Religion in the Novel White Teeth by Zadie Smith - Essay Example

Religion in the Novel White Teeth by Zadie Smith Few novels in the modern literary arena have generated enormous interest within the publishing world as that of White Teeth by Zadie Smith. This is one of the most celebrated novels dealing with the modern theme of multiculturalism, and the novelist, who herself is a victim to the multicultural life and had a Jamaican mother and an English father, reflects the life and funny aspects of the multicultural society. Produced by a writer who is still very young, the novel has attained general acclaim as the most remarkable fictional creation of multiculturalism. Zadie Smith attempted to write a funny novel which deals with the different aspects of white people as well as those who are not white, and she was not very much concerned about the multiculturalism in London as it was too a normal a topic to deal with. However, on the completion of the novel, it turned out to be one of the foremost fictional creations dealing with the theme of multiculturalism, and religion was a major element contributing to the theme of multiculturalism. London is one of the major multicultural societies of the modern world which was mainly due to the immigrants who settled there for political, demographic or economical reasons. Religion is one of the most significant aspects which directly deal with the question of multiculturalism and it has a prominent place in determining the positive and negative results of multiculturalism. Therefore, religion is a central sub-theme of any fictional writing which is concerned with the major theme of multiculturalism, and, in her novel, Zadie Smith treats religion as a chief factor which determines the theme of multiculturalism. “A multicultural society,” observes Hadjetian, “consists of two or more different cultures which are different in language, religion, traditions and their systems of values.” (Hadjetian, 2) Religion is one of the foremost aspects of a culture, and the religions of various cultural backgrounds are directly affected by the existence of several cultures at a place. In the novel White Teeth by Zadie, religion is a major concern to the major characters of the novel, and the novelist reflects the various issues faced by different religions due to the multicultural background of London. In the novel White Teeth, the novelist tells the story of three families from various cultural backgrounds with different religious traditions. Thus the plot deals with the lives of the English-Jamaican Jones, the Bangladeshi Iqbals and the Jewish Chalfens, and the setting is the multicultural suburb Willisden in North London. The three cultures presented in the novel represent also three religious traditions, and it becomes obvious that the theme of multiculturalism incorporates the sub-theme of religion as well. In fact, the elements in the various religions reveal the different aspects of the multicultural society in London. The people belonging to different cultures respond differently to the superfluous influence of other cultures and religions on their original religions and cultures. Whereas religions of certain group are adversely affected by the influence of foreign religions and cultures, certain other cultural groups admit this process as the result of assimilation. The effect of multiculturalism is realized differently by the people belonging to different cultural and religious background. There are several religious traditions present in the novel and some characters of the novel find that their religious beliefs and practices are challenged by the influence of multiculturalism in the land. Thus, the readers find Samad as a person who is greatly concerned about the effect of growing up in Britain, and he is convinced that their families, relations, religions, practices etc will be affected by multiculturalism. The concept of religion in the novel makes another major contribution to the development of the entire theme. Thus, one finds that the novelist introduces purity, a central theme of the novel, through the concept of religion. Race and cultural distinction are the major elements of multiculturalism dealt with in the novel. However, in an investigation of purity, the novelist reaches beyond the question of caste and race, and incorporates the question of religion. Samad Iqbal is one of the two central characters in White Teeth, and he is presented by Zadie Smith as a troubled man. “He is troubled by his children, by his place in a multicultural Britain, by his inability to be the kind of good Muslim he wants himself (and others) to be. As he thinks to himself, ‘To the pure, all things are pure.’ But who is pure? This question may be said to be at the heart of White Teeth.” (Moseley, 220) In the quest for purity, the novelist makes use of religious elements more than the racist aspects. Every reader first notices the multiracial texture of the novel, and there are no pure English in the novel. However, as Samads wife Alsana remarks, it is easier and less complicated to find the correct Hoover bag than to find a pure man and pure faith in the world. Therefore, it is not race and culture which explore the concept of purity, but religious and ideological elements contribute to a clear understanding of purity. “Purity and its challenges go deeper than race and include the sexual, the religious, and the ideological.” (Moseley, 220) In short, religion is a central theme in the novel White Teeth and this enhances the meaning of other themes such as multiculturalism and the concept of purity. There is another significant way to comprehend the incorporation of religion in the novel, and the novelist seems to create a cultural setting where religion has no significance. Here, people belonging to different religious backgrounds come together to form a common identity, i.e. the ‘Englishness’. In the process of developing a common cultural identity, the society does not treat religion as important, and certain people are not happy with the development, whereas others accept this as the process of assimilation. Religion and common cultural identity, i.e. “Englishness”, are opposing forces, and people may either approve this development or disagree with this. In the intelligent and funny novel White Teeth, Zadie Smith deals with the religious sentiments of unassimilated immigrants in London in opposition to the development of a common cultural identity. “Smith’s novel presents a multigenerational account of the development of ‘Englishness.’ It begins with the older generation, Archie Jones, who is a working-class Englishman married to a black immigrant from Jamaica, and his friend Samad Iqbal, a Muslim from Bangladeshi… The twin sons of Samad (Magid and Millat) and Archie’s daughter (Irie), who were all born in England, represent the second generation. All are ‘foreigners’ because of their visibility and in spite of their seeming hybridity…” (Gilman, 158) Therefore, the characters of the novel represent the different aspects of the multicultural society which seeks to develop a common identity irrespective of religious and cultural traditions. Religion is the central factor, here, in an attempt to determine the positives and negatives of multiculturalism. In her novel White Teeth Zadie Smith has been exploring the existence of a perfect blue-eyed Anglo-Saxon Englishman symbolized by the metaphor of ‘white teeth’. Throughout the novel, the readers do not find any such creature as Englishman, and instead they find the creation of new cultural identity which disregards religion and culture. Religion is the tool which checks the utility of multiculturalism in the society, and people are affected differently by the existence of religion. Religion and the new cultural identity are placed in the novel as opposing forces, and the people are affected by the existence of both these forces. The characters in the novel are either the followers of a religion or that of the cultural identity of ‘Englishness’. The metaphor of ‘white teeth’ represents ‘Englishness’ and this is lost while someone is introduced to a religion. In an interesting episode, Ryan introduces Clara to scooter rides, weed, and the north London squat. However, with the interference of Hortense, Ryan converts to her religion. “This betrayal leads Clara to lose her teeth in a scooter accident… Hortense and Ryan stay at home waiting for the end of the world their religion has prophesied. The melancholy of losing her religion pushes Clara into the unlikely arms of Archie, and a ‘peculiar’ marriage.” (Squires, 27) Religion has a significant role in an understanding of the concept of ethnic identity and multiculturalism, and every culture is closely linked to its religious tradition as well. White Teeth deals with the ethnic identity or confusion which is reflected through the various characters of the novel. It is also a celebrated piece dealing with the consequences of colonialism which has brought almost all the characters to London, and these characters are often conscious of their post-colonial identities. Thus, one finds Samad Iqbal often feeling high about his descent from the family of Mangal Pande who was executed by the British in the first phases of the Indian Mutiny of 1857. Though the work focuses on colonialism and ethnic identity, religion is the main tool used by the novelist to determine the quality of all these themes. As the ethnic and cultural identities of the characters are very much different, the novelist takes new liberties with the themes of colonialism and multiculturalism. Through the depiction of the characters corresponding to their religious identities, the novelist achieves greater ease in explicating on the concepts of multiculturalism and cultural identity. “Much of the book is devoted to a Bangladeshi family and Smith…has no hesitation about taking us into the inner world of its would-be patriarch, musing on his failed attempts to pass on his culture. The son he keeps in England turns into a ‘fully paid-up green bow-tie-wearing’ Muslim fundamentalist. The son he sends back to Bangladesh to imbibe the wisdom of the old country ‘comes out a pukka Englishman, white suited, silly wig lawyer’.” (Mullan) Through the exploration of religions, the novelist is able to better convey her messages concerning