Compared to the Books at the turn of the 19th century by authors such as Edith Wharton or the New Machiavelli of H.G.Wells this book can come across as lightweight and limped.But it is the understanding of the subtle musical undertones beneath the superficial title one understands why E.M. Forster was a favourite of so many authors as any casual glance of back issues of the Paris Review would indicate.
In the novel the Room symbolically represents the constricting social mores and customs that restrict development and freedom to express ones inner self , and the View represents the opportunities and paths that can allow a person to gain a character true to themselves.
A Century later we seem to have come full circle in the social theme of the Book.Whilst society shut-off and suffocated opportunities for individual self expression at the beginning of the 20th century we now have come to a time when a person is considered a prude and misfit if they want to retain the eternal values of Honour ; Virtue and Chastity rather than selling them for a transient cheap price on the consumer commodity exchange for a cheap temporal carnal thrill.
Forsters own views are expressed in this statement of Mr. Emerson "I know by experience that the poets are right: love is eternal. . . . I only wish poets would say this too: love is of the body; not the body, but of the body"?
This review gives a good summation of the book and also has helpful questions that will get the reader to think deeply and do justice to the work.
Almost 50 years later Forster added an appendix to some additions relating what would have become of the characters.
"I cannot think where George and Lucy live." They were quite comfortable up until the end of the war, with Charlotte Bartlett leaving them all her money in her will, but World War I ruined their happiness according to Forster. George became a conscientous objector, lost his government job but was given non-combatant duties to avoid prison, leaving Mrs Honeychurch deeply upset with her son-in-law. Mr Emerson died during the course of the war, shortly after having an argument with the police about Lucy continuing to play Beethoven during the war. Eventually they had three children, two girls and a boy, and moved to Carshalton from Highgate to find a home. Despite them wanting to move into Windy Corner after the death of Mrs Honeychurch, Freddy sold the house to support his family as he was "an unsuccessful but prolific doctor." After the outbreak of World War II, George immediately enlisted as he saw the need to stop Hitler and the Nazi regime but he unfortunately was not faithful to Lucy during his time at war. Lucy was left homeless after her flat in Watford was bombed and the same happened to her married daughter in Nuneaton. George rose to the rank of corporal but was taken prisoner by the Italians in Africa. Once Italy fell George returned to Florence finding it "in a mess" but he was unable to find the Pension Bertolini, stating "the View was still there and that the room must be there, too, but could not be found." He ends by stating that George and Lucy await World War III, but with no word on where they live, for even he does not know."
And finally here is EM Forster himself discussing his Novels and insights.
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