How is Godbole introduced in the novel A Passage to India ? [British Novel June 2019]

Professor Godbole is introduced in the novel "A Passage to India" as a Brahman Hindu who teaches at Fielding's college. He is a spiritual man who is reluctant to become involved in human affairs due to his belief that everything is interconnected and that individual actions are insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Godbole represents Hinduism in the novel, which is not apparent until the final section of the book. According to some critics, Godbole's approach to life gives others a sense of hope that is demonstrated throughout the book. Forster portrays Godbole as detached from human reality and the physical world, which is obtained by denying individual consciousness and bringing a sense of love and unity. Godbole's song in the book highlights the unexplainable quality that Forster sees in Hinduism, where God is called but does not come. Mrs. Moore is profoundly affected by Godbole's song, as it deepens the mystery she feels in Christianity and Islam. Despite being perceived as a clueless and silly character, Godbole is a man of genuine goodwill and is the source of much that is good in the novel.

[1] "Full Glossary for A Passage to India Essay Questions Cite this Literature Note Character Analysis Professor Godbole Professor Godbole, Ancient Night, represents Hinduism in the novel. Although Hinduism does not appear to dominate the book until the final section, a backward look will show the effect of it in the other two sections."

URL: https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/p/a-passage-to-india/character-analysis/professor-godbole

[2] "Godbole seemingly intends his song as a message or lesson that recognition of the potential existence of a God figure can bring the world together and erode differences—after all, Godbole himself sings the part of a young milkmaid. Forster uses the refrain of Godboles song, Come! come, to suggest that Indias redemption is yet to come."

URL: https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/passage/motifs/

[3] "Professor Godbole A Brahman Hindu who teaches at Fieldings college. Godbole is very spiritual and reluctant to become involved in human affairs. Hamidullah Dr. Azizs uncle and friend. Hamidullah, who was educated at Cambridge, believes that friendship between the English and Indians is more likely possible in England than in India."

URL: https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/passage/characters/

[4] "Because of his belief, he does not recognize the struggles of others regardless of their culture. According to David Shusterman, there seems to be no doubt that Godbole is a man of genuine goodwill or that he is the source of much that is good. His approach to life gives others a sense of hope that is demonstrated throughout the book."

URL: https://www.studymode.com/essays/Significance-Of-Godbole-In-Passage-To-857258.html

[5] "Godboles position is one of detachment from human reality and from the physical world, a detachment obtained by as complete a denial of individual consciousness as is possible, that denial and remove bringing with them a sense of love and an awareness of unity."

URL: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/pmla/article/curious-case-of-professor-godbole-a-passage-to-india-reexamined/6E5661495566F76C5F75E64DF1966337

[6] "Godboles song deepens the mystery Forster sees in Hinduism, where God is called but does not come. This unexplainable quality feels more true to him than the more rigid systems of Christianity or Islam. The song will profoundly affect Mrs. Moore, who continues to feel dissatisfied with Christianity while in India. Active Themes Previous"

URL: https://www.litcharts.com/lit/a-passage-to-india/part-1-chapter-7

[7] "A Passage to India is a 1924 novel by English author E. M. Forster set against the backdrop of the British Raj and the Indian independence movement in the 1920s. It was selected as one of the 100 great works of 20th century English literature by the Modern Library [1] and won the 1924 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction. [2]"

URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Passage_to_India

[8] "Fielding is confused, as Godbole refers to the expedition as successful, and asks if Godbole has heard the bad news. Godbole says that he has, but that he cannot pass judgment on how successful or not anything was. Godbole then changes the subject to a matter of naming a future school where he is going to teach."

URL: https://www.litcharts.com/lit/a-passage-to-india/part-2-chapter-19

[9] "Professor Godbole You might say that Professor Godbole, an instructor at Fieldings local college, is the loopy guru of the school. He seems clueless and utterly oblivious to others suffering, with a streak of silliness that is evident when he boogies down at the Gokul Ashtami festival in Part 3."

URL: https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literature/passage-to-india/professor-godbole

[10] "Godbole indulges in or aspires to. Godboles love does not even begin to approach the conditions which Forster has laid down for his aristocracy. Nor can one believe for a moment that Forster thinks that Godboles is the only kind that can sur-vive in the world he describes. Though more de-spairing, the world of his last novel is essentially"

URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/460627