It's still easier to find the correct Hoover bag than to find one pure person, one pure faith, on the globe

It's still easier to find the correct Hoover bag than to find one pure person, one pure faith, on the globe

In her novel "White Teeth," Zadie Smith explores the complexities of identity, faith, and morality in a multicultural society. The quote "It's still easier to find the correct Hoover bag than to find one pure person, one pure faith, on the globe" encapsulates the central theme of the novel - the idea that purity, whether in individuals or beliefs, is elusive and perhaps even unattainable.

Smith's characters grapple with questions of identity and belonging, often finding themselves caught between conflicting cultural and religious traditions. The idea of a "pure person" or a "pure faith" is shown to be a myth, as each character is shaped by a multitude of influences and experiences. For example, Archie Jones, a white British man, struggles to reconcile his past with his present, while his wife Clara, a Jamaican woman, navigates the complexities of her mixed heritage.

Similarly, the concept of a "pure faith" is challenged in the novel, as characters explore the ways in which religion can be both a source of comfort and division. The Jones family's neighbor, Samad Iqbal, grapples with his Muslim faith and the pressures of assimilating into British society, while his son Millat rejects traditional beliefs in favor of a more radical ideology.

Through these characters and their stories, Smith suggests that purity is not only unattainable but also undesirable. The messiness of human experience, with all its contradictions and complexities, is what makes life rich and meaningful. Just as it is easier to find the correct Hoover bag than to find a pure person or faith, so too is it easier to accept the imperfections and contradictions of ourselves and others.