Liberal and Conservative Academic Values: Issues of Cultural Differences and Hybridity in Zadie Smith’s on Beauty

Abstract

This research explores the relationship between two racially different characters Belsey and Kiki in Zadie Smith's On Beauty. Belsey is a white person from Britain who marries African-American Kiki. The clash between liberal and conservative academic values and leads the cultural ambivalence due to the mixed race. The marital relationship between the two different races results in disharmony and hence became the victim of separate culture multi adjustment and troubles with children from mixed race. Kiki and Carlene remain best friends despite the failed relationship of their family. This research is qualitative in nature. In the line of Homi K. Bhabha, this research argues that Zadie Smith presents the culturally ambivalent character. Characters show the complex genealogy of each family and foretell the impact of cultural and familiar history will have on their London-born children. There is a conflict between white and black. In the novel, the story covers the difficulties of cultural differences and their children as they are comforted by the different societies. Kiki is in an ambivalent and in-between state. She is in hybridity: she always tries to fit herself in the white surrounding that further leads her to frustration, ambivalence, alienation, and dislocation. It brings the loss of identity. This research finds that the characters are in search of their identities. They rebel against each other to prove their identity.