Thematic Connections

Class and Social Issues:
Howards End: Forster’s novel explores the class tensions and social changes in early 20th century England, particularly through the contrasting lives of the wealthy Wilcox family and the intellectual, middle-class Schlegel family.
On Beauty: Smith addresses similar themes of class and social change but transposes them to contemporary America, focusing on the differences between academic and professional worlds, as well as the intersections of race and class.

Family Dynamics:
Howards End: Central to the story are the relationships within and between the Wilcox, Schlegel, and Bast families, emphasizing how personal and familial connections reflect broader social structures.
On Beauty: The Belsey family dynamics, including marital struggles and the generational conflicts, are at the heart of the novel, mirroring the familial focus in Forster’s work but within a modern context.

Cultural Critique:
Howards End: Forster critiques the materialism and lack of cultural appreciation among the upper classes, embodied by the Wilcox family’s pragmatism and the Schlegels' idealism.
On Beauty: Smith critiques both liberal and conservative intellectuals, examining how cultural and academic pretensions can mask deeper social inequalities and personal failings.

Plot and Character Parallels

Inheritance and Homes:
Howards End: The titular house, Howards End, becomes a symbol of heritage and continuity, with its eventual inheritance signifying a reconciliation of class and personal values.
On Beauty: The Belseys’ house in Wellington, Massachusetts, plays a similar role as a locus of family identity and conflict, though the focus is more on personal reconciliation rather than inheritance. Character Analogues:
Margaret Schlegel (Howards End) and Kiki Belsey (On Beauty): Both serve as central figures around whom much of the family dynamics revolve. Margaret's idealism and Kiki's grounding presence anchor their respective stories.
Henry Wilcox (Howards End) and Howard Belsey (On Beauty): Both represent the pragmatic, sometimes hypocritical, male figures whose personal flaws and professional lives create significant tension.
Leonard Bast (Howards End) and Carl Thomas (On Beauty): Both characters are from lower socio-economic backgrounds and their interactions with the main families highlight issues of class and opportunity.

Differences

Cultural Context:
Howards End: Firmly rooted in Edwardian England, addressing issues pertinent to that era's social structure and cultural milieu.
On Beauty: Set in contemporary America, addressing modern issues such as racial identity, contemporary academic culture, and modern socio-political divides.
Narrative Style:
Howards End: Employs a more traditional, omniscient narrative style characteristic of early 20th-century novels.
On Beauty: Uses a more modern, sometimes fragmented narrative style, with a closer focus on the internal lives of characters.

Conclusion
Zadie Smith’s "On Beauty" serves as both a tribute to and a reinterpretation of E. M. Forster’s "Howards End". While maintaining the core themes of class, family, and social critique, Smith updates the context and issues to resonate with a contemporary audience, particularly highlighting the intersections of race and modern academia. Through their shared and differing elements, both novels offer rich explorations of the complexities of human relationships and societal structures.