Metropolitan vs. Colonial Space in Forster’s A Passage to India and Lawrence’s Women in Love :: Passage India

Metropolitan vs. Colonial Space in Forsters A Passage to India and Lawrences Women in Love At outgrowth glance, it seems easy to state a definitive distinction between what Said calls metropolitan space and compound space. In its simplest form, metropolitan space is the space in use(p) by the colonizers. Examples of this include England, France and the places these people reside in while living in these colonies. Likewise, colonial space is that which is occupied by those who are colonized. India and Africa are two good examples of this. However, upon closer inspection, it is clear that this distinction is not as simple as it may originally appear. Although the above definitions are accurate, they are also incomplete. As Said says, colonialism is not a simple act of accumulation and acquisition (9). The distinction between metropolitan space and colonial space does not finesse solely within physical and tangible spaces. It also exists in the mindsets and attitudes of the peopl e involved in colonialism. Said points out that a direct result of colonialism is that it comes with changes in attitudes (52).Another important element of the distinction between metropolitan and colonial spaces is the understanding that this distinction exists because of the differences in power. Said defines metropolitan space as a socially desirable empowered space (52). He goes on to say that metropolitan spaces are connected to colonial spaces by the design, motive and development of these colonial spaces. Further, he says that cultures want to move into these colonial spaces because they are viewed as desirable but subordinate (52). This point is especially important to note. There is a distinct understanding that those who occupy the metropolitan space have the power while those who occupy the colonial space do not. The vocabulary used is also an crucial element of the distinction between the two spaces. Said mentions that some of the key elements/words associated with col onialism include inferior and subordinate peoples. (9) These terms further reinforce the class of power.E.M. Forsters A Passage to India is a prime example of the distinction between metropolitan and colonial spaces. Using the simplest definition, Forster presents an India where the distinction between metropolitan and colonial spaces is very clear. Metropolitan space is present in the form of England, but also is present locally in the form of the club. The Indians occupy their own colonial spaces that the British rarely enter into.