Techniques examiners expect to see

● Freytag’s Pyramid Plot Structure ​(review this)

● Narrative Features: voices, setting, time, characterisation,

theme, point of view. ​

● Genre Features: Travel writing, bildungsroman, romance,

comedy of manners, romantic comedy ​

● Theories of humour: Superiority Theory, Incongruity Theory

and Benign Violation Theory​(review this)

● Linguistic Features: word classes, syntax, lexis, tone and

phonology ​

● Literary Features: Symbols, Images & Figurative Language

Setting

Forster chooses to begin in Florence, a city known for its

Renaissance masterpieces. ​

The setting of the dinning room is also significant as dinner time is

one of rituals and implicit codes of conduct. From the setting and
the context, we quickly understand the difference between the
Emersons and the other tourists. ​

The setting serves as an introduction to the theme of class

consciousness, class inequality, and hypocrisy.

The Narrative Voice

Forster chooses a 3rd person omniscient narrator. This means the

narrator is not directly related to the events of the story and the
 writer is able to switch from one character’s perspective to
another. ​

In this chapter, sometimes the writer focalises on the perspectives

of Charlotte and other times, on Lucy’s. ​

Although this narrator is reliable, they are sometimes intrusive. We

can trust their version of the events. However, they do not just tell
the events of the story; they often provide commentaries or
observations as well. ​

The intrusion often reveals biases and opinions which are

humorous. But these also strongly influence the reader's
understanding of the characters and themes. ​

This means the narrator is subjective. Readers cannot passively

accept what they read, and they must question the narrator’s
biases. This adds depth and complexity to the narrative as it reveals
the narrator's personal views and interpretations.

The demonisation of the working class​

This is phrase used by Owen Jones to refer to the ways in which

British society, British media vilifies the working class, making
them appear lazy, antisocial and criminal.​

Lucy refers to the “signora” as “cockney” classifying her as an East

Londoner and the connotation that comes with this is that perhaps
the Signora double booked the rooms on purpose to overcharge her
customers. Thus, Lucy shows her adherence to views that the lower
classes are perhaps inherently malicious. But she follows on with a
repetition of “English” and “late” queen and poet laureate. It seems
she seems more annoyed about the feeling that she is still in
 England and does not quite feel the sensation of having gone
somewhere else. ​

Charlotte on the other hand, she fully embraces her classists

ideologies. Her comments about the re-used “meat” further
suggests she believes the signora is dishonest. She also immediately
expects dishonest from the Emersons not just because they broke
social codes but “her glance passed on to his clothes” and Mr
Emerson does not dress like a rich man.

own observation - hypocrisy theme here is also discovered? she knows

she is there only becuase of Lucy’s kindness!

The metaphor of the rooms

A room could symbolise comfort and civilisation as we are

protected and sheltered from the outside. But a room can also be a
box, it can also be a prison. ​

A view on the other hand is an insight into another world. A view

can allow us to still be in touch with nature, freedom, and the open
air. ​

We could argue that for Forster a room with a view means a life that
is free and open to adventure and possibility, one that is not too
closely confined by strict social codes.

Charlotte quotes

● “You must have it,” said Miss Bartlett, part of whose travelling
expenses were paid by Lucy’s mother—a piece of generosity to
which she made many a tactful allusion.​- highlights hypocrisy later
on
● My own wishes, dearest Lucy, are unimportant in comparison with
yours.​- isnt this quite hypocritical too as she always interferes?
Fake image of gratefulness

● “Lucy, dearest, let Mr. Beebe eat his dinner.”​- Projecting her own
social standards when in fact Mr Beebe enjoys the conversation.

● He preferred to talk to Lucy, whose playing he remembered, rather

than to Miss Bartlett, who probably remembered his sermons.​-
Lucy as a person, Charlotte as religious and strict

● was talking to Mr. Beebe, and as she spoke,​her long narrow head
drove backwards and forwards, slowly, regularly, as though she were
demolishing some invisible obstacle.​- invisible obstacle = societal
expectations? theme of class and social norm. Repetitive
movement shows how uneasy and rigid she is as a character and it
might be seen that she has an inner turmoil or frustration. Can
represent her inner conflict with her surroundings.

