Article on Zadie Smith's White Teeth

"In White Teeth, Smith demonstrates that the aesthetic experience is not limited to the experience of canonical art but can rather be extended to include the everyday performances of identity. Through this novel, Smith suggests that the accidental elements of presentation space (or context) often disturb the relationship between the form and content of performance, so that it is necessary to be aware of presentation at all times in order to avoid misreading of identity" (Cook 3).

Analysis:

This is a quote taken from an article written about some of Zadie Smith's work, including "White Teeth". The first few lines of this quote suggest that the beauty that surrounds us is not limited to the physical aspects but incorporates our experiences as well. Our experiences cannot be limited to appearances, instead they must come from who we are as a person; the person we identify ourself as. The author uses the phrase, "performances of identity". I related this phrase to the idea that we can create our own identity. Whether we use our culture, our parents, or our own experiences, we can create an identity for ourselves. This ties into the theme of memory because our experiences and memories are the foundation of who we are. They can even shape the path we choose to take in life.

In "White Teeth", the theme of identity works closely with memory, we see this especially in the character of Samad. Even though Bangladesh is part of Samad's past, it is what defines him. Samad is living in England and raising a family in England, yet he tries to avoid the changes that England brings. Samad choose to identify himself with his past. Samad's "performances of identity" occur for him daily as he struggles to uphold his traditions and his religion. Samad even tries to change the identity of his son, Magid, but Magid cannot be influenced by experiences that are not his own. Unlike Samad, Gogol's father uses his memories to create a new identity for him and his family. Ashoke wants new experiences and that is why he moves to New York with his wife. He wants to raise his children in a place filled with new opportunities. While "The Namesake" does reveal some problems that come from creating a new identity (Ashoke's children have a weak tie with their indian culture), it also shows that identity is something that cannot be forced, we must find it for ourselves.