Multiculturalism, Identity and Quest for Belonging in Zadie Smith’s White Teeth and On Beauty

Peer-Reviewed
The Criterion

The Criterion: An International Journal in English ISSN: 0976-8165

Open Access

British Literature

Multiculturalism, Identity and Quest for Belonging in Zadie Smith’s White Teeth and On Beauty

Dr. Sujitha. S, Prathipa. N
Volume / Issue
Vol. 17, Issue 1 · February 2026

Pages
692-707

Article ID
2026V17N1050

Abstract

Zadie Smith’s White Teeth (2000), is a blend of historical fiction and cultural commentary that explores postcolonial concepts such as ambiguity, diaspora, displacement, migration, fragmented identity etc. in post-war Britain. White Teeth is pivotal in understanding the experiences of the immigrants and their quest for a sense of belonging. Zadie Smith’s On Beauty (2005) is set in Wellington where the migrant community, Haitians reside. Both these novels provide a powerful lens to examine cultural identity and multiculturalism in the immigrant society. Smith’s writing is a commentary on the life of the immigrant characters and their philosophical strategies that they employ to navigate their identities. She examines how the intellectual culture that is rampant in the universities plays a crucial role in shaping the identity of Black women. Zadie Smith is often seen as a beacon of multicultural hope and optimism. She portrays characters who wade through conflicting social and cultural contexts that particularly affect the women of colour who are confronted with conflicting opportunities and challenges in a multicultural society.

Keywords

Multiculturalismdiasporafragmented identitycollective unconsciousambiguitytokenization

Article History

Received
19-01-2026
Accepted
11 February 2026
Published Online
3 February 2026

How to Cite

Dr. Sujitha. S, Prathipa. N. “Multiculturalism, Identity and Quest for Belonging in Zadie Smith’s White Teeth and On Beauty.” The Criterion: An International Journal in English, vol. 17, no. 1, Feb. 2026, pp. 692-707. ISSN: 0976-8165. DOI: https://doi.org/10.66376/criterion.v17.n1.47

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