The Liberal Colonizer: Mr. Fielding

Even though the notion of a liberal colonizer may seem redundant by the end of the novel, we do see characteristics of one in Mrs. Moore, Adela and Fielding. However, Mrs. Moore’s indifference to the Indian sentiment is visible in her sudden departure from India ^[1], without attesting to Aziz’s innocence. Adela is completely undeserving of this title after she wrongly accuses Aziz of sexually harassing her ^[2] and after it becomes apparent that she is viewing the natives only through an intellectual lens. Because Fielding is by far the most successful in befriending and maintaining his amiable relations with the Indians, I feel he is the closest any character in the novel can come to being praised as ‘a liberal colonizer’. Fielding’s humanist stance is perilous for the prevailing racist attitudes of the typical Englishmen in India.

Fielding depicts himself as ‘a liberal colonizer’ from the very beginning of the novel when in response to Adela and Mrs. Moore’s desire to explore the essence of India, he advises them to ‘Try seeing Indians’. ^[3] He displays a lack of egoism when he invites Aziz to tea, despite the latter having turned down his invitation the first time. His warmth for people from all religions is depicted in the scene in which he welcomes Aziz right into his bedroom on his very first visit^[4], defying the British norm of interacting with Indians only in the public sphere. His amusement at Aziz’s grammatical errors also exhibits his ‘good-tempered’ nature. ^[5] Other Englishmen would have viewed this distortion of their mother-tongue with contempt.

His liberalism is also echoed in his friendship with the Indian doctor, Aziz. He prioritizes his allegiance to Aziz over his loyalties to the British, supporting his exoneration from the charges of rape. He surprises even the relatively neutral Mr. McBryde when he dismisses the letter from a brothel as insufficient proof for Aziz’s crime ^[6], while enraging the majority of his people who believe his actions will weaken the unity of the English and in turn harm the control they have over the Indians. Fielding’s critical view of the racist mentality of the English broadens the thinking of the locals he educates, further establishing him as a liberal colonial.

Marriage was a significant aspect for the British in that era but the lack of importance he attaches to marital connections is illustrated in his desire for travelling ‘light’. [7] This highlights that he does not endorse even those customs of the English that lie in the private realm.

However, his personality undergoes a metamorphosis after Aziz’s trial and he begins to increasingly advocate rationality, which creates friction between him and Aziz. Forster’s manifestation in the character of Fielding becomes less vivid towards the conclusion of the novel, when he drifts away from his initial identity as a liberal colonial, making the reader less sympathetic towards him.

^[1] pg 195

^[2] pg 157

^[3] pg 23

^[4] pg 58

^[5] pg 60

^[6] pg 158

^[7] pg 111