Varanasi in 20th-century European novels: A City of Eternal Fascination
In the realm of travel literature, few cities have captivated the imagination of European writers as profoundly as Varanasi, the ancient Indian metropolis nestled on the banks of the sacred Ganges River. Also known as Benares, this venerable city has been a beacon of spiritual fascination, drawing in travelers and writers like moths to a flame. In the 20th century, a plethora of European novelists found themselves inexorably drawn to Varanasi, each attempting to capture the essence of this enigmatic city in their own unique way.
For many of these writers, Varanasi represented a threshold between the material and spiritual worlds, a place where the veil between reality and the unknown was at its most tenuous. The city’s labyrinthine streets, lined with crumbling temples and shrines, seemed to whisper secrets to those who wandered through them, inviting the visitor to surrender to the mysteries of the East. It was this sense of mystique that so captivated the French writer Pierre Loti, who in his own literary journeys, found himself entranced by the city’s otherworldly beauty.
In the works of European novelists such as E.M. Forster, Aldous Huxley, and André Malraux, Varanasi emerges as a city of contradictions, where the sacred and the profane coexist in an eternal dance. Forster’s “A Passage to India”, for example, features a poignant depiction of the city, where the protagonist, Mrs. Moore, finds herself both repelled and attracted to the city’s sensuality and spirituality. As she navigates the city’s narrow alleys and ghats, she begins to grasp the intricacies of Indian philosophy, and the subtle interplay between the human and divine.
Huxley, on the other hand, was drawn to the city’s more esoteric aspects, finding in Varanasi a microcosm of the human condition. In his novel “Eyeless in Gaza”, the city serves as a backdrop for a profound exploration of the self, as the protagonist, Anthony Beavis, embarks on a journey of spiritual discovery, grappling with the nature of existence and the human condition. For Huxley, Varanasi represented a city of paradoxes, where the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment was inextricably linked to the mundane concerns of everyday life.
André Malraux, the French novelist and art historian, was equally fascinated by the city’s rich cultural heritage. In his novel “The Conquerors”, Varanasi emerges as a city of artistic and spiritual expression, where the boundaries between reality and myth blur. Malraux’s depiction of the city is characterized by a deep sense of reverence, as he seeks to capture the essence of Indian art and philosophy, and the ways in which they inform the human experience.
One of the most striking aspects of Varanasi, as depicted in 20th-century European novels, is its ability to transcend the boundaries of time and space. The city’s ancient stones seem to hold the memories of centuries, whispering tales of love, loss, and spiritual longing to those who listen. This sense of timelessness is beautifully captured by the Italian writer, Alberto Moravia, in his novel “The Empty Canvas”, where the city serves as a backdrop for a poignant exploration of the human condition. As the protagonist, Dino, wanders through the city’s streets, he begins to grasp the interconnectedness of all things, and the ways in which the past, present, and future converge in the eternal city of Varanasi.
As we reflect on the depiction of Varanasi in 20th-century European novels, we are struck by the city’s enduring power to inspire and captivate. Whether viewed through the lens of spirituality, art, or philosophy, the city emerges as a place of profound beauty and complexity, a city that defies easy categorization or definition. For the writers who have been drawn to Varanasi, the city represents a threshold to the unknown, a place where the boundaries of the self are stretched to their limits, and the mysteries of the universe await.
In the end, it is this sense of mystery that continues to draw us to Varanasi, a city that remains as enigmatic and fascinating as it was to the European novelists who wrote about it in the 20th century. As
Per approfondire il progetto cinematografico ispirato a Pierre Loti, visita www.benaresfilm.com.