454 Forster, E. M.
alone with Lucy on the path through the woods.
Before kissing Lucy, Cecil “became self conscious
and kept glancing round to see if they were being
observed.” Cecil seems unable to act naturally, even
if it means growing closer to Lucy.
Lucy suddenly realizes that she is not content
with Cecil, who loves only the part of her person-
ality he feels is secure and predictable, instead of
admiring the Lucy who “dreamily” recalls bathing in
the Sacred Lake. Although religion is often mocked
in this novel, the hidden pond in the woods is called
“holy.” It has a sense of magic that harkens back
to Lucy and Freddie’s childhoods. When Freddie
feels uncomfortable meeting the Emersons, his
immediate reaction is to ask them to “have a bathe.”
Although his suggestion sounds like a joke, Mr.
Beebe, Freddie, and George jump in the tiny pond
for a swim. When Cecil, Lucy, and her mother
accidentally stumble across this rowdy gathering,
they are shocked and speechless. George and Cecil
each use the opportunity to make an impression on
Lucy. George, a complete mess and without clothes,
walks up to the crowd and says hello. Cecil, who felt
uncomfortable knowing that Lucy herself used to
play in this pond, tries to usher her aside to prevent
her from becoming upset. These telling moments
help Lucy realize that she does not want to be
sheltered by others, especially when she is not even
frightened or in danger.
A Room with a View reveals two important ele-
ments of nature. Nature is the outdoors, where fickle
weather and inviting landscapes disrupt the charac-
ters’ carefully made plans. But nature is also human
nature, and characters must learn to rely on their
instincts when their emotions are stirred for better
or worse. For Lucy, the time spent outdoors provides
her with an opportunity for private and honest com-
munication. She feels free to act “naturally.” From
learning to interpret and appreciate nature, the
characters form closer connections with each other.
Elizabeth Walpole
tradition in A Room with a View
Mr. Emerson’s first words in the novel are “I have a
view!” Although he is speaking about good scenery
outside his window, his words also introduce the
prevalence of traditions in the novel. Each charac-
ter’s view, or perspective on life, has been shaped by
the habits of his or her society. Either by seeing their
cultural and familial traditions as essential or tossing
them aside for more radical behavior, the characters
are all affected by the framework of tradition.
In Italy, the English characters’ mix of confu-
sion, fascination, and disgust toward native Ital-
ians begins the novel with a great clash of cultural
tradition. When led by the young Italian driver to
George Emerson, Lucy swings back and forth in
her generalizations about Italians, from “Italians are
born knowing the way” to “an Italian’s ignorance is
sometimes more remarkable than his knowledge.”
Even being unable to speak Italian, Lucy is eager to
observe a different culture and assess it in relation
to her own.
Aspects of Italy’s ancient traditions appear when
Forster refers to Roman gods and goddesses or
great painters. The superhuman nature of the myths
contrasts with the English characters’ trivial worries.
Specifically, after the carriage ride, the characters
feel as though the god Pan has played tricks on
them. Their idea of Pan has already lost some of this
god’s grandeur, as he only “presides over . . . unsuc-
cessful picnics.” Instead of recalling epic battles and
love affairs described in Roman mythology, the
English tourists are preoccupied with their guide-
books and the rain ruining a drive. The English
obsession with mundane drawing-room chatter
obscures the excitement of Italy’s rich, imaginative
heritage surrounding them.
Back in England, Lucy and her family have
strong social ties to the neighborhood based on
the false presupposition that they are part of the
aristocracy. In fact, Lucy’s father was a lawyer who
bought the country home to fix it up and then ended
up moving into it. Their family is not old nobility
at all. Lucy’s mother finds this mistake “extremely
fortunate for the children” and accepts the opportu-
nities it presents for her to easily make friends. Even
the illusion of representing a traditional, well-off
country family is enough to grant success in Lucy’s
neighborhood.
Cecil, Lucy’s fiancé, is as confused as the neigh-
bors concerning what to expect from Lucy’s neigh-
borhood. His intensely proper behavior comes from
his lack of understanding of country traditions.