Ingram 1

JessicaIngram

EN4663

11October2016

Paper#1

LikeFather,LikeSon:

TheReligiousProgressionsofJeromeandHowardBelseyinZadieSmithsOnBeauty

ManyofSmithsprominentthemesaredevelopedoverthecourseofthestoryandare

offeredsomedegreeofconclusion.WeseeHowardandKikisseparationfollowedbythe

implicationofapossiblereconciliation.WeseeHowardsfinallectureandhisinsinuatedfall

fromtheacademiccommunity.WeseeLevistimewithChooandtheHaitianimmigrantsresult

inapoliticalstatementthroughthetheftofCarleneKippssprizedpainting.Whatthenovel

seemstobemissingisalifeorcharacterchangingeventfueledbyreligion.Religionis

addressedoftenthroughoutthebeginningofthenovelbutseemstofadeawayasthenovel

concludes.WeareleftwonderingifSmithwasmakingastatementbynotdevelopingorgivingit

aresolution,orifreligionwasunintentionallyovershadowedbythemanyotherthemes.By

examiningthereligiousdifferencesbetweenJeromeandHowardBelsey,weseethatSmithdid

infactconcludethethemeofreligionbyshowinghowJeromeandHowardprogressfromtheir

rigidandintolerantopinionsofoneanothertoaplaceoftoleranceandacceptanceoftheir

differences.Throughthisanalysis,webegintoseethesecharactersslippingoutofthemoldof

theinsensitive,disconnectedintellectualandintoalifethatfindsabalancebetween

intellectualismandpleasurewheretheycansuccessfullyfightsocialinjustice.

PerhapssincethereligiousthemeofZadieSmithsOnBeauty,seemslessprominent
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throughoutthenovel,mostscholarshipfocusesonSmithsconnectiontoE.M.Forsters

HowardsEndandthemoreprominentthemesinthenovel,racism,beauty,andacademia.Inthe

article,APassagetoForster,AnnMarieAdamsaddressestheinfluenceofE.M.Forsters

novelHowardsEndonSmithsstory.AdamsstatesthatSmithattemptstoreestablishcontinuity

withForstersfictionviaScarrystext(382).ShearguesagainstcriticsthatclaimthatSmithis

ultimatelyunabletointegrateScarrysworkinherownfictionbyexplaininghowSmiths

workactuallygetssocaughtupinScarrysperceptualparticularsthatitfailstoaddressthe

fundamentalissuethatForsterunflinchinglyarticulatestheexclusionarynatureofcultivated

aesthetics(378,394).Insteadofforgingalliancesbetweenliberalandconservativepositions

asForsterdoes,AdamsconcludesthatSmithismoreconcernedwithathoughtfulexploration

ofthecontradictionswithintheliberalminditself(378).
WhereasAdamsfocusesonSmithsconnectiontoForster,PetrAntneexaminesthe

aspectsofracialtensioninSmithsnovelandtherelationshiptotheuniversitysetting.Inher

articleRacialConflictsintheCampusNoveloftheEarly2000s,AntnestatesthatOnBeauty

focusesontheconflictingperceptionsofraceinaNewEnglandcollegetown(45).He

discussestheblatantprejudiceofMontyKippstowardthelowerclass,aswellasHowards

supportofaffirmativeaction,butalsohowHowardremainslargelyunawareofthestratified

worldofthelocalblackunderclasswhosecheapservicesheregularlyuses(37).Wellington

professorClaireMalcolm,atemporaryacademic,fightsfortheopportunitytocontinue

openingherclassestothosewhocannotaffordtoenrollinWellington(44).Zora,thoughher

motivesareclouded,fightsforthediscretionarystudentstobeallowed,includingthetalented

poetCarlThomas.Whiletheacademicmembersofsociety,whetherpurposefullyornot,canbe

blindedtotheunderprivilegedminoritiesaroundthem,itisstudentslikeZora,andtemporary
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academicslikeClairewhosucceedinidentifyingthenumerousfaultsofacademia(45).In