● You feel I have been narrow-minded and suspicious?​- She needs to

be reassured that her behaviour was proper, doesnt wanna be seen
low class. perhaps insecure because she is indeed poor

● Miss Bartlett sedulously denied disapproving of anyone and added “I

am afraid you are finding me a very depressing companion.”​- again,
insecure and in a sense aware of whats going on

● I am a woman of the world, in my small way, and I know where

things lead to.​- she believes to be but cant recognize that is not
their intentions. hypocritical? Also shows her paranoia but also
care.

● Meaningless at first, it gradually became menacing, obnoxious,

portentous with evil. She was seized with an impulse to destroy it,​
Then she completed her inspection of the room, sighed heavily
according to her habit, and went to bed.​- this is her mind that
 makes her see low class people as suspicious ( see the working
class section)

Lucy quotes

● Her cousin again repressed her.​- isnt allowed to be herself

● Lucy, who had not yet acquired decency, at once rose to her feet…​-
decency according to victorian values; they’re expecting her to be
like them; shows her youth

● It gave her no extra pleasure that anyone should be left in the cold;
and when she rose to go, she turned back and gave the two
outsiders a nervous little bow.​- she feels guilt, show
compassionate nature and how insecure and scared she feels in
this environment.

● “I am so glad to see you,” said the girl, who was in a state of spiritual
starvation…​- shows how she wanted to discover italy but gets
repressed and is involved in drama.

● And the girl again thought: “I must have been selfish or unkind; I
must be more careful. It is so dreadful for Charlotte, being poor.”​-
shows her compassion but also reveals truth about Charlotte. Also
Lucy’s slight snoberry thinking being poor is the wors thing ever

● “we must have the rooms now. The old man is just as nice and kind
as he can be.”​- starts to stick up for herself, shows difference in
how generations see class

● Charlotte’s energy! And her unselfishness! She had been thus all her
life, but really, on this Italian tour, she was surpassing herself. So,
Lucy felt or strove to feel. And yet—there was a rebellious spirit in
her which wondered whether the acceptance might not have been
less delicate and more beautiful.​- sarcasm from the intrusive
 narrator and shows how Lucy feel unnecessarily guilty.
Contradicts previously stated ideas and is starting realizing that
she needs to become herself with the rebellious feeling

● Miss Bartlett only sighed and enveloped her in a protecting embrace

as she wished her good-night. It gave Lucy the sensation of a fog,
and when she reached her own room, she opened the window and
breathed the clean night air…” - charlotte’s protecion is compared
to fog, that blocks Lucy’s view. She opens the window to see her
own view.

Mr Beebe

Mr Beebe has an interesting name – It is pronounced Bee – he already

reveals himself to be a busy bee as he meddles in affairs that are not
directly related to him. ​

● The clergyman, who had the air of one on a holiday, did not
remember the ladies quite as clearly as they remembered him. But
he came forward pleasantly enough and accepted the chair into
which he was beckoned by Lucy.​- Shows his politeness and
introduces him as a mediator as he remains diplomatic.

● He preferred to talk to Lucy, whose playing he remembered, rather

than to Miss Bartlett, who probably remembered his sermons.​- See
above

● And you know how clergymen generally laugh; Mr. Beebe laughs just
like an ordinary man.”​- Lucy tries to justify herself to not offend
 religious beliefs, but also points out the down to earth and
ordinary nature of the Clergyman

● “I fear,” said Mr. Beebe, after a pause, “that I have been officious. I
must apologize for my interference.”​- Recognizes his role as
mediator, tries to be polite. Does he do this just to content
everyone or because of honesty?

● Then looking rather thoughtfully at the two cousins, he retired to his

own rooms, to write up his philosophic diary. - We can see that he
is a free think and writes his own thoughts, quite a progressive
religious man

George quotes

● He did not look at the ladies as he spoke, but his voice was
perplexed and sorrowful. Lucy, too, was perplexed;​- might be
ashamed, uncomfortable in the formality of the setting. The two
young people share feelings of the situation. Lucy however has
sparked curiosity on him

● The young man named George glanced at the clever lady, and then
returned moodily to his plate.​- Shows despite silence he is
observant of what is going on around him

● the son acknowledged it, not by another bow, but by raising his
eyebrows and smiling; he seemed to be smiling across something.​-
shows difference in class; also “across something” perhaps at their
souls and trying to understand Lucy as a persoN?

