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I had been thinking in my head about relating autism to the characters in Howards End for some time now, and coincidentally Professor Grobstein mentioned it in Thursday's discussion section.

First of all, Margaret tells Helen that everybody must embrace each other's differences in order to live happily (to successfully connect). It seems that the characters in Howards End who are unable or unwilling to meaningfully connect with others are doomed... which stresses the importance of the words "only connect". They cannot embrace life in its entirety. There are minor examples (such as Charles' refusal to befriend the Schlegal sisters/ is convicted of manslaughter) of this notion, but I think the paramount example is Mr. Leonard Bast (the man can't catch a break to save his life -- literally).

It sounds to me like Leonard Bast is autistic in the way that he goes about his life. He just is not able to accept or connect with his reality. He is a hopeless "has-been" yet seeks comfortable relationships with no one. It would seem like anyone would want to form relationships given his circumstances, but Leonard is retrained from doing so. He doesn't realize that there are people that reach out to him (such as Margaret & Helen).

Similarly, my 3-year old cousin was diagnosed with autism. He now has a feeding tube in stomach because he refuses to eat (he will only 3 things). He cannot verbally connect with his parents or anyone else -- he grunts & cries. He does not even point to what he wants because his brain can't process that gesticulating connection.