E. M. Forster Group

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mainul05
mainul05
Student
Graduate School

What according to E.M. Forster are the adverse impacts of having properties?

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Posted by mainul05 on Sunday July 5, 2009 at 9:18 AM and tagged with adverse impacts, e.m. foster, literature, properties.

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  1. akannan Teacher
    Middle School

    eNotes Editor

    In terms of Forster's view of owning properties, he relates this to the larger issue of materialism.  In Forster's mind, anytime someone becomes occupied with the desire for material wealth, he believes there is a loss of self perception.  In his essay, "My Wood," Forster argues that the desire for materialism creates a "heavier person."  This weight is associated with the idea that we believe that we are more superior than we actually are because we associate the idea of acquiring wealth with out notion of self.  This derives from the view that our material desires represent us, and are an extension of ourselves.  We view material wealth as a part of us, as opposed to separate to us.  In Forster's view this creates a "heavy" and distorted view of self.  In addition to this, Forster believes that an adverse impact of material wealth is that it is endless.  We continue to seek more and more acquiring wealth, creating a  more unhappy sense of self.

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    Posted by akannan on Sunday July 5, 2009 at 12:29 PM