K.W. Gransden has noted the significance of Ruth Wilcox’s answer to Margaret’s comment that a house “cannot stand by bricks and mortar alone”. The first Mrs. Wilcox replies, “It cannot stand without them.” According to Gransden, there is a persistent note of misgiving on Forster’s part about this. It is more than nostalgia. The opening description of the house at Howards End begins the statement of a large and complex architectural metaphor, which is extended throughout the novel. Hardy states that buildings, and the design of them, the architectural character of a civilization, would seem to be in Foster’s mind fundamentally related to its character of manners and morals. From my point of view, it is important to look at the houses in Forster’s Howards End more closely. In this term paper I will show in what way Forster associates certain housing conditions with special types of characters, and to what extent he thinks housing conditions influence the way people behave and what inference he draws as to where to live. I will focus on the three main parties namely the Wilcoxes, the Schlegels and the Basts and I will show where the characters live and in which way their economic status is reflected in their housing conditions. Furthermore, I will try to emphasize Forster’s position towards housing at the beginning of the 20th century. It can be said that there are portrayed three different types of houses in Howards End. Firstly the country houses, secondly the houses of the urban lower middle class and finally the London town houses. My aim is to show that there are fundamental differences between these types of houses.
Furthermore, I want to prove that the narrator distinguishes the houses’ quality(ies?) among themselves. After that, I will talk about the standpoint Forster takes towards the houses’ quality when he shows whether they possess life, spirit or souls. Additionally, I will illustrate some of the popular concepts and current views of Forster’s time concerning the people’s various housing conditions. I will exemplify the narrator’s preferences where one should live by taking a closer look at a couple of statements about living in the countryside versus living in the city as well as living in houses versus living in flats. In the end, I will examine the author’s choice about the ideal place to live for Margaret Schlegel – his heroine – and I will try to explain to what degree this solution is realistic within the logic of the Forster’s Howards End.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. THE CITY
2.1. London Town Houses
2.1.1 Ducie Street House
2.1.2 Wickham Place
2.1.3 Wickham Mansion
2.2. Urban Slum
3. THE COUNTRYSIDE
3.1. The Country Houses
3.1.1. Howards End
3.1.2. Oniton
4. CONCLUSION
5. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper examines how housing conditions in E.M. Forster’s "Howards End" are fundamentally linked to the characters' social status, behaviors, and moral well-being. It explores the dichotomy between the chaotic, dehumanizing urban environment of London and the perceived stability and "wholesome" nature of the English countryside, ultimately analyzing why the author presents the country house as the only viable setting for a humanized life.
- The association between different housing types (townhouses, urban slums, and country houses) and the specific characters inhabiting them.
- The narrator’s critique of "the flux of London" and its destructive impact on individuality and personal relations.
- The portrayal of the urban slum as a "Moloch" that threatens the health and spirit of the lower-middle class, specifically through the case of the Basts.
- The symbolic significance of "Howards End" and "Oniton" as representational spaces versus true homes.
Excerpt from the Book
Wickham Place
“Wickham Place is the city house, the urban home of the Schlegels, which along with its traditions and family memories is levelled by the bulldozer of ‘progress’ to make room for the flats required by the ‘civilization of luggage’.” It is located close to the Houses of Parliament.
Compared to the Wilcoxes’ Ducie Street House, the Schlegel sisters inhabit a slightly older house. The reader finds out that their dwelling was rented by their father and that it consists of a dining room, a drawing room (“Light flooded the drawing-room and the drawing-room furniture from Wickham Place”), a library and an entrance hall. It can be assumed that their town house was a standard town house of that time. Further on, “their house was […] fairly quiet, for a lofty promontory of buildings separated it from the main thoroughfare.” The house is surrounded by a lovely and quiet setting and the hurry and stress of the city life are not present. The Schlegels live in comfort and enjoy the opportunities, which London provides them. Nevertheless, they are not completely influenced by the city life. Furthermore, we can notice that the Schlegels’ social status is reflected in their behavior and their habits at Wickham Place. They employ servants and maids, possess business cards, and their house is equipped with valuable objects as for instance a majolica plate or all the apostle spoons.
The Schlegels are thoroughly Bloomsbury: “they entertain musicians, artists, and even an actress; they believe in literature, art, and personal relations; they are moralists and anti-utilitarians; they have a snobbish faith in the rightness of their own sensibilities.”
Chapter Summaries
1. INTRODUCTION: The chapter establishes the analytical framework of the paper, focusing on how Forster uses architectural metaphors to mirror the social and moral condition of the novel's main parties: the Wilcoxes, the Schlegels, and the Basts.
2. THE CITY: This chapter analyzes London as a "Moloch," a destructive force of monotony and flux that dehumanizes its inhabitants and ruins individual identity through harsh working and living conditions.
2.1. London Town Houses: This section investigates the town houses of the middle and upper classes, highlighting them as facades that offer varying degrees of stability but are ultimately vulnerable to urban decay.
2.1.1 Ducie Street House: An examination of the Wilcox family’s residence, which represents their imperialist values and their disregard for the cultural decay of the surrounding neighborhood.
2.1.2 Wickham Place: A look at the Schlegel sisters’ home, which serves as a symbol of safety, culture, and memory, though it remains under threat from the encroaching "civilization of luggage."
2.1.3 Wickham Mansion: An analysis of the temporary, luxurious, yet soulless block of flats occupied by the Wilcox family, illustrating the transient nature of urban life.
2.2. Urban Slum: A critique of the inhumane living conditions forced upon the Basts, whose basement apartment is depicted as a trap that damages their physical and mental health.
3. THE COUNTRYSIDE: This chapter presents the country as a vital, "wholesome" alternative to London, rooted in nature and personal human relationships rather than artificial codes.
3.1. The Country Houses: This section explores how different characters interact with the country house as a concept—either as a genuine home or as a hollow status symbol.
3.1.1. Howards End: An in-depth look at the title house, identifying it as the ideal, authentic English dwelling that acts as a spiritual anchor for the characters.
3.1.2. Oniton: An analysis of the country house as a commodity for the Wilcoxes, who use it to project social influence while failing to understand its true, grounded value.
4. CONCLUSION: The author summarizes the findings, reiterating that while houses serve as social markers, only those like "Howards End" offer a truly humanized, stable existence away from the destructive "flux" of modern industrial life.
5. BIBLIOGRAPHY: A comprehensive list of academic sources and critical texts used to support the architectural and social analysis of the novel.
Keywords
E.M. Forster, Howards End, urban flux, London, countryside, social status, domestic space, architectural metaphor, Moloch, industrialization, Schlegel, Wilcox, Bast, housing conditions, Englishness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central premise of this research paper?
The paper explores the relationship between architectural space and human behavior in E.M. Forster’s "Howards End," arguing that where a character lives directly dictates their moral and social identity.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The themes include the conflict between rural and urban life, the socio-economic disparities of the early 20th century, the dehumanizing effects of modern industrialization, and the search for authentic living.
What is the author's primary research objective?
To demonstrate that Forster uses specific housing types as fundamental indicators of a character's ability to live an authentic, humanized life, contrasting "real" homes against mere facades.
Which scientific or analytical method is applied?
The paper utilizes a literary studies approach, combining close-text analysis of the novel with historical and architectural criticism to examine the symbolic role of houses within the narrative.
What is discussed in the main body of the work?
The main body systematically analyzes urban residences (townhouses and slum flats) versus rural residences (Howards End and Oniton), evaluating how each environment affects the character dynamics of the Schlegels, Wilcoxes, and Basts.
What are the most significant keywords for this work?
Key terms include "urban flux," "Moloch," "social status," "Howards End," "domestic space," and "authentic living."
How does the author define the "London flux"?
The "London flux" is presented as a relentless, dehumanizing process of constant change, urban overcrowding, and industrial pressure that makes stability and meaningful personal life nearly impossible in the city.
Why is "Howards End" considered the ideal place in the novel?
It is viewed as ideal because it represents a "genuine English dwelling"—a space that is deeply rooted in nature, humble in its architecture, and untouched by the artificial "façades" and capitalistic greed that define the urban residences.
In what way does the author contrast the Wilcox family with the Schlegel sisters regarding property?
The author argues that the Wilcoxes treat property, such as Oniton, as a commodity and status symbol, while the Schlegel sisters seek a spiritual and personal connection to their home, viewing it as a space for humanity rather than profit.
- Quote paper
- Dominik Lorenz (Author), 2008, The City and the Country in Howards End, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/117906
