4/28/2013

E. M. Forster's "The Other Boat" (deadline: 5/8)

John Lennon's words perfectly summarize the message of Forster's "The Other Boat," which is published posthumously in 1972 because of the forbidden subject of racial transgression and homosexuality.

Answer ONE of the following questions with 200-250 words:

1) How does the story illustrate the ways in which imperialist racism goes hand in hand with homophobia and sexism?

2) How does the story explore the possibilities and limitations of human relationships when human beings are constrained by various forms of discrimination, prejudice, and bigotry?

3) How do you interpret the ending of the story? On the surface, the story does conclude unhappily, with the murder of the seductive Cocoanut and the suicide of the transgressive Captain March. However, is it possible to offer an alternative way of interpreting the ending?