Beauty, sexuality and identity in On Beauty by Zadie Smith

Abstract

Starting from the initial idea that beauty trends change continuously, this study will attempt to explore the relationships between identity, age, race, beauty and sexuality. Since colonial times until the present day, beauty standards have changed immensely but obviously not enough since accepting that different is not ugly is still an issue. As an insight into the contemporary thought, the book On Beauty by English novelist Zadie Smith written in 2005 just before the decade marked with innovative forms of self-expression, has been analysed in terms of characters, themes, interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships in the context of postcolonial beauty trends and consequent identity struggles in Anglo-American geocultural context. On that note, an emphasis was put on the analysis of female characters striving to find their true identity regardless of their age, size, race and partners, whereas the male characters were analysed in correlation to their female counterparts. The analysis and comparison of female and male characters show that in the aspect of searching and striving for beauty, there is no significant difference between sexes. They all desire beauty and suffer because of it. The conclusion of this thesis suggests that despite contemporary times enjoying the progressive diversity and freedom of expression, there is a continuous struggle in the search of one’s identity.