RESTLESSNESS AND RESISTANCE IN E. M. FORSTER’S “THE ROAD FROM COLONUS”

Most critics believe that Mr. Lucas in “The Road from Colonus” resembles the role of Oedipus in his old age.Some researchers regard Mr. Lucas as the modern Oedipus at Colonus in terms of emotional detachment. However, restlessness and resistance in Mr. Lucas's mind are not theoretically analyzed. An aim of my study is to explore the uneasy mental state of Mr. Lucas when he grows old. This study attempts to exemplify restlessness and resistance in Mr. Lucas's mind as he struggles against the convention of people's attitudes toward old age through an exploration ofMr. Lucas's spiritual agitation when resisting demands for his behaviour as an old man. Moreover, Mr. Lucas desires to realize his dream by going to Greece where he finds the water of youth coming from a tree. He believes that “Greece is the land for young people.” Greece arouses his desire to “die fighting” against being “breaking away from the younger members” in England. This study claims that Mr. Lucas attempts to escape from Colonus, a symbol of inaction at old age, and he resists all the social restrictions on the elderly. His resistance shown in his behaviouris supported by his restless pursuit of youth and happiness. In conclusion, the elderly should not be marginalized as a group living a quiet and boring life until death.