Abstract: Howards End is considered as an Edwardian “condition of England” novel.Through careful study of the subtle images，such as houses，umbrella，sword，car and hay fever，this paper analyzes the hidden social and humanistic connotations of these images.By means of symbolic description of these images，Foster brilliantly records the dilemmas of modern civilization：the separation between spiritual pursuit and material fulfillment，the opposition between culture and commerce and the alienation of man from nature，and expresses his worries towards the effects of industrialization and urbanization on British traditional rural life.

Key words: Howards End, image, symbolism, connection