otherwords,itisthosecharactersthatsucceedinnarrowingthegapbetweentheacademicworld

andtheunderprivilegedminorities.
WhereasAntneexaminesracismandacademia,GemmaLopezsarticleAfterTheory

focusesontheflawsofacademiabycontrastingtheintellectualswiththecharacterswhodonot

considerthemselvesintellectual.WhileKatieArmstronglooksforwardtoHowardslectureand

gettingtoshareheropinionsandexcitementaboutRembrandtwithherpeers,Howard

concentrateshisseminaronprovingtheunoriginalityofRembrandt.LopezarguesthatHoward

ishimselfbecomingtheconformistbecauseforthesixthyearinarow,Howardprovides

studentswithhisgrandannouncementthatArtistheWesternmyth(355).ItisHowards

relianceonacademiaandaesthetictheorieswhichfuelshisandKikismostvolatileargument.

AccordingtoLopez,Kikidemandstruefeelingbeyondpostmoderntheories(358).Ironically,

itistheselfproclaimednonintellectuals,CarleneKippsandKikiBelseywhofindaprofound

connectionthroughtheirpassionforthepaintingoftheVoodoogoddess(359).Lopez

concludesbyreferencingthefinalsceneofthenovelandHowardsEndasanacademic(364).

Howardforgetshislecturenotesinhiscarandbeginstoseethepaintingsthroughanon

academiclens,givinghimandKikicommongroundoncemore,whileleavingtheperplexed

academicaudiencemumblingquietly(364).
WhereasLopezanalyzestheportrayalofintellectualsandacademiainthenovel,

KathleenWallsarticle,Ethics,Knowledge,andtheNeedforBeautyfocusesontheuseof

beautyinSmithsnovel.Wallstates,OnBeautyconsiderstheeffectofanindividuals

relationshipwithbeautyonhisorhercharacter(758).Wallarguesthatthenovelaskswhether

weneedbeautyforanengagementwiththeworld(786).Wallexplainsthattheansweris
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undoubtedlyyesandsupportsherclaimbyexplaininghoweachofSmithscharacterscanbe

categorizedbyhisorherattitudetowardbeauty.ItisHowardsinabilitytorecognizebeautythat

leadshimtomakeaseriesofethicalerrors(761).MontyKippsbelievesthatthecreationofart

isasignofprivilegeanditisthiselitistviewthatsuggeststhattheindividualsrelationshipto

art,aswellaspeople,isoneofjudgment(764).ClaireMalcolmbelievesthatthebeautyisinthe

process,nottheproductitself;andthatbeautyisinevitablyconnectedtotheethical(765).

WallstatesthatKatieArmstrongsseeminglyunnecessaryappearancemakesiteasytoargue

thatherrelationshiptotheRembrandtpaintingssheisexaminingforHowardsclassis

exemplary(767).WhereKatieseesbeautyandlife,Howardonlyfeelsdisdain.Accordingto

Wall,Kikinotonlyrepresentsthebeautiful;sheattendstotheimpactbeautyhasuponus

(772).Wallconcludesbydiscussingthattheveryuncertaintyofbeautyisitsprimaryvalue

(787).
WhilemanyscholarschoosetofocusonSmithsuseofForster,racism,academia,and

beauty,MagdalenaMczyskadoesexamineSmithsuseofreligionthroughoutseveralofher

novels.Inherarticle,ThatGodChipintheBrain,MczyskashowshowSmith,bypresenting

caricaturesofreligiousextremes,isadvocatingforamiddlegroundbetweenreligious

hypocrisyandatheistarrogance(134).Thismiddlegroundcanbeseenthroughseveral

characters,includingCarleneKipps,andLeviandKikiBelsey.Mczyskaalsocategorizes

Jeromeinthismiddlegroundforhissavinggracesofhumorandselfirony(134).Mczyska

alsofocusesonathemenewtoSmithswritings,therelationshipbetweenbeautyandthesacred.

