NW

by

Zadie Smith

Michel is Leah’s husband. He is a Black man from France who immigrated to Britain. Like Natalie, Michel is also eager to improve his social standing, but he doesn’t understand upper-class society as well, which sometimes embarrasses Leah. Perhaps as a result of his aspirations to improve, Michel also sometimes looks down on people he sees as beneath him, like Shar, whom Michel believes doesn’t deserve charity. One of the biggest challenges in Michel and Leah’s marriage is that he really wants a child, but she is secretly doing everything she can to not get pregnant. Together, Michel and Leah represent how modern relationships can be challenging and how dishonesty or lack of trust can make them even more difficult.

Michel Quotes in NW

The NW quotes below are all either spoken by Michel or refer to Michel. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Class Identity and Social Mobility Theme Icon
).
Visitation: Chapter 2 Quotes

— Come by tomorrow. Pay you back. Swear to God, yeah? Thanks, seriously. You saved me today.

Related Characters: Shar (speaker), Leah Hanwell, Keisha “Natalie” Blake, Michel
Related Symbols: Headscarf
Page Number: 17
Explanation and Analysis:
Visitation: Chapter 5 Quotes

Leah believes in objectivity in the bedroom:

Here lie a man and a woman. The man is more beautiful than the woman. And for this reason there have been times when the woman has feared that she loves the man more than he loves her.

Related Characters: Leah Hanwell, Keisha “Natalie” Blake, Michel, Shar
Page Number: 25
Explanation and Analysis:
Visitation: Chapter 15 Quotes

She has taken some literature from work, from the literature cupboard. Professional organizations offering professional help. This is “as much as you can do.” Now it is time for the addict “to make their own decisions.” Because “nobody can force anyone else to get the help they need.”

Related Characters: Leah Hanwell, Michel, Shar
Page Number: 62
Explanation and Analysis:
Visitation: Chapter 16 Quotes

— Why do you treat me like an idiot all the time?

Related Characters: Michel (speaker), Leah Hanwell, Keisha “Natalie” Blake, Francesco “Frank” De Angelis
Page Number: 62
Explanation and Analysis:
Visitation: Chapter 20 Quotes

The boy is a boy and Michel is a man but they look the same age.

Related Characters: Leah Hanwell, Michel, Nathan, Shar
Page Number: 91
Explanation and Analysis:
Visitation: Chapter 23 Quotes

— He was murdered! Why does it matter where he grew up?

Related Characters: Leah Hanwell (speaker), Michel, Felix
Related Symbols: Albert Road
Page Number: 104
Explanation and Analysis:
Visitation: Chapter 37 (3) Quotes

Sounds reasonable but she can’t take it reasonably. She is enraged by the possibility that he does not believe her. This is the girl! Don’t you believe me? That’s an insane coincidence! Her photos are in my envelope!

Related Characters: Leah Hanwell, Michel, Shar
Page Number: 108
Explanation and Analysis:
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Michel Quotes in NW

The NW quotes below are all either spoken by Michel or refer to Michel. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Class Identity and Social Mobility Theme Icon
).
Visitation: Chapter 2 Quotes

— Come by tomorrow. Pay you back. Swear to God, yeah? Thanks, seriously. You saved me today.

Related Characters: Shar (speaker), Leah Hanwell, Keisha “Natalie” Blake, Michel
Related Symbols: Headscarf
Page Number: 17
Explanation and Analysis:
Visitation: Chapter 5 Quotes

Leah believes in objectivity in the bedroom:

Here lie a man and a woman. The man is more beautiful than the woman. And for this reason there have been times when the woman has feared that she loves the man more than he loves her.

Related Characters: Leah Hanwell, Keisha “Natalie” Blake, Michel, Shar
Page Number: 25
Explanation and Analysis:
Visitation: Chapter 15 Quotes

She has taken some literature from work, from the literature cupboard. Professional organizations offering professional help. This is “as much as you can do.” Now it is time for the addict “to make their own decisions.” Because “nobody can force anyone else to get the help they need.”

Related Characters: Leah Hanwell, Michel, Shar
Page Number: 62
Explanation and Analysis:
Visitation: Chapter 16 Quotes

— Why do you treat me like an idiot all the time?

Related Characters: Michel (speaker), Leah Hanwell, Keisha “Natalie” Blake, Francesco “Frank” De Angelis
Page Number: 62
Explanation and Analysis:
Visitation: Chapter 20 Quotes

The boy is a boy and Michel is a man but they look the same age.

Related Characters: Leah Hanwell, Michel, Nathan, Shar
Page Number: 91
Explanation and Analysis:
Visitation: Chapter 23 Quotes

— He was murdered! Why does it matter where he grew up?

Related Characters: Leah Hanwell (speaker), Michel, Felix
Related Symbols: Albert Road
Page Number: 104
Explanation and Analysis:
Visitation: Chapter 37 (3) Quotes

Sounds reasonable but she can’t take it reasonably. She is enraged by the possibility that he does not believe her. This is the girl! Don’t you believe me? That’s an insane coincidence! Her photos are in my envelope!

Related Characters: Leah Hanwell, Michel, Shar
Page Number: 108
Explanation and Analysis: