chapter xxiii

Another event of unfortunate ambiguity occurs in this chapter, as Lady Mellanby uses her influence to ensure that Mrs. Moore leaves Chandrapore. Although Forster portrays this as a kind and considerate act in the part of Lady Mellanby, it is the ladies of Chandrapore who make the request to secure Mrs. Moore passage out of India. This fits with the possible interpretation that Ronny forces Mrs. Moore to leave so that she cannot defend Aziz's innocence, a portrayal of the situation that contains a modicum of truth but is nevertheless a grave misrepresentation.

Mrs. Moore leaves India without the tender Christian spirit with which she entered Chandrapore. Although she is no less noble than before, Mrs. Moore no longer has faith in the stability of the universe, finding it vast and uncomforting. The echo in the Marabar Caves proves the pivotal event for Mrs. Moore, a reminder of the emptiness that surrounds her. While her son and the others in Chandrapore inflate the events of the Marabar Caves to absurd proportions, only Mrs. Moore sees her circumstances as pitifully small and unimportant.