On Beauty is also largely about the differences between men and women, and how the concept of beauty manifests itself so differently in the lives of men and women for example, all the examples just presented were instances of how cruel “beauty” can be to women. Zora is overwhelmed with an urge to change her heavyset body, and Victoria, who is strikingly beautiful, struggles to realize how to harness and use her beauty, especially against or with her mind. Lastly, the two main young women, Zora and Victoria, are both preoccupied with their bodies, for different reasons. His studies are of Rembrandt, primarily a portrait painter, someone who depicts the beauty (or lack thereof) of people. Howard’s infidelity is largely due to the fact that Kiki has become overweight over time, and “less beautiful.” Furthermore, Howard’s studies are in the history of the visual arts, where aesthetics and beauty is of the utmost concern. The central conflict of the story at first seems to be the opposition between Howard and Monty, but it is in reality Kiki and Howard’s marriage, and Howard’s infidelity. The concept of beauty, or the title, is never explicitly mentioned in the book, but as a whole the idea of beauty and its physical and non-physical natures frames the story. It is also the title of a poem by Smith’s husband Nick Laird, which is presented in the story as a poem written by Claire Malcolm. “On Beauty” is a reference to a series of essays on aesthetics compiled as “On Beauty and Being Just” by Elaine Scarry.
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