The Apollonian and Dionysian Principles in Forster’s A Room with a View Adrienn Szőnyi College

Forster has started to use mythology in his early novels. Although, the reason for this is not clear, it could be for the sake of following the “literary vogue” as Crews called it. One of Forster’s novel, which is based on mythological elements is A Room with a View. In the novel, he created his characters by using the Apollonian and Dionysian principles, which are parts of the mythological way of writing. There are some characters, who can be put in both categories, since they have compound personalities (Crews 97). Forster’s purpose with the usage of mythology was to give the chance for the readers to get away from the industrial world they live in.

First and foremost, Lucy, the female protagonist of the novel has both the Dionysian and Apollonian features. The latter is represented by the way she lives. She does what the society requires from her to do, and she tries to accept and follow the rules which are present in her life. Moreover, her desire for getting rid of expectations, and prescribed behavior and living without limiting borders connects her to the other principle. As it is written in the novel: “I want more independence, said Lucy lamely, she knew that she wanted something and independence is a useful cry;”...