White Teeth
How have diverse ethnic groups contributed to the culture of Pakistan? Give two examples.
Answer Me Or I Will Steal Your...... I Will Steal YOUR CAKE!
Answer Me Or I Will Steal Your...... I Will Steal YOUR CAKE!
Smith's multicultural cast of characters is a cross-section of modern London. In the simplest sense, we have: English, Jamaicans, and Bengalis. However, Smith is too realistic in her examinations of human nature to leave the issue of race and ethnicity so clear-cut. Her characters are caught between different cultures. When Clara is a teenager she, like Millat, is trapped between honoring her parents' heritage and exploring the Western pop culture around her. When she strays from her heritage the first time, her teeth are knocked out. When she strays a second time by marrying Archie, Hortense disowns her. Millat faces similar rejection when he strays from Samad's plan for him to have traditional, Bengali views. Samad labels him a "good-for-nothing" while doting on Magid. As though in revenge, Millat becomes a militant fundamentalist. Magid is also caught between cultures, but strays in the opposite direction. He finds inspiration in the secular, embracing genetic engineering as the new form of God. At the end of the novel, Samad finds himself caught between two sons who, in their opposite ways, betray his concept of Bengali identity.