MczyskaclaimsthatOnBeautyjuxtaposesareligiousandmaterialistunderstandingofart

(135).Therigidintellectualismofthenonbelieverskeepsthemfromexperiencingaesthetic

delightwhileMonty,throughhisbeliefs,isincapableofaestheticrapture(135).Mczyska
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claimsthatflexibilityandtheabilitytoseethingsfromotherpointsofviewarepresented

throughSmithscharactersthatfunctioninthemiddleground(134).AccordingtoMczyska,

thecharactersremainstagnantintheirreligiousattitudesthroughouttheentiretyofthenovel.

ThereligiousconflictbetweenJerome,whoisnotinfactamiddlegroundcharacteratall,and

Howardrevealsthateventhemostrigidcharactersmovetowardthatdesiredmiddleground

ratherthanremainingstaticintheirbeliefs.
AlthoughJeromeBelseyseemstobeaminorcharacterthatspendsmuchofthenovel

awayatBrownUniversity,heissurprisinglycrucialtothedevelopmentofthereligioustheme.

WhenJeromeBelseyisfirstintroducedintothestoryheisapushy,condescending,and

judgmentalChristian.WhatmayappeartobefamilialconcernandChristiandutyproves,upon

closeexamination,tobe,inreality,Jeromeconsideringhimselfsuperioroverhisfamilydueto

hisreligiousbeliefs.JeromegivesZoraaBiblepassagetoreadbecauseheknowshowshejust

lovesabitofScriptureeveryday(6).Theinclusionofthejustsuggeststhatthereissarcasm

behindtherequest.Jeromeknows,aswewilldiscoversoon,thatZoraholdsalmostthesame

opinionofreligionasherfather.TellingZoratoreadMatthew24isjustawayforJerometo

pushhisreligionontosomeonewhoheknowsisagainstit.TheactualcontentofMatthew24

provesthispointaswell.Matthew24isabouttheendoftimeandthereturnofJesus.Itstates

thatyoualsomustbeready,becausetheSonofManwillcomeatanhourwhenyoudonot

expecthimanditwarnsthatthewickedpeoplewhowillbe[eatinganddrinking]with

drunkardswhenJesusreturnswillbecuttopiecesandtherewillbeweepingandgnashing

ofteeth(NIVMatt.24.44,49,51).BygivingZorathisBiblepassage,Jeromeistryingtoscare

herandguilthisfamilyintobelievinginGod.Accordingtothispassage,thebelievers,like

Jerome,willbeputinchargeofall[hismasters]possessions(NIVMatt.24.47).Jeromeisnot
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simplypushinghisreligiononthem,butheislookingdownonthembecauseofwhatheexpects

toonedayreceiveinexchangeforhisfaithfulness,andthreateningthemwiththeBiblical

consequencesofunbelief.
JeromeholdshimselfonapedestalbecauseofhisChristianityandhedoesnotmissan

opportunitytolethisfamilyknowhowhefeels.Inalettertohisfather,Jeromeclaimsthatitwas

hisfellowshipwithChristthatledtohimstillbeingavirginattwentyyearsold(6).Jerome

makessurethatHowardknowsthathewouldnotlosehisvirginityduringarandomhookupor

onenightstandashedid.ItisbecauseofhisreligiousconvictionsthatJeromewasnttempted

torepeat[hisfathers]incident(7).JeromesChristianmoralsconflictwithHowardsmorals

andJeromedoesnothesitatetolethisfatherknowthathewouldnotnevercommitsucha

horriblesin.However,welaterlearnthatjustafewdaysafterJeromesentthisletter,heloseshis

virginitytoVictoriaKippsunderatreeinherbackyard.Jeromesoverlyrighteousdenunciation

