E.M. Forster Edwardian Era (1901-1910)
Character: Within the romantic comedy, A Room with a View, E. M. Forster incorporates numerous characters who efficiently develop the plot of the entire novel by serving as a hindrance towards Lucy’s quest to find true love. Generally, most of the characters such as Mr. Beebe, Freddy and Mr. Emerson remain flat and static because they do not undergo major transformations. Their perception of Lucy’s deplorable engagement, her talent in music and her skepticism about true love remains constant throughout the novel. …show more content…
The plot of the novel primarily revolves around the actions and thoughts of these characters. Forster introduces these characters as the main protagonists, while their views are conflicted by society; represented as the antagonist within the novel. The society illustrated within the novel does not demolish the love that Lucy is eventually trying to find; instead, it makes Lucy’s quest a treacherous one. Forster emphasizes that all the central characters are not undermined by the negative views of society, revealing that they are persistent with their thoughts and …show more content…
Throughout the entire novel, Forster describes Cecil as a person who underestimates the value of women in society. Cecil mocked “her feminine inconsequence,” (114) as Lucy reasoned that Mr. Eager did not have the courage to murder his wife. Through Cecil’s mockery of Lucy’s perception, Forster exposes him as a disrespectful and arrogant being. Forster also acknowledges that Cecil exaggerated the status of men in society by believing that women do not have the ability to reason logically. Indeed, Cecil’s views of women were hindered by the gender stratification, as illustrated by the setting and time period of this novel. Cecil’s negative thinking also becomes a stepping stone in his relationship with Lucy because she breaks her engagement after realizing his inconsiderate