● “I hardly know George, for he hasn’t learnt to talk yet. He seems a

nice creature, and I think he has brains. Of course, he has all his
father’s mannerisms, and it is quite possible that he, too, may be a
 Socialist.”​- possibly shows he doesnt want to gossip and speak bad
so praises him. Also not learnt how to talk yet recognizes his
journey to becoming himself

● The young man gazed down on the three ladies, who felt seated on
the floor, so low were their chairs.​- perhaps a gender inequality
reference?

● “My father,” he said, “is in his bath, so you cannot thank him
personally. But any​message given by you to me will be given by me
to him as soon as he comes out.” Miss Bartlett was unequal to the
bath. All her barbed civilities came forth wrong end first. Young Mr.
Emerson scored a notable triumph to the delight of Mr. Beebe and
to the secret delight of Lucy.​- He is polite and does so perhaps as a
way to provoke Charlotte - has been observant and knows her

● pinned up over the washstand, a sheet of paper on which was

scrawled an enormous note of interrogation.​- Shows his mystery
as a character but him also as a person developing

Mr. Emmerson quotes

● “He is rather a peculiar man.” Again, he hesitated, and then said

gently: “I think he would not take advantage of your acceptance, nor
expect you to show gratitude. He has the merit—if it is one—of
saying exactly what he means. He has rooms he does not value, and
he thinks you would value them. He no more thought of putting you
under an obligation than he thought of being polite. It is so
difficult—at least, I find it difficult—to understand people who speak
the truth.”​- Mr Emmerson is only described through the way
people perceive him. He doesn’t meet their social standards but
Mr Beebe recognizes his lack of class isnt to be misunderstood as
someone trying to cause harm

● But his is a type one disagrees with rather than deplores. When he
first came here he not unnaturally put people’s backs up. He has no
 tact and no manners—I don’t mean by that that he has bad
manners—and he will not keep his opinions to himself. We nearly
complained about him to our depressing Signora, but I am glad to
say we thought better of it.”​- No manners =/= bad manners,
highlights he isn’t an evil character or trying to do harm, but his
actions do bother him due to the class difference.

● “Am I to conclude,” said Miss Bartlett, “that he is a Socialist?”​-

Gossiping for the sake of it, trying to gain information on him and
we gain insight in her political views.

● No, he is not tactful; yet, have you ever noticed that there are people
who do things which are most indelicate, and yet at the same
time—beautiful?” - Lucy defending him. Recgonizes his lack of class
but doesn’t demonize it

Readers encounters

It is essential for readers to encounter the middle-class characters’

hypocrisy as it helps Forster convince the readers that some social
conventions are absurd + it foreshadows the attraction and
compatibility of George & Lucy and fulfils the expectations of a
romantic comedy

The kindness of Mr Emerson through his tone (obnoxious, intrusive,

loud)

The hypocrisy of the middle classes via the subjective and intrusive
narrator.​

The potential of youth for self-improvement via the

characterisation of Lucy and George.​

● The strict social code that prevent characters’ authentic behaviour

through the setting.
Lucy & George’s first encounter is presented via:​

It is essential for readers to encounter George & Lucy in a way that

fulfils the expectations of a romantic comedy + it helps Forster inform
the readers of the importance of authenticity + the humour fulfils the
expectation of the genre of comedy of manners, but it also persuade
the readers that strict social conventions are absurd and unhelpful. ​

● The formal setting which stifles authenticity​

● The humour that shows how absurd societal conventions are ​

● The characterisation of young people as impulsive and

spontaneous​

● The plot structure of romantic comedies as the lovers don’t

instantly like each other despite a certain attraction. ​

● The metaphor of the room which shows their differences.

Charlotte’s character (Geraldine added points)

🚀 I have added some points that I think should help you make sense of
the complexity of Charlotte's character. She is by no means evil and she
truly loves Charlotte, as seen by her actions at the end of the novel.