ofHowardsactionisnegatedbyhisownsexualfling,notunlikeHowards,withagirlwhomhe

wouldneverhavearealrelationshipwith.Thoughtheseinstancesarenotmentionedtogetherin

thenovel,analyzingthemsidebysiderevealsthatJeromemaynotbethevirtuousandspiritual

Christianthatheholdshimselftobe.Theadamantcondemnationofanactionthathehimself

participatesindayslaterandhisinabilitytorecognizehissinashecontinuesberatinghisfamily

withreligiouscritiques,suggeststhatitisJeromesdisdainforhisfathersatheisticbeliefsthat

motivateshismoralisticjudgmentsmorethantrueChristianconviction.
ThetimethatJeromespendswiththeKippsfamilyhasanenormousimpactonhis

Christianfaithandhispoliticalviews.Religiousfaith,andpoliticalandsocialstancesareoften

consideredtobeintertwined,andJeromescaseisnodifferent.Ashespendsmoretime

immersedintotheKippsslifestyle,hebeginstoresenthisownfamilysbeliefs.Theyarefull
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ofliberalcrapandwishywashythoughts(4445).Achangeofattitudeoropinionisnot

uncommon,especiallywhenengagedwithpeopleofdifferingvaluesandbeliefs.Whatis

curious,however,isthatJeromeseemstonotonlyadopttheKippssbeliefs,butalsoadopts

MontysaversiontoHowardBelsey.Jeromefindspleasureinthesensationofthe[Kippss]

ridiculeofhisfamily(44).ItappearsthatJeromerationalizeshisdissatisfactionandfeelingsof

superioritytowardhisfamilybydistractinghimselfwithChristianrituals.Ashethinkshappily

abouttheshortcomingsofhisliberalfamily,he[bows]hisheadlowandpraysintheKippss

localchurch(45).Onceagain,Jeromesjudgmentalandsuperiorperspective,thoughthistime

reflectedinhisthoughtsandnotdirectinteractionwithhisfamily,iscloselyconnectedtohis

Christianity.Thisbegsthequestion,isJeromebehavingasatrueChristianshould,orishis

desiretobeunBelseycloudinghisjudgment(44).
Jeromeevenpusheshisreligionontothoseinhisfamilywhoaremoreopenmindedand

acceptingthanHowardandZora.AttheendofaconversationwithKiki,Jerometellsherinall

seriousness,Godblessyou,Mom(167).Standingalone,thisincidentcouldbeinterpretedas

aninnocentblessingofwellwishesfromaconcernedsontomother.GivenJeromeshistoryof

pressinghisfamily,however,thisisunlikely.KikihadopeneduptoJeromeaboutwhatwas

happeningbetweenherandHoward.HesawthisvulnerabilityasanopportunitytoswayKiki

towardChristianity.WeseethisinteractionthroughKikisperspectivesoweknowthatJeromes

comment[ruined]everythingthathadgonebefore(167).Jeromesattempttobringhisfamily

closertoreligiononlypushesthemfurtherawaybecausehedoesnotapproachthemoutoflove

andgenuineconcernforhisfamilysspiritualwellbeing,buttoshowthemthathebelievesthat

heisthebetterperson.JeromerepeatsthisattemptwithLeviwhentheyareoutinBoston

together.While,ofcourse,rantingagainstHoward,Jeromementionsthatheison[his]kneesto
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Godeverydayandthatswherejoyis(237).Levisfaceisimpassiveasherepliesto

