THE CONSTRUCTION OF BRITISH HEGEMONY IN EDWARD MORGAN FORSTER’S A PASSAGE TO INDIA

Bayu Dwi Prasetyo

 

Abstract

Through A Passage to India, Forster shows his idea to criticize British government as they could not maintain their authority in India during colonialism era. He exposes the resistance of Indian people when they receive oppressions from British people as the leader. The oppressions give significant change to British people position in the novel. They are no longer believed as a good figures to lead India. To analyze the novel, Gramsci’s theory of Hegemony is applied. Based on Gramsci’s hegemony perspective, the shifting of British people position in India is caused by losing the consensus. They lose their consensus when they started practicing oppressions which can affect the belief of Indian people to them. Losing consensus also means that they lose their hegemony. Therefore, through the novel, Forster provides solution to maintain hegemonic position. He considers that British people as the ruling class need to articulate as well as provide the needs of Indian people as subordinates. By providing what they need, the Indian people will think that British people are a good leader for them. It can also form the consensus which can make the hegemonic position of British people lasts longer.

 

Keywords: Articulating needs, Colonialism, Consensus, hegemony

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