However, she is in a compromised position, she is socially inferior but as a

representative of Lucy's mother and an older woman, she is hierarchically
superior. So Charlotte is trapped between validating Lucy's superiority
and controlling it.

Secondly, Charlotte represents generations of Victorians/ Edwardians

who like Cecil Vyse or like Miss Lavish were desperate to experience
authentic lives but were either not willing to endure the sacrifices or
could not afford to do so.
Charlotte feels forced to support the aristocratic and religious values of
society. Charlotte, it could be argued, suffers from an imposter syndrome
where she thinks she is not worthy therefore she always does her best to
prove she belongs into that class and she deserves to be there. Her
snobbishness is a souce of defence mechanism.

Cecil and Miss Lavish must protect their elite group of upper class from
the assault of the lower classes who are educating themselves and getting
better jobs and moving up the social ladder. So, while Cecil recognises that
his life is a bit miserable, he is not willing to change it because it would
mean losing his privilege. And while Miss Lavish wants to be seen as a
bohemian and a radical, she does not actually treat the poor with respect.
She wants them to stay poor so it reaffirms her superior status.

So, Charlotte is guided by fear of being told she does not belong to the
middle class, Cecil and Miss Lavish are guided by arrogance of believing
they are the only worthy ones.

Further Analysis

● Even in another country, Lucy and Charlotte cannot get away from
the British society they know so well at home: even the Signora of
their Pension is English.

● Lucy’s room without a view could represent her constrained life,

without much independence or passion.

● They are disappointed in their lodgings at a hotel called The

Bertolini, which, despite its promising name, is run by a Cockney (a
working-class Londoner) landlady.
● Of particular disturbance is the fact that their rooms have no view of
the Arno River, something they had specifically requested when
booking accommodations.

● Charlotte is bothered by the rooms-without-views situation, while

Lucy is dismayed to find the hotel entirely populated by genteel
English tourists much like themselves, with not a single real live
Italian in sight. They’re also at dinner eating what sounds like a very
unpleasant meal, which can’t possibly improve anyone’s mood.

● Lucy and Charlotte clearly have something of a polite but

occasionally difficult relationship. Charlotte is a poor relation, and
Lucy’s mother gave her some financial assistance for the trip – a fact
she can’t let Lucy forget. Charlotte has a special way of making Lucy
feel guilty.

● The offer to exchange rooms with strangers (especially male

strangers!) is positively unheard of. Everyone at the table is shocked,
especially Charlotte. Lucy tries to be nice about it, but Charlotte
“represses” her.

● Even though they want rooms with a view, Lucy and Charlotte
decline the Emersons’ offer because Charlotte finds it to be a
presumptuous offer that could perhaps make them indebted to
lower-class strangers. The lower-class Emersons evidently don’t
care about the social manners and norms that Charlotte values so
much.

● The ill-bred older man and his son, George, keep insisting upon the
exchange. Charlotte is upset, while Lucy is “perplexed;” she has the
feeling that the argument isn’t just about rooms, but hints at
something else.

● Charlotte is in such a tizzy that she attempts to leave with dramatic

haughtiness. As she announces that they will leave the hotel the
 next day, the two ladies see a familiar face: Rev. Mr. Beebe, a
clergyman on holiday that they know from England. Now there’s no
question of leaving the hotel; the women decide to stay.

● The rest of the table, headed by a talkative “clever lady,” takes up this
conversation, and everyone puts in their two cents about where
Lucy ought to go (kindly and politely, of course). - George and his
father aren’t part of this conversation; it’s obvious that the rest of
the guests don’t approve of them. Lucy briefly wishes they did, and
offers them a little bow as she leaves the table. George sees it and
smiles mysteriously in return.

● Lucy and Charlotte trust Mr. Beebe because he is familiar and of a

closer social class than the Emersons. At this early point in the
novel, Lucy is taking advice from all her elders, including both Mr.
Beebe and Charlotte.

● Mr. Beebe suggests that Mr. Emerson wasn’t trying to take

advantage of the two ladies, and that he was actually trying to be
polite, not improper. Unlike the rest of society, Mr. Emerson
apparently only says exactly what he means - This makes Lucy
happy – she’s glad to hear that Mr. Emerson is as nice as she’d hoped
he’d be.