Jeromewithcool(237).WhilethesetwoinstancesdonotshowJeromebeingblatantly

condescendingtowardhisfamilymembers,itishisapparentmanipulationofvulnerability,

circumstances,andbondingtimethatturnwhatcouldbeconsideredwordsofencouragementor

evangelismintohaughty,standoffishinsinuations.
DespiteallofJeromesmistakes,wedoeventuallyseeaturningpointforhisattitudeand

hisfaith.Itissubtleandcouldeasilybeoverlookedbecausesolateinthenovel,manyother

themesandstorylinesbegintoovershadowthereligioustrackofthestory.Attheuniversity

party,nearingtheendofthenovel,Jerome,beingnotentirelyunserious,callsZoraoutfor

beingablasphemer(412).ZorahasjustreprimandedJeromeforgettingdrunkattheparty

whenhewassupposedtobethedesignateddriver.InresponsetoJeromesblasphemerclaim,

ZorafinallytellsJeromewhathehasneededtohearfromthefirstpageofthenovel:Illstart

treatingyoulikeaChristianwhenyoustartactinglikeone(412).Thisepiphanygoesunnoticed

formostbecauseitisnotfollowedbyaguiltriddeninnermonologuefromJeromeinwhichhe

vowstochangehiswaysandbemoretolerantandacceptingofhisfamily.Itisnotuntilthelast

fewpagesofthenovelthatweseeevidencethatsomethingwithJeromehasshifted.Athome

withthefamily,HowardasksJeromeaboutwhereheisabouttogo.Jerome,uncharacteristically,

hasaonewordanswer:church(434).WherehewouldpreviouslyrespondwithaBibleverse,

spiritualquote,orapushy,judgmentalcomment,Jeromesimplyanswersthequestion.Hedoes

notpushthefactthatheisaChristianandheadedtochurchonhisfamily,andhedoesnottryto

makethemfeelguiltyfornotbelievingthesameashim.ItwasZorasbrief,convictingcomment

thatsparkedinJerometherealizationthathewasapproachinghisfaithandhisfamilyallwrong

andfromthatpointon,weseeJeromebecomingtolerantandsensitivetohisfamilysopposing
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attitudes.ThissametransformationoccursinHowardBelseyashebecomesmoreacceptingof

JeromesChristianity.
AsthemaincharacterofOnBeauty,itisnosurprisethatHowardholdsacentralrolein

thereligiousthemeofthenovel.Whatmightbesurprising,however,isthatweactuallysee

Howardbecomemorereceptiveandconnectedtothebeliefsandfeelingsofthosearoundhim,

somethingthatdoesnotseempossibleforhim.ThefirstglimpseoftheBelseyviewofreligion

comesmerelypagesintothenovel.AccordingtoJerome,hisprayertimeisalwaysinterrupted

bysomeoneinhisfamilycomingintotheroomand(a)passingwind(b)shouting(c)analyzing

thephoneymetaphysicsofprayer(d)singingloudly(e)laughing(4).Thismakesitobvious

thattheBelseyfamilyfindsreligionlaughableandfoolish.Theydonotevenhaveenough

respectforJeromesbeliefstonotinterrupthim;thishatredofreligionstemsprimarilyfrom

Howardandhiscynical,overrationalviewoftheworld.Howardregardsreligiousbeliefsasthe

flightfromtherationalandakindofcondition,likeoralherpes(38).Withthisstorybeing

narratedlargelyinauniversitysetting,theuseofrationalhereisinteresting.Intellectuals

usuallymakeupalargepercentageofthepeopleatuniversities,andintellectualsareoften

categorizedaslogicalandrational.Howardscommenthereseemstosuggestthatitisnot

possibletobereligiousandintellectualsimultaneously.ThisisadirectinsultnotonlytoMonty,

butalsotoJerome,whoisalsoinintellectual.Howardalsoreferstoreligionasoralherpes

whichportraysreligionasadiseasethatneedstobeeradicated.Howardcannotacceptthefact

thatanyone,especiallynothisownson,canhaveanopinionthatisdifferentfromhisown.
HowardshateforChristianityisshownagainthroughtheMozartconcert.Herefersto

