No Cheers for Democracy

 Edward Said was right in pointing out that literature is the symptomatology of society. E.M. Forster has covered nearly every social intricacy of a common man’s life in his essay. Critiquing the social institutions such as religion, power, relationships and governance, E.M. Forster has depicted that human reliance on these institutions is an inevitable paradox. These institutions have a profound influence on human existence, making the dependence both indispensable and problematic. 

Religion fosters stagnancy, depicts Forster. Faith ignores evidence and hence hinders the intellectual progress. But having faith is unavoidable for man. In the end of his essay, he hints how man has himself failed religion. Average human being is in a constant need of faith; it can either be on an individual, who he calls ‘Savior of future’ or religion itself. Even when havingmeaningful relationships is improbable, man still cannot live alone. Relationships in human capacity are tricky as well. Forster is of the view that we can never really know the true intentions of an individual. It is all about what humans really ‘want’. Humans yearn to have faith in love even if it means to embrace uncertainty. In this quest, individual bonds may override the civic duties as well. 

Forster then goes on to admire democracy, just to completely deny it in the end. He regards democracy for two basic merits: promulgation of diversity and permission of criticism. Man has always found his knack in any situation. He has never been stagnant. Even in the situation of absolute dictatorship, creativity finds its way out anyways through resistance and foreign opposition. Hence, diversity and criticism are not exclusive to democracy. No cheers for democracy!

The criticism of people in power is quite valid. He poses that unless there is true holiness in the heart, every individual has the capacity to slip away. Even Forster’s aristocrats, who have determination, consideration and sensitivity, can succumb to the temptation of exploiting their authority. 

In a nutshell, man actually can never be free in a true sense. As long as the organized social structures and institutions exist, the choices will forever remain coerced.