"You're superior to them, anyway. Don't forget that. You're superior to everyone in India except one or two of the Ranis, and they're on an equality." This dialogue by Mrs. Turton exemplifies extreme racism, which makes the basic theme throughout this novel.

It also explores the theme of the Orient and Occident and is set in the backdrop of British India, where Indians and British characters are portrayed as binary oppositions with an imbalanced relationship.

Identify the author.

Correct option is A

Explanation:

The given dialogue is from A Passage to India (1924), a novel by E.M. Forster. This novel is a critical exploration of British colonial rule in India and the complex relationships between the British and the native Indian population during the early 20th century.
Mrs. Turton’s statement in the excerpt highlights the deeply ingrained racism and the sense of superiority that British colonialists felt over Indians. The novel frequently portrays the conflict between the colonizer and the colonized, emphasizing racial discrimination, cultural misunderstandings, and the psychological barriers between the British and Indian communities.

Forster’s novel is significant because it critiques British imperialism while also highlighting the difficulties of genuine friendship between the British and Indians under colonial rule. The book is set in Chandrapore, a fictional Indian town, and follows the story of Dr. Aziz, an Indian Muslim, and his interactions with British characters such as Mrs. Moore, Cyril Fielding, and Adela Quested.

The theme of the "Orient vs. Occident" (East vs. West) is central to the novel, illustrating how colonial rule created an imbalanced and hierarchical relationship between the British and Indians. The British viewed Indians as inferior, leading to tensions, misunderstandings, and ultimately, the breakdown of relationships between the two groups.

Information Booster:
Edward Morgan Forster (1879–1970), is a British novelist, essayist, and critic known for exploring themes of class, race, colonialism, and human relationships.
Other notable works include Howards End (1910) and A Room with a View (1908).

A Passage to India, published in 1924 is an important work of modernist and postcolonial literature.

Major Themes in A Passage to India

• British Colonialism and Racism: The novel exposes the racial superiority complex of British officials in India.
  
• Cultural and Religious Divisions: The book highlights tensions between Hindus, Muslims, and the British ruling class.
  
• Orientalism: The novel critiques how Westerners misunderstood and misrepresented Eastern culture.
  
• The Meaning of Friendship: Despite racial and cultural differences, Forster examines whether true friendship is possible between Indians and the British under colonial rule.
  Symbolism in the Novel:
  
• The Marabar Caves: A metaphor for chaos, misunderstanding, and the limits of human communication.
  
• Mosque, Caves, and Temple: These three parts of the novel symbolize Islam, uncertainty, and Hindu unity, respectively.
  Historical and Literary Importance:
  
• A Passage to India is considered one of the most important postcolonial novels written before India's independence in 1947.
  

Forster was influenced by his real-life experiences in India, where he worked as a private secretary to the Maharaja of Dewas.

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Additional Knowledge:

Arthur Conan Doyle was primarily a detective fiction writer, best known for creating Sherlock Holmes. His works focus on crime and investigation.

Virginia Woolf  was a contemporary of Forster and a modernist writer, she focused on themes of feminism, psychology, and stream of consciousness writing. Her famous works include Mrs. Dalloway (1925) and To the Lighthouse (1927).

Lewis Carroll was a Victorian-era writer and mathematician, best known for Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865). His works were fantasy and children’s literature.