MozartastheChristiansublime(71).TheuseofsublimeherereferstoChristiansusing

music,toevokefeelingsofwonderandawetowardahigherpower.Thisrevealsthatperhaps
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HowardsdislikeofChristianityislinkedwiththeperceptionthatChristianstrytopushtheir

beliefsonanyonethatdoesnotagreewiththem.ThisclaimisalsosupportedbyHowardsvisit

withhisfathermuchlaterinthenovel.Thisvisitisimportantinseveralways,whichIwill

addresslater,butitisherethatHowardcallsChristiansbloodyproselytizersthat[push]their

craponyou.Onceagain,HowardshatetowardChristianityissparkedbytheideathat

everythingChristiansdoisawayofconvincingyoutoadopttheirbeliefs.Ironically,itisthat

kindofChristianitythatJeromeupholdsformuchofthenovel.Thiscomparisonveryclearly

showstheconflictbetweenHowardandJerome.
AninterestingaspectofHowardsdisdainforChristianityisthateverythingthathe

seemstodislikeaboutChristianity,heimplementsinhisownway.Althoughhedislikes

Christiansbecauseoftheirtendencytopushtheirbeliefsonnonbelievers,Howarddoesthe

samethingwithhisopinionsaboutRembrandt.Hespendsmuchofhislifetryingtoconvince

otherstobelievethatRembrandtisaphonyandaconformist.Likewise,Howarddismissesthe

ideathattheremaybeaGod,whileheisconsideredbysometobeagodhimself.Accordingto

Kiki,ChristianvonKlepperwasthepreacherandMeredithwasthecongregationof

Howardscampuscult(99).Thementionofpreacherandcongregationisanobvious

referencetoreligion.Ofcourse,witheverypreacherandcongregation,theremustbeagod.

Withinhisacademiccircle,albeitsmall,Howardisregardedastheexactthingthathedespises.

Evenmoreironically,Howardwouldlikelyembracebeingcalledanallknowing,powerful,

transcendentbeingwhilescoffingatthosethatbelieveinabiblicaldeity.
JustlikeJerome,HowardtoohasaturningpointinhisopinionofChristianityand

religiousbeliefs.However,unlikeJerome,Howardsturningpointisnotsubtleanditisapartof

oneofthemaineventsofthenovel.AtCarleneKippssfuneral,weseeHowardbroughtto
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embarrassingtearsasheisovercomewiththeemotionoftheservice(288).AsMozartissung

byachoirandCarlenescasketisbroughtdownthecenterisleofasmalllocalchurch,Howard

keptfaithwith[Carlenes]coffinasthemusclesinhisbellyconvulsedandtearspooledin

thedaintytriangularwellatthebaseofhisthroat(287).WehavepreviouslyseenHoward

unemotionalandcriticalofMozartsuggestingthatthereismoretothisbreakdownthanbeautiful

music.InthechurchthatdayHowardisfacedwiththerealitiesoflifeanddeath.Smithschoice

ofthewordfaithintheabovequoteissurprising.Throughoutthenovel,Howardneverhad

faithinanythingotherthanhimself,butnowheiskeepingfaithwiththecasket.Thissuggests

thatthereissomethingaboutCarleneslifethatHowardisholdingontoandtrustingin.Carlene

showsHowardtheimportanceofhavingmeaningfulrelationships,evenwiththosewhomhe

mightdisagreewith.CarlenedevelopedafriendshipwithKikiandstoodupforMontysfriend,

ReverendJamesDelafield,afterhecameoutashomosexual.Bothhadbeliefsorlifestyles

differingfromherown,butshebelievedthatlifemustcomefirstovertheBook(178).Justas

Carleneacceptedothersbeliefsandopinions,Howardrealizesthathemustmovetowardthis

toleranceaswell.ThroughCarlenesfuneral,Howardisremindedthatlifeisshort,andashe

envisionsthegravestonesofeveryoneheloves,heiscompletelyoverwhelmedandexitsthe

church.Inthismoment,HowardrealizesthatthereligiousdifferencesbetweenhimandJerome

arenotworthpermanentlydamagingtheirrelationship.
TheeffectofCarlenesfuneralonHowardisevidentwhenHowardheadstohisfathers

home.Whenhecouldhavefoundabar,restaurant,oraparktowaitin,Howardgoestoseea

manwhomhehasdislikedformuchofhislife.Howardsrealizationthatlifeisshortandthat

relationshipsareimportanthaspromptedhimtovisitandtrytorepairhisrelationshipwithhis

father.ThoughthisvisitshowsthatHowardistryingtobecometolerantandaccepting,italso
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showshowfarhestillhastogotobecomethosethings.HowardcriticizesCarol,callinghera

