'My Son The Fanatic': analyse af Hanif Kureishis novelle

The author of the story “My son the fanatic” is Hanif Kureishi it was published in 1994. The genre is short story. Hanif grew up in England in the 50s and he was also a son of a Pakistani immigrant and an English woman.The story is about the father Parvez, he is an immigrant from Pakistani he lives in England. Parvez works as a taxi driver. Parvez has a son named Ali. Parvez has always been proud of Ali and his achievements. But after Ali breaks up with his girlfriend. Parvez is getting worried and more suspicious of the way his Ali changes his behaviour. Parvez also suspects Ali of addicted to drugs and because of all this suspicion the relationship between Parvez and Ali begins to get a bit out of control. But later Parvez finds out that Ali actually never was addicted to drugs, but that Ali has been practising his religion and also been doing things for charity. Parvez is father to Ali, he is very protective and he just wants his son to grow up nicely and get an education. Parvez is an immigrant from Pakistani and therefore he’s trying to adapt to the British lifestyle, so he can fit in with the others and become friends with them. For example in the text it says: “Parvez couldn't deny that he loved crispy bacon smothered with mushrooms and mustard. Ali then reminded Parvez that he had ordered his own wife to cook port sausages, saying to her you're not in the village now, this is England. We have to fit in!” (Site 5 line 40) Parvez loves England and he dreams of doing well in England.Parvez works as a taxi driver and it’s also in that business he has his friends, they are also from immigrants from Pakistani. Parvez relationship with his English wife doesn’t get described to be particularly good or strong, because as the reader we don’t get a lot of information about the relationship. Actually we only get one conversation and it’s about Parvez asking her to cook some food for him.Parvez was born a Muslim in Pakistani, but now he has adapted the English or western lifestyle. Daily he breaks rules of the Koran. He doesn’t pray and his outward appearance, because he don’t have any beard and doesn’t dress in the right clothing. Parvez also enjoy drinking alcohol and eating pork. In the text for example it say: “they let you do almost anything here” (Site 6 line 38) It means that Parvez can be almost who ever he wants to be. But Ali doesn’t understand how his father can be happy and Ali also tries to tell Parvez that even though you dress and behave like the others they will still hate because of your background. Ali was born in England and is now getting a good education. Parvez is very proud of Ali because of his great result at college and school. But suddenly Ali gets rid of his friends. Ali has become a Muslim fundamentalist, he is now daily after a washing ritual praying five times a day and growing a beard, almost completely opposite of his father. Time goes and Ali is getting more and more obsessed by his beliefs and he getting an aggressive attitude towards Parvez.The short story’s plot didn’t take place so long ago, because in the story we read about they using computers and video games. But they do also use videotapes and that means that the plot has taken place some time ago because videotapes is not that common nowadays.The setting is possibly a middleclass neighbourhood because there lives a lot of immigrants. Parvez works mainly with other immigrants from his country and other countries. Ali also has to work hard to archive his goal, in the text it says: “Ali had worked long hours and spent a lot of money for his education and college”. Ali also described the environment like a dirty environment because of the drugs and prostitutes.A third person perspective is telling the short story. Although the title “My son the fanatic” sounds like it’s Parvez telling the story, but it’s clear that the narrator is a third person perspective.