Smith, Zadie: *1975

On Beauty, 2005 - Thematic Parallels: Cultural Values

Cultural Values are the shared beliefs, principles, and standards that a group of people consider important and desirable.
Smith, Zadie: On Beauty, 2005
The novel revolves around the complexities of family, identity, and cultural values in a modern, multicultural world.
The following books are thematically simliar. They lend themselves well to being read in groups, compared with one another, or used to teach a similar topic over an extended period with a class:
- Danticat, Edwidge: Breath, Eyes, Memory, 1994, ~230pp
  This novel explores identity and cultural heritage, which relates to cultural values.
  - Both novels explore identity, family, and cultural belonging through deeply personal and intergenerational stories. They portray how family bonds shape identity and how children inherit both love and trauma from their parents. Yet both authors critique patriarchal control and celebrate women’s agency, using the body as a symbol of freedom and oppression.
- Lahiri, Jhumpa: The Namesake, 2003, ~290pp
  This novel focuses on cultural identity and immigrant family life.
  - Both Lahiri and Smith portray characters caught between worlds — immigrant parents and Westernized children — exploring the tensions between inherited and chosen identities. They interrogate what it means to be “modern” and “multicultural” in Western societies that still harbor subtle hierarchies of race, class, and culture.
- Paton, Alan: Cry, the Beloved Country, 1948, ~250pp
  This novel addresses social justice, race, and cultural values in South Africa.
  - Both novels portray societies that claim moral or intellectual progress but are corroded by inequality and alienation. Each asks what moral responsibility individuals bear toward a broken society. They use family as a microcosm for national or ideological conflict — the generational gap mirrors cultural shifts and moral confusion.
- Walker, Alice: The Color Purple, 1982, ~300pp
  This novel deals with issues of race, gender, and social identity, exploring the cultural values and struggles of African American women.
  - Both novels portray women’s journeys toward autonomy and self-respect, often in defiance of patriarchal or institutional oppression. They suggest that love, empathy, and communication (rather than biological ties or social structures) are what truly define family.
List of general discussion questions on Cultural Values (pdf)
List of essay prompts on Cultural Values (pdf)