Identity, multiculturalism and intergenerational conflict: On rereading Zadie Smith's white teeth

Abstract

In her debut novel, "White Teeth," Zadie Smith negotiates complex questions of identity, multiculturalism, and intergenerational conflict in contemporary London. At the core of this novel lies the attempt to work through convolutions of cultural hybridity and belonging in the diverse urban landscape by knitting together the lives of two families: one Jamaican-English and another Bengali-English. This critical review evaluates the way Smith represents such tensions and negotiations between different cultural identities, generational perspectives, and socio-political realities. It engages with the inner struggles of characters who try to find themselves among heritage, traditions, and aspirations to approach the broader contexts of multiculturalism and the changing dynamics of identity across the globalized world. This very text by Smith opens up a critical space in which to reflect on complex issues about cultural assimilation, the impact of history on contemporary identity building, and the dynamic interaction between different communities in modern society.