cultural identity and multiculturalism. Therefore, religion is the central theme in the novel illuminating and enhancing the meaning of other chief themes of the novel. Multiculturalism is the most prominent theme of the novel, and the theme of religion has a central role in the complete understanding of the major theme. The twentieth century is often remarked as the period of great immigrant experiments, where the cultural and religious identity of the immigrants was entangled with the development of new cultural identity. “Here, in a London playground, are children…whose ethnic identities have become confused as a result of hybridization. This mixed-up situation is one of the abiding themes of White Teeth, a theme that incorporates the legacy of empire, the assemblage of immigrants in the old imperial centers, and the multicultural societies that are thus produced.” (Squires, 23) This prominent theme of multiculturalism is revealed through an understanding of the religious identity of different characters. The concept of multiculturalism itself incorporates religious identity, and the novelist makes use if the tension between religion and cultural identity to convey the meaning of multiculturalism. The characters in the novel find their religions and their original cultural identity challenged by the appearance of a new cultural identity. Whereas there is a growing number of people belonging to the new generation who address the arrival of new cultural identity as the process of assimilation, characters such as Samad contempt it as corruption to their original culture and religion. Samad is the most important character in the novel who contributes considerably to an analysis of the role of religion in the multicultural background of London. Samad is troubled by the idea that his children will be subjected to Britain’s multiculturalism, yet he does not live the life of a proper devote Muslim. The most revealing element of his character is the fact that he is a complicated character and the very realization of the existence of multiculturalism and the decay of religious spirit adds on to the complicated nature of this character. Zadie Smith has been particular in creating this character less devoted to Muslim religion, and this enhances the complications about the character. The complicated nature of the character also illustrates the experience of every immigrant in the modern world, and the experience of Samad who is troubled by the coexistence of multicultural environment and the original religious traditions exemplifies the immigrant experience. Samad cannot deny his religion and its practices. At the same time, he is carried away by the influence of new ideologies such as secularism, cultural identity etc. “Samad’s troubled relationship with his god pre-empts the development of his character in the plot, as he fears for Allah, morality, and cultural tradition… His anxiety about the impact living in England has on the second generation is equally pertinent to his own situation. Samad swings between the poles of faith and secularism, between absolutism and compromise, between rejecting and falling prey to temptation.” (Squires, 29-30) Therefore, it becomes lucid that the novelist has been very careful about illustrating the experience of every immigrant who is affected by the multicultural background. Samad is always bothered of the ways of Allah and the religion, and he is troubled by the way these prominent elements of his religion are affected by multiculturalism. Samad expounds his fears for his god, religion, morality and cultural tradition in a crisis meeting with Archie through his observation of his sisters-in-law’s children. According to him, “all their children are nothing but trouble. They won’t go to mosque, they don’t pray, they speak strangely, they dress strangely, they eat all kinds of rubbish, they have intercourse with God knows who. No respect for tradition. People call it assimilation when it is nothing but corruption. Corruption!” (Smith, 190) This observation sums up the character’s concern for his religious tradition which is affected by the existence of the new ideologies of multiculturalism. The most effective way to understand the character of Samad is that he is one who can’t decide between faith and secularism, between absolutism and compromise, between rejecting and falling prey to temptation. He is often troubled by the existence of his religious realities and the emergence of new cultural values. He is in a tussle with Allah, his god, and his there are two significant maxims which represent his conscience – “To the pure all things are pure” and “Can’t say fairer than that.” (Smith, 137) While the former justifies his unholy practices of masturbation, food, drinks, and desire for Poppy Burt-Jones, the latter may be understood as a process of deal-making with Allah and a plea for fairness and understanding. In short, the character of Samad represents the conflict in every immigrant between the forces of religion and that of the emerging cultural identity. Another significant character who contributes to the understanding of the subtheme of religion in the novel is Clara who