Character Development In E. M. Forster's A Room With A View

Many novels and short stories throughout the history of literature draw on the inner experiences of the protagonist and his or her personal struggle as the main focus. Although many people criticize the lack of plot that might occur in a perspective focused novel, a skilled author can create extremely compelling stories. The changes that a character goes through are many times the most exciting part when the author uses intriguing and unique storytelling devices and present the changes that a character incurs in a thoughtful manner. Impressive internal character development in novels is often absent from novels but is executed brilliantly in E.M. Forster 's a Room With a View where the character Lucy’s developments made exciting by the change …show more content…
In the novel Lucy is, at first, taken aback by the social classes mingle and blend in Italy. Her victorian values that she was taught in england clash greatly with Italy’s free and easy nature. As the novel progresses Lucy finds that she learns to appreciate and admire the freedom she is granted from her visit. Lucy’s character development is very carefully constructed in the first part of the novel. Her complex feelings intrigue many readers and critics alike. Her shifting thoughts and complex conflict between her mind and heart creates an internal struggle that will have many readers wanting deeply for Lucy to accept the ideas of her new setting. The setting is used to great effect at the beginning of the novel but even more so as Lucy returns to England after her trip to Italy. After her trip Lucy slowly begins to realize she is oppressed and unhappy with her normal life; she is no longer content with the prudery and strict social expectation found in England. This second setting shift is very rewarding for the reader because it begins to confirm his or her thoughts that Lucy will realize her true feeling and reject her old life. Forster illustrates Lucy’s internal feelings masterfully; the changes in setting clearly impact Lucy greatly and that keeps many readers invested in the story. In short the well timed shifts in …show more content…
George, who is apart of the emmerson family, is one of the main example of how lucy’s opinions change over the course of the novel. In the beginning of the novel Lucy is appalled by the Emersons easy going nature and Mr.Emmerson brash communication skills, but as the novel continues Lucy finds herself liking the family greatly and having and confused adoration for George. This shift in opinion of a group of characters is not entirely unique to a Room With a View but Forster is able to makes the internal changes especially interesting by separating Lucy’s thoughts between her heart and her mind. This internal conflict is much more interesting as it allows the reader see the battle of heart and mind though Lucy’s interactions with characters like the emmerson and her changing thoughts about them. Another character that Lucy interacts greatly with is her other suitor Cecil. Most of the second part of the novel focuses on Lucy’s feeling regarding Cecil and George, and Forster creates a powerful end to the story using this conflict. The internal conflict that Lucy faces is exemplified and seen externally with the two love interests.Lucy’s relationship with Cecil, as described by Stephanie Derbyshire “ intensely self-conscious and prudish: nowhere is