Archie's marriage felt like buying a pair of shoes, taking them home, and finding they don't fit

Archie's marriage felt like buying a pair of shoes, taking them home, and finding they don't fit

Zadie Smith, a renowned British author known for her insightful and thought-provoking novels, often explores the complexities of human relationships in her work. In her novel "On Beauty," Smith delves into the intricacies of marriage and the challenges that come with it. The quote "Archie's marriage felt like buying a pair of shoes, taking them home, and finding they don't fit" perfectly encapsulates the disillusionment and disappointment that can arise in a relationship that initially seemed promising.

Archie, one of the main characters in "On Beauty," is a middle-aged professor who finds himself in a marriage that has lost its spark. The comparison of his marriage to a pair of ill-fitting shoes highlights the discomfort and unease he feels in his relationship. Just as a pair of shoes that don't fit properly can cause pain and discomfort, Archie's marriage has become a source of unhappiness and dissatisfaction.

The metaphor of the ill-fitting shoes also speaks to the idea of expectations versus reality in relationships. When Archie first got married, he may have had certain expectations about what his marriage would be like. However, as time passed and the realities of married life set in, he realized that his expectations did not align with the actual experience of being married. Just as a pair of shoes may look perfect in the store but feel uncomfortable once worn, Archie's marriage may have seemed ideal at first but ultimately proved to be incompatible with his needs and desires.

Furthermore, the comparison to buying a pair of shoes suggests a sense of consumerism and disposability in modern relationships. In a society where instant gratification and constant consumption are the norm, people may approach marriage as they would any other purchase – with the expectation that it should bring immediate satisfaction and fulfillment. However, just as a pair of shoes can be returned if they don't fit, some may view marriage as something that can be easily discarded if it fails to meet their expectations.

Overall, Zadie Smith's use of the metaphor "Archie's marriage felt like buying a pair of shoes, taking them home, and finding they don't fit" effectively conveys the complexities and challenges of modern relationships. It serves as a poignant reminder that marriage, like a pair of shoes, requires careful consideration, patience, and a willingness to adapt and compromise in order to find a perfect fit.