White Teeth And Religion

Religion, in one of many definitions, is an interest or faith that a person appoints high importance to and practices certain routines based on those interests and faiths. This is a very broad definition and in White Teeth the definition is split into two different forms. Religion has a very strong appearance in the story, especially within the characters themselves. The book has managed to portray religion not only in a divine sense, but also in the sense of general practice. These two forms of religion come together to bring to light a common struggle among the characters in the story, as well as people in the real world.
Religion does not present itself clearly in the beginning of the story; however, examples of practice are in fact present.
Clara Bowden, Archie’s new wife, has a very rooted religious background. Her mother is a devote follower of Jehovah’s Witness and this clashes with Clara’s relationship with a boy, Ryan Topps, who does not hold religion as close to him as the Bowden family does, “At five o'clock each day, as Clara sat in her house attending to the message of the Gospels or composing a leaflet condemning the heathen practice of blood transfusion, Ryan Topps would scoot by her open window on his way home. The Bowden living room sat just below street level, and had bars on its windows, so all views were partial… nothing affected her more deeply than gazing after the disappearing tailpipe of Ryan’s scooter.” (White Teeth, Pg. 24). This example actually shows more of a rebellion against religion; however, the rebellion itself is a struggle. Generally, from personal experiences, when born into a certain religion, one gets stuck; it can be difficult to publicly and mentally separate oneself from a belief that is so deeply regarded within a person’s
She does not directly struggle with religion, but there is still tension between her natural, physical appearance and her desired appearance; one based on the expectations of society, “There was a lamppost, equidistant from the Jones house and Glenard Oak Comprehensive, that had begun to appear in Irie’s dream. Not the lamppost exactly, but a small handmade ad that was taped round its girth at eye level. It said: LOSE WEIGHT TO EARN MONEY 081 555 6752. Now, Irie Jones, aged fifteen, was big. The European proportions of Clara’s figure had skipped a generation, and she was landed instead with Hortense’s substantial Jamaican frame, loaded with pineapples, mangoes, and guavas; the girl had weight; big tits, big butt, big hips, big thighs, big teeth… She knew she was the target audience(if there ever was one), she knew full well, as she trudged schoolward, mouth full of doughnut, hugging her spare tires, that the ad was speaking to her. It was speaking to her.” (White Teeth, Pg. 221). Irie’s struggle with her physical appearance is a good example of the overall struggle of young characters with their cultural and physical background; including their desire to fit into the environment that they were born