Quest for Image of Mother in E. M. Forster’s The Longest Journey

Abstract

Rickie Elliot, the protagonist of E. M. Forster’s The Longest Journey, searches for the motherly form in various forms. Rickie’s father and mother died when he was fifteen years old, living with comfortably well-off life financially. Rickie wanders in different places and looks for the image of his mother in different people. Rickie tries to recall his past connection associated with his mother as her substitute; he looks for replacement in other people and things. Firstly, it is replaced by Cambridge University. For Rickie, Cambridge provides the warm and care as his mother provided him in his childhood. Later, his marriage to Agnes Pembroke is love for his dead mother in disguise. At last, Rickie comes to close with Stephen Wanham, half brother from mother side as the means through which he could bring his mother back. So, motherly image becomes crucial for Rickie.