-more than just a novel about howard — a man who cheats on his wife w/ traditionally "beautiful" women — on beauty is a story about a man on the path to self-destruction. by the novel's end, howard has lost the loyalty of his children, has sabotaged his marriage and is on the verge of ruining his professorial career. zadie smith invents the character of howard's father (a racist, sexist, lower-class guy who sits around all day watching t.v. and never reads). he also believes in the concept of genius (howard doesn't).
-part of the reason howard may have ended up essentially self-destructing is b/c of pressure felt from his father. as a child and teen he may have felt pressure to "do better" than his father. BUT, by ascending class lines into the upper class academic elite, howard may have felt guilt for "doing better" than his dad. it is difficult for children to be more successful than their parents at times b/c inevitably we may feel like our success is a "condemnation" of our parents and our background and heritage.
No comments:
Post a Comment