Two.

Today in class we were asked to pick one character in Forster's "Recollections" and relate his experiences with that person to his life as a Bloomsbury member.  Most people (including myself) chose to talk about his Aunt Monie. When asked to share, the majority of my peers talked about how he was burdened by his aunt.  I feel differently.  Maybe he was slightly annoyed with the task of taking care of her, but I think the more important thing to note is his reaction to her illness.  He states blatantly that he is afraid of it.  He was young when she was involved in his life and it is clear he was never given a full explanation for her situation.  In his eyes, she was not the same person.  There was something inside of her that made her different, delicate, contagious almost.  As if whatever put her in that wheelchair and caused her so much pain, would haunt him if he interfered with her nightly cries for help.  Because her situation was never fully explained to him, he continues to carry these feelings with him through the years.  Feelings of regret and shame.

I can relate to these feelings.  I have seen family members go in and out of hospital rooms.  Each time entering and leaving as a different person.  The body lying in that bed is not possessed by the same spirit you remember.  It is different and you can't explain why.  And when no one bothers to put your mind at ease, the picture in your mind haunts you. 

Forster may have been bothered by his Aunt and her neediness, but maybe for reasons other than what immediately come to mind.