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Although some change occurs in “Howard’s End”, I believe that Forster believe that change can never truly occur.  It is apparent that Forster wants people to have the ability to change, but in actuality, feels that no one can really change.  While Margaret was able to marry into a traditionally wealthy British family the Wilcox’s, she never truly changes.  Also, Leonard strives to change himself through knowledge.  He is able to befriend the Schlegel’s, he is never able to shed his original label.  Ultimately, I think Forster believes people can change, but that change is limited by the original label that one inherently has in society.

I feel that Smith agrees.  She, however, makes her statements about race instead of class.  By discussing Howard and other characters, she depicts levels of blackness.  Some characters act more or less black and are either ridiculed or accepted by different groups (white or black) for acting a certain way.   When a black character acts whiter to fit into society, they are more accepted, but at the same time, ridiculed by other blacks for assimilating.  Ultimately, Smith feels that while a black person can acculturate into a predominantly white society, he or she will always be black, and can never escape that.  Therefore, she, like Forster, is saying that people can change, but that that change is limited by basic original labels that can never be shed. 

One major topic that I think Forster and Smith disagree upon is academia.  While Forrester believes that academic status is the most important aspect of society, Smith greatly looks down upon academia and those who adhere to its rules.   This reminds me of Foucault, who I read in a previous sociology class.  Foucault argues that academia sets up social norms, and creates class lines, by one’s ability to have access to it.  A contemporary example would be the primary education system, where wealthier children have greater academic access than non-wealthy children.  The excess knowledge that wealthier children attain is used against the less wealthy who cannot attain it in a way that creates class lines.