The Schlegel sisters, Margaret and Helen, befriend the Wilcox family, and Margaret develops a close bond with the matriarch, Mrs. Wilcox. Upon her death, Mrs. Wilcox leaves a note requesting that her family's country home, Howards End, be given to Margaret. However, her husband Henry and children disregard her wishes.
Meanwhile, Leonard Bast, a struggling clerk, crosses paths with the Schlegels and seeks their guidance, representing the plight of the lower classes. His life becomes intertwined with the other families, leading to tragic consequences.
Margaret eventually marries Henry Wilcox, but their union is strained by class differences and the unresolved matter of Howards End. The novel culminates in a climactic event involving Leonard, which forces Margaret to confront the harsh realities of societal divisions.