turns away from her religion to become a Jehovah’s Witness. Her conversion to another religious tradition raises an important problem with regard to the theme of multiculturalism and its impact on various religions. She is the representative of the immigrants who needed to adjust to the new culture and its proposed religion. Her acceptance of the new religion has not been with pleasure and Zadie symbolically presents her disconcerting experience through the loss of Clara’s teeth. The only imperfection on her appearance is a “complete lack of teeth in the top of her mouth…” (Smith, 24) and this imperfection is connected to her lack of her original religion. “The melancholy of losing her religion pushes Clara into the unlikely arms of Archie, and a ‘peculiar’ marriage.” (Squires, 27) Therefore, Clara represents the immigrants in London who were made to adjust with the ways of new cultural identity and religious practices. This indicates one of the major problems presented by Zadie in the novel – the impact of the multicultural social living on the religious practices and beliefs of the immigrants. In one of the most audacious reflections on the novel, Zadie addresses it as ‘a funny thing about the modern world,’ and her themes and characterization in the novel substantiates this remark. (Moseley, 220) As a female narrator of the modern world, Zadie was always confident and magisterial in her narrations. Every comment by the narrator has been the result of tremendous reflections which hold together multifarious narrative and its ideas. Her comments about religion and tradition combined zest, wit, and wisdom. “‘If religion is the opiate of the people [she tells her readers], tradition is an even more sinister analgesic, simply because it rarely appears sinister. If religion is a tight band, a throbbing vein, and a needle, tradition is a far homelier concoction: poppy seeds ground into tea; a sweet cocoa drink laced with cocaine; the kind of thing your grandmother might have made.” (Moseley, 220) She had been powerful in her reflections about religion. To comprehend the role of religion in the first novel by Zadie Smith, it is important to establish that White Teeth illustrates an optimistic vision of race relations and multiculturalism in the modern England. Zadie Smith presents this optimistic vision mainly by illustrating how friendship and romance can contravene religious as well as racial barriers. However, there are times when these religious and cultural barriers generate splits between brothers and husbands and wives. The novelist has been effective in establishing that the younger and older generations in the novel bargain the rock-strewn environment of the newly multi-national, multi-ethnic and multi-religious society. In this attempt of the novelist, the venerable friendship and relationship between Samal Iqabal and Archie Jones, the protagonists of the novel, has a major role. The ideological principles of religious, class and other forms of identity are compromised by the characters in order to achieve the true cultural identity. Therefore, religious barriers are shaken by the emerging concept of new cultural identity which relieves people of every state and region from the chains of every type of bondage. In other words, religion is the means to realize the true essence of cultural identity which makes people belong to the same cultural heritage. Religion is placed by the novelist as the opposing concept of freedom and cultural identity. In her attempt to recreate the real essence of cultural identity, Smith enjoyed a certain imaginative freedom. To conclude, Zadie Smith’s White Teeth illustrates an optimistic vision of race relations and multiculturalism, and religion is a major theme which reveals the meaning and implication of other major themes such as multiculturalism, purity, race relations etc. The novelist has been particular in mixing both pathos and humors in the novel, while focusing on the issues and dilemmas in the lives of immigrants who are confronted by the changing cultural and social environment. There is a possibility for the readers of the novel to analyze and compare the values of different cultures and religious traditions. The limits and limitations of religious sentiments have become evident through the plot development of the novel. There is an emerging new culture which introduces the true “Englishness” and religion is placed in contrast to this cultural identity. Works Cited Gilman, Sander L. Multiculturalism and the Jews. CRC Press. 2006. P 158. Hadjetian, Sylvia. Zadie Smith - White Teeth and Multiculturalism. GRIN Verlag. 2007. P 2. Moseley, Merritt. The Modern World - Zadie Smiths Debut Novel Chronicles Contemporary Multicultural London and Brings George Eliot to Mind. World and I. Vol. 15. Iss. 9. 2000. P 220. Smith, Zadie. White Teeth. P 190. as quoted in Squires, Claire. Zadie Smiths White Teeth: A Readers Guide. Continuum International Publishing Group. 2002. P 29. Squires, Claire. Zadie Smiths White Teeth: A Readers Guide. Continuum International Publishing Group. 2002. P 27. Mullan, John. After Post-Colonialism.” Guardian.co.uk. 2002. 04 Dec. 20008. . Read More