Perhaps what makes Howards End a truly great novel is the lack of any tangible resolution of the ideas raised and Forster's reluctance to give the reader any definite answers. Instead Forster presents to us characters, situations and symbols that may cause the reader to draw conclusions that will be repeatedly challenged and supported as the novel progresses. It is the ambiguities that Bradbury identifies that make the characters of the novel more authentic: as in real life, such things as 'the will to vision', 'the liberal wish for right reason' and 'the claim of the holiness of the heart's affections' are not concepts that the reader can decide simply to champion or reject. They are complex ideas that manifest themselves in many different ways in various people and with diverse results. We might consider the lack of straightforward answers about each of these three concepts an attempt to provide us with an explanation of the realities of modern society in itself.

Throughout the novel, however, Forster does make it clear that Margaret loves Henry and though "Henry did not encourage Romance...she was no girl to fidget for it". This is due in part to a level of kindness in Henry's character, at least in his behaviour towards those closer to him. This manifests itself in small gestures. For example, though scornful of the unusual ideas and trends that the sisters indulge in early on in the novel, Henry dines at a quaint restaurant "with humility", rather than offend Margaret. The fact that he sends her a vinaigrette, following Ruth's death, though only a small gesture, was also an unusually thoughtful act for a man so consumed by business. Nevertheless, Henry is nothing like the romantic image that Helen seeks and Margaret, apparently, once did.

Bast's role in the novel would seem to be to show us the glaring imperfections in both of the 'extremes' of thinking. He also helps show us the great, seemingly irreconcilable differences between these families, which makes a union between the two seem highly unlikely to be successful. Yet this is just what occurs in Howards End and, as well as challenging the reader to accept or reject the ideological compromises Margaret makes, it puts the validity of 'the holiness of the heart's affections' in question.

Forster seems to suggest that the Wilcox family's attitude in these matters is fundamentally flawed: a way of thinking that is a ghastly product of the modern age of industrialism and enterprise. Forster also suggests that Leonard Bast is a victim of this Wilcox-created society based on economic forces. Critically, though, the reader is also given the impression that the Schlegel mentality is also a negative force in the fate of Bast. His experiences therefore add to the ambiguous treatment of the 'will to vision' and the 'liberal wish for right reason' because Forster puts forward both benefits and disadvantages that these concepts have created for Leonard. He is not a member of "the very poor", whom Forster considers "unthinkable" of by people who have not experienced poverty themselves. Instead, the author presents him as one of "those who are obliged to pretend that they are gentlefolk". This description of Bast raises the significant question of to what extent society, be it the 'Wilcox' or 'Schlegel' aspect, is responsible for Bast's behaviour and destiny. That "his mind and body...because he was modern...were always craving better food" suggests that the external force of society is the creator of the aspirations that will destroy this man (this is one place where Forster overtly postulates a decline in admirable social values, caused by the decay of the old patriarchal order that would have, supposedly, protected Leonard from such forces).

Forster suggests that Margaret's greatest asset is her essentially sensible, down-to-earth nature (as was Mrs. Wilcox's) and her maturity compared with her sister. Since Helen is, until the end of the novel, far more committed than Margaret to Schlegel idealism, Forster seems to suggest that Margaret is more admirable because her beliefs are tempered versions of her sister's. Helen's passion for various ideas seems fickle. Though she has "fallen in love" with the Wilcoxes at the beginning of the novel she soon comes to hate them. She also calls Jacky "Mrs. Lanoline" in cruel jest, out of keeping with her ideas of greater concern for the poor.

We can also hold the Schlegels accountable, though less directly, for representing a cultured lifestyle that Bast aspires to with only damaging results. It is his wish to better himself intellectually and, he feels, spiritually that leads him down the path to his doom through his involvement with the Schlegels (particularly Helen, of course). Forster ironically points out the absurdity of his attempts to improve his mind through the reading of the likes of Ruskin. The contrast between Bast's physical presence in a dingy flat, with a lover who has no real

Some common words found in the essay are:
Leonard Bast, Schlegels Bast, Helen Margaret, London Oniton, Basts Oniton, Ruth Wilcox, Helen Wilcoxes, Margaret Treachery, Margaret Henry's, Instead Forster, wish reason', 'will vision', 'liberal wish reason', holiness heart's, forster suggests, ruth wilcox, liberal wish, vision' 'liberal, throughout novel, beginning novel, 'liberal wish, vision' 'liberal wish, 'the liberal wish, 'will vision' 'liberal, vision' 'the liberal,
Approximate Word count = 4605
Approximate Pages = 18 (250 words per page double spaced)