● Charlotte (very seriously) comes to the conclusion that Mr. Emerson

and his son are Socialists; Mr. Beebe, containing his laughter,
agrees. This seems to explain everything to Charlotte.

● As (according to Mr. Beebe) socialists, the Emersons have strongly

progressive views that contradict the social stratification of
traditional British society.

● With the mystery of the Emersons solved, Charlotte worries that

perhaps she should have taken up their offer. She assumes that Mr.
Beebe has been judging her for not accepting. She hopes she hasn’t
 been “narrow-minded and suspicious” (which, of course, she has
been).

● Mr. Beebe assures Charlotte that she has not; with that, he leaves.
Charlotte hopes she hasn’t bored Mr. Beebe, which of course she
has.

● Lucy and Charlotte discuss Mr. Beebe’s many qualities. Lucy praises
him, saying that he’s not at all like a clergyman (rather a funny
comment – what she means is that he doesn’t have any of the
pretenses of a regular reverend).

● Charlotte makes a passive aggressive comment about how Lucy, her

mother, and her brother Freddy live in the “fashionable world,”
while she lives in dull Tunbridge Wells, which is “hopelessly behind
the times.”

● Lucy feels like Charlotte disapproves of something, but she can’t put
her finger on what it is.

● Again, Charlotte makes Lucy feel guilty through her intense passive
aggression. Lucy feels bad about Charlotte’s relative poverty.

● The old lady shares Charlotte’s concern for manners and propriety,
and agrees that Mr. Emerson’s offer lacked tact. In being so
concerned with proper manners though, Charlotte is only making
it more difficult for Lucy and her to get what they want (new
rooms), and overlooking the honest generosity of the Emerson’s
offer.

● Mr. Beebe returns, all excited. He’s talked with Mr. Emerson, and has
resolved the room dilemma delicately, by anyone’s standards. Lucy’s
overjoyed that everything is working out, but Charlotte, predictably,
makes herself a martyr, and succeeds in making everyone feel bad.
● She unwillingly (and obnoxiously) consents to the Emersons’ offer.
She stuffily directs Mr. Beebe to bring Mr. Emerson to her so she can
“thank” him herself. We’re already getting sick of Charlotte and her
attitude by this point.

● George comes to accept the cousins’ thanks, saying that his father is
in the bath. This bluntness shocks even Charlotte, and her “barbed
civilities” don’t get anywhere. Mr. Beebe and Lucy are secretly
pleased. George 1, Charlotte 0. We’re pleased, too.

● Eventually everyone is ready for the big room swap. Charlotte, of

course, says she will take care of everything. Her perseverance and
so-called unselfishness amazes us… but not in a good way.

● Lucy attempts to feel amazed positively, but can’t quite muster it up.
She wonders if perhaps Charlotte’s actions could be a little less
delicate and more beautiful.

● While still under Charlotte’s influence, Lucy shows a hint of a desire

to break out of societal norms, finding beauty in some things that
contradict proper manners. This also suggests that Lucy is able to
appreciate a kind of beauty that cannot be boxed in by social
customs.(note: explains attraction to George) Charlotte has to some
degree wanted to be able to accept the offer all along, and now takes
the opportunity to accept it in what she deems a proper way.

● Charlotte has taken the bigger room, but for a strictly moral reason,
of course. She’s certain that since George previously inhabited the
room, Lucy shouldn’t. She decorously insists that Lucy’s mother
(perosnal note: attempting to make her feel guilty; manipulation)
wouldn’t be happy if she knew that Lucy was staying in a room that a
boy had been in…

● Lucy’s pretty sure that her mother wouldn’t mind, but she still has a
lingering feeling that something’s vaguely wrong.
● Again seeing Lucy as a vulnerable young woman, Charlotte takes
care not to put her under an obligation to a young man. George’s
question mark represents the abstract questioning and thinking that
consumes much of his time, marking him as a very modern
character—one that the traditional Charlotte doesn’t
understand.(note: and something that probably scares her given her
reaction, scared of the changing society)