Throughout the novel, we are often led to question the gender roles that the men of House Howard are forced into. Since the novel is highly feminist, due to the ideas, words and actions of both Schlegel sisters, it is simply inevitable that the concept of masculinity is also present in the novel, as its existence only complements the feminist themes. However, the pervasiveness of masculinity is multifaceted. We are made aware of Henry's powerful masculinity, but also of Leonard's more gentle acceptance of manhood not as something taken for granted but as a privilege, a thing to be desired. Along with Tibby's queerness, the range of masculinities depicted in the novel breaks the mold of stereotypes. In this time period, being a man means acting in such a way as to imitate a Wilcox man. This essentially involves ruling England (though perhaps to a lesser extent than the Wilcoxes) while maintaining one's kindness. “If Wilcoxes had not worked and died in England. . . There would be no trains or ships. . . not even the fields. Only ferocity” (149). It takes masculinity to essentially run the country, and the Wilcox men have it. They are the ones who built society and as such are the ideal men to follow as an example. A man is allowed to participate in society at large much more than a woman, in fact he can often do as he wishes (within basic means) and end up in less trouble than a woman. This is clearly demonstrated when Henry Wilcox is seen as a little less important when his affair with Jacky is discovered, compared to the social avoidance the Schlegels expect once they discover that Helen is having a child. Being a man ideally does not mean succumbing. to temptation, even though Henry, Charles, Leonard and Pau... in the center of the sheet... gets hay fever, "he gets very angry when [Helen] asks him for information" (3). The Wilcoxes are so stagnant in their roles of manhood that they are reluctant to even admit that they might be weak enough to contract a disease. In their eyes, weakness is a characteristic of the female, and certainly not of the male. Masculinity is not simply limited to one model in Howards End, that of the Wilcox men, but is in fact malleable. While it isn't always advantageous (especially in Leonard's case) to not fit the stereotype, the fact remains that one can still be a man, per se, without having to live up to the stereotype. Indeed, the eccentricity of Forster's characters makes the male stereotype seem ridiculous and out of place. The true heroes of the novel are those who do not conform (or are unable to conform) and therefore break out of their suffocating gender roles..