), Miss Lavish, set out on an excursion. On this trip, George kisses Lucy impulsively and is caught by a horrified Miss Bartlett. After this romantic interlude, Lucy is rushed to Rome, where she ends up meeting a young man named Cecil Vyse. Sharing a lack of passion, yet Lucy and Cecil get engaged. Cecil ends-up meeting the Emersons in a museum (unaware of their connection to Lucy). Lucy decides to endure a platonic friendship with George. In due course of events, George kisses Lucy again, confessing his love for her. He gives reasons to her to stop the marriage. Although Lucy resists George's advice, she soon realizes for herself that she does not want to marry Cecil and breaks off the engagement.

 

The two get married privately and proceed to the Pension Bertolini in Florence for their honeymoon. (Life comes back full circles!). The outstanding theme of passion concludes the novel. Apart from Lucy’s passion for arts, music and culture, her constant underlying passion for George, helps her to culminate her marriage with George! Lucy starts off as a docile young woman of a decent conservative upbringing in the novel, but grows into an outspoken female, having gained experience through all events in the novel.

 

A Room with a View, metaphorically alludes to the room Lucy and Charlotte boards in Pension Bertolini, where is she introduced to the Emersons. It is in Italy; she discovers life and marks her journey from adolescence to adulthood. She comes out of the stifling shackles of the polite British society, and views the world with a wider view!

 

By far this is the most likeable and sensible stuff in the repository of my brain. This book has taught me a lot, on how to condense and tersely present the overflowing and passionate thoughts and emotions, which the mind and heart, hold! A definite 5-star 😊

Nb- I am not "in" or "against" the subtle condemnation of religious beliefs in the novel, every individual has her/his own belief-set and religious/spiritual journey, and I respect that ! Mr. Emerson, changed his beliefs post his wife's demise and personal experiences, and never enforced his views on anyone, but just expressed!