The scientist out to rewrite the human story

Forster announces his intention to explore human nature and society from the very title of the novel: A Room with a View, a window through which to observe people and behaviours. The novel depicts human nature as a powerful current which, when repressed by social convention, still lurks just beneath the surface, always threatening to burst through. An early foreshadowing of this takes place in Italy, where Lucy witnesses a grotesque act of violence between two men on one of her first days in Florence which seems to come from nowhere. True love, like violence, is a force which threatens the social order and ultimately uproots Lucy's respectable upper-middle-class family life - but it is also just part of human nature.

Do we suffer from an evolution delusion? A top professor caused a stir yesterday by attacking the traditional theory that evolution represents progress. He wants the famous image abolished.

Are humans unique? Tomorrow one of the greatest writers on this theme, Kazuo Ishiguro, will publish a new novel about artificial intelligence, human nature and the meaning of love.

Are people at their best in a crisis? Dutch historian Rutger Bregman thinks so, and he believes we have a persistent habit of ignoring the evidence that human nature is fundamentally good.

Despite the liberated atmosphere of exploration in Italy, restrictive English manners pursue Lucy across borders in the form of her cousin Miss Charlotte Bartlett, who reminds her of the standards of etiquetteThe set of rules that inform behaviour among a social group. she is expected to adhere to. Charlotte is suspicious of the Emersons, who are seen as eccentric and unconventional socialists. Despite Lucy's attraction to George Emerson, she promptly becomes engaged to Cecil Vyse who, despite his more suitable rank, class and manners, is a comically ridiculous figure. When George points out that Cecil, despite his superior reputation, sees Lucy as a mere "object for the shelf", she realises that manners can be misleading and ends the engagement.

Has Covid unhinged us? From that notorious slap at the Oscars to soaring cases of disruption, experts have noted a surge of antisocial acts. One theory blames the pandemic.

Should we adopt "vampire mode" instead? Yesterday, "goblin mode" was named the Oxford word of 2022. But one gothic expert suggests we should follow the example set by vampires instead.

Are villains more interesting than heroes? My dream is to play a "really iconic villain", says actress Daisy Edgar-Jones. But why is everyone so eager to embrace the dark side?

It should hardly surprise the modern reader that Forster chose to depict a romantic relationship which contravenes social conventions in A Room with a View. Forster himself was homosexual, and homosexuality was still illegal in England at the time he was writing. In fact, Oscar Wilde had been imprisoned for his sexuality just 13 years before the publication of this novel. Forster depicts a heterosexual relationship here, but still one which demonstrates that it is impossible to constrain passion and love with social expectations or moral scruples. It is significant that Lucy chooses to elopeMarry secretly or suddenly, without telling friends and family. , presumably losing the security of her family and home forever. Forbidden love is a theme that recurs in Forster's works, appearing in both A Room with a View and Maurice, his tale of homosexual love in the early 20th Century.

Have we forgotten how to have relationships? A top writer says that Tinder and Hinge have caused an epidemic of anxiety and insecurity. But others say they do more good than harm.

A fable in search of a great humane vision

Are food and love the only real things in life? At the age of 82, Britain's greatest living painter, David Hockney, has written a moving letter telling the world his deepest convictions.

Is maternal love what makes us unique? The amazing story of Qafzeh, aged 13, who lived 100,000 years ago, raises profound questions about the origins and power of human devotion.

Early 20th Century British tourists in Italy respected its cultural and artistic legacy, but viewed its inhabitants as barbaric, promiscuousHaving lots of romantic partners. and chaotic. In A Room with a View, when a group of the characters travel to Fiesole, the priggishSelf-righteous. British chaplain Mr Eager insists that a young Italian woman leaves the carriage after she kisses and embraces her lover in the company of others, highlighting the gulf in cultural norms between the two countries. Forster views Italy as a place where characters can explore their feelings and relationships more openly, since Italian society was considered to be far more liberal than in Britain.

Will there ever be another Leonardo da Vinci? He is known around the globe for his stunning paintings. But the Renaissance figure also pioneered new ways to understand the world.

Is the far right taking over Europe? A neo-fascist party now governs at the very heart of Europe. Some fear this is the foothold they need to spread across the entire continent.

Is giving really better than receiving? As people across the world spend billions on Christmas presents, a leading Roman philosopher's thoughts on the subject have never been more relevant.

A Room with a View has been dubbed a "comedy of manners" by some critics, but its satire is by no means biting. The characters are mocked for their conformity to England's stuffy and restrictive social views, as well as the strict class hierarchy. Yet Forster is more focused on social critique than on scathing treatment of his individual characters.

Is satire good for us? For centuries satirical art has provided an outlet for our dissatisfactions with politics and society. But in these torrid times, does it cause more harm than good?

Is it wrong to mock? Officials in Beijing have drawn up rules to make civil servants be more polite. But some experts argue that sarcasm is a valuable way of expressing ourselves.

Should we stop being embarrassed? Taylor Swift told graduates in New York to "embrace their cringe". But many think it is more intelligent to possess a modicum of shyness.