A Passage to India: Part 1, Chapter 11 Summary & Analysis

Fielding stands on the porch and prepares to leave, but the servant won’t bring him his horse. Aziz then calls Fielding back into the house. Aziz is self-deprecating about his poor, dirty home, while Fielding says little. Aziz then shows Fielding a photo of his late wife, which Aziz keeps in a locked drawer. He says that Fielding is the first Englishman to have seen her. Fielding is surprised by this sudden intimacy, and he thanks Aziz. Aziz says that he would show his wife to any man who acted like his brother, which Fielding has.

Aziz says that he admires Fielding because Fielding treats all men like brothers, which is beyond the character of most people. Aziz says that what India needs is kindness, and Fielding agrees – the English government began “at the wrong end,” with institutions and rulership instead of friendship and kindness. Fielding sits down and starts to feel depressed, as he cannot share in Aziz’s waves of emotion, and he has no secret to share with Aziz in return for seeing the photograph.

Fielding seems to accept that he will never be intimate with anyone, and decides that he will go on traveling through life, helping people, and then moving on. He asks Aziz what he thinks of English women, and Aziz will only say that he has heard that they’re nicer in England. Fielding agrees. Aziz asks Fielding why he is unmarried, and Fielding says that he was engaged once, but now has no desire for marriage or children.

Aziz half-jokingly suggests that Fielding should marry Adela, but Fielding is horrified by the idea, and calls her a “prig.” He says that she seems to be trying to learn about India and life as if they were lectures at school. He then feels ashamed of his outburst, and adds that Adela is engaged to Ronny Heaslop anyway. Aziz is pleased to hear of this, as he assumes it exempts him from his promised trip to the Marabar Caves. Adela will now be a “regular Anglo-Indian” with no need of Indian entertainment.

Aziz agrees that Adela is not right for Fielding, but he mostly disapproves of her for her lack of beauty. He then remembers his planned trip to Calcutta to find a prostitute. Aziz suddenly feels protective towards Fielding, and warns him to be careful in front of other Indians, as there are always spies reporting to the English. Aziz is worried that Fielding might lose his job for being too frank and saying the wrong thing.

Fielding admits that his frankness has gotten him into trouble before, but he doesn’t really mind. He likes to “travel light,” which is why he doesn’t get married and have children. Aziz is amazed by this worldview, which is so different from his own, but Fielding points out the many Indian mystics who also “travel light.” Fielding says that he isn’t worried about losing his job, because his real job is Education, and he can do that anywhere.

Fielding prepares to leave again, and Aziz admits to him that he had given his servant orders not to bring the horse for any Englishman. Fielding rides off. Aziz is no longer in awe of Fielding, because Fielding has nothing to hide and seems to act unwisely sometimes. Aziz confirms to himself that they are friends and brothers now. Their bond was sealed by the photograph. Aziz drifts off to sleep, dreaming of a Muslim paradise.