Christiannutter(295).AsHowardisaroundhisfatherandrememberstheracistremarksthat

heoncemadetowardhisfamily,hishateforhisfatherandhisdisdainforChristiansaresparked

again.ThepassionthatHowardfeelswhenheiswithhisfathercauseshishateful,intolerant

attitudestosurface,notjusttowardhisfather,butalsotowardChristians.WeseeHoward

struggletobeacceptingandsensitiveduringthisvisit,butIbelievethathowthevisitendsgives

furthermotivationforhimtolearntoacceptthebeliefsofothers,especiallythoseofJerome.

Howardleaveshisfathershouseonbadterms,andthinkstohimselfthattimeisnothowyou

spendyourlove(302).Ibelievethatasthisfathersonbondisfurtherdamaged,Howard

decidesthathewouldspend[his]loveforJerometryingtobecomesensitiveandtolerantof

hisChristianbeliefs.Comingfullcircle,wefinallyseethisgrowthinHowardintheverysame

conversationinwhichweseeitforJerome:asJeromesimplytellshisfatherthatheisgoingto

church,Howard[restrains]himselffromcomment(434).WhereHowardpreviouslywould

havemadeacynicalremarkaboutJeromesfictitiousandridiculousbeliefs,hedoesnot

comment.ThoughHowardisnotencouragingJerometoembracehisreligiousbeliefs,heis

sensitivetohissonsreligionandtolerantofthedifferenceofopinionbetweenthem.Howards

emotionalexperienceatCarlenesfuneralwhenherealizestheimportanceofrelationshipsand

hiseyeopeningfightwithhisfather,propelhimtoacceptandtolerateJeromesbeliefsinorder

torestoretheirrelationship.
InOnBeauty,HowardandJeromearebothcharacterizedasintellectuals.Smith

portraystheintellectualcharactersascold,overlyrational,anddisconnectedfromemotion.On

theotherhand,nonintellectualsaredescribedassensitive,tolerant,andemotionallyexpressive.

Theclassificationsofthesetwotypesofcharactersseemverydistinctandunwavering
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throughoutthenovel.However,byexaminingJeromeandHowardsreligiousprogressions,we

seethatitispossibletofindabalancebetweenintellectualismandemotion.AsJeromeand

Howardbecomemoretolerantandacceptingoftheiropposingbeliefs,theymoveintothis

middlegroundwheretheycanbeintellectualandlogical,whileconnectingemotionallywith

otherpeopleandbeingsensitivetodifferingopinions.Recognizingthistransformationis

importantforunderstandingwhatSmithisadvocatingforwithinthenovel.Whileshesortseach

characterintoeithertheintellectualorthenonintellectualcategory,thebalancethatHowardand

Jeromedevelopshowsthatthebestplaceforapersontobeisinthemiddle,whereheorshecan

uselogicandintellectcoupledwithemotionalexpressionandsensitivitytomakeareal

differenceinsociety.Someonewhoiscoldandemotionallydisconnectedwillstruggletobuild

relationshipsandmaketheconnectionsnecessarytoimplementwidespreadchange.Likewise,

someonewhoisdrivenmerelybysensitivityandemotionwillstruggletoenactsuccessful

reformduetohisorherinabilitytoacademicallystudysocialinjusticeandpromotesocial

change.Itisthroughthebalanced,middlegroundthatitbecomespossibletoconnectbothwith

peopleandwithacademiatochangetheworld.

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