A different approach is then taken by Fielding to get to the core of the subject, to really judge what has happened and prove Aziz’s innocence. Evidence for this is “I must ask you to forgive me. I cannot believe that Dr Aziz is guilty”. The remark aggravates the collector profusely as the behaviour Fielding has just displayed would be shown as “a poor show” as it is again not how the “herd” expect him to react. Fielding is simply stating the same statement, but in a more approachable way, in order to provoke sympathy for the case of Aziz. However, Fielding does not perceive the ways of Chandrapore that people will simply discriminate in spite because Aziz is Asian. This explains why the collector causes such a commotion about the fact that Aziz could just be innocent and not the “poor English lady”. It adds a sense of the character of Fielding being of slight naivety, as this concept of unfair justice, will have been heavily enforced when dealing with crimes of the Asians.
The reactions of the Collector truly show the sheer intensity of Fielding trying to counteract the “herd”. This has been considered in “You shall pay for this, you shall squeal”. Fielding is strategically going against the English policy to discriminate; now this has put him into danger, as the collector will try to put him out of action, as he is seen to be betraying the English justice system within Chandrapore. This truly shows how the “herd” congregates and turns logical intellectual people into fools. Fielding is seen to be doing the wrong thing but he is in actual fact using his brain to sort out the mess caused by Miss Quested. The extreme anger shown by the collector shows the sheer determination on the part of Fielding’s character. It also influences the ways in which Fielding is attempting to back Aziz’s case to prove innocence and break down the forming of the “herd”.
Alongside trying to justify Aziz by authoritative judgement he also tries to equip himself with the facts of the case. This has been clearly notified by “He was still after facts, though the herd had decided on emotion”. In contrast to the illogical thinking of the rest of the English he is treating the case as if you would under any normal circumstances. However, Fielding realises that he is in India with a group of racist Englishmen who will simply not care if Aziz is a doctor or a nice person. The main factor to them is the fact that he is Asian and to them that is all that will ever matter. This unrevealed factor to Fielding creates an uncertainty to his character as it makes the reader unsure as to whether he will truly stick to his true concern for Aziz. This idea creates a lack of confidence in the character of Fielding and doesn’t reinforce the fact strongly, that he will go against the “herd”.
To add weight to this argument, Fielding uses factual information to base his destruction of the “herd”. He ignores any other facts apart from what is to do with the case. Evidence of this is “I don’t want to hear his private letters”. This clearly states again that Fielding is different to the majority of the English as he doesn’t need to know any pointless facts to try to make a case to put him into jail. Fielding is thirsting for justice and wants to get to the core of it which promotes faith in the character of Fielding. As he ignores the emotional issues of the English and promotes the truth behind the story.
To add confidence to Fielding’s attempt to counteract the “herd” he tries to go directly to the source of the assault, Miss Quested. This is identified by “But I wanted to ask her”. Again making life difficult for himself, he intervenes as he knows that Miss Quested also knew the true Aziz and that somehow there must be a misunderstanding. Fielding is so reassured by the behaviour of Aziz that he believes that he can get a different story out of the actual victim. This reassurance makes the reader truly believe in the spirit that Fielding is showing that Aziz is innocent. It reiterates the fact that his behaviour towards the English is trying to break down the injustice in the system. It shows that his personality is influential as he actually has faith in himself to repute the statement Miss Quested has made against Aziz.
Fielding attempts several angles to achieve success in breaking down the congregating “herd” forming within the British, to achieve justice. This has been closely identified with making his own life difficult for what he truly believes in, betraying his own culture, layering facts to achieve a case and using persuasive techniques to further the destruction of the injustice system. In these ways it displays Fielding’s courage to go against people in power to join the unsuccessful party; it also shows loyalty to friend, his knowledgeable judge of character and his intellectual, logical approach to life not just simply discriminating without a thought because Aziz is simply a different race. Although there are ways in which Fielding is naïve, he has not grasped the concept of justice in Chandrapore; this creates a lack of confidence in his character. After attempting to consider all views about the ways in which Fielding tries to prevent joining his fellow Englishmen in the “herd” it is clear to see that the best possible way is for him to be blunt. Aziz is a doctor, therefore a hardworking man who was an acquaintance of Miss Quested and although of a different race, is the same as anyone else in the world and deserves a fair chance. Without listening to Fielding’s argument the English are provoking a battle which is not needed to be taken on board.