Kureishi, Hanif: *1954

My Son the Fanatic, 1997 - Information about the Book

  • General Information
    • The novel deals with Parvez, a Pakistani immigrant in England, and his problems with his son Ali. Parvez worries about Ali's behaviour which has changed significantly.
  • Facts
    • "My Son the Fanatic" appeared in 1994 in the "New Yorker." In 1997 it was published as part of the collection of short stories "Love in a Blue Time." The script and the movie followed the same year.
      All three versions differ considerably. The Fingerhuts, the Maulvi, as well as Herr Schitz do not appear in the short story, which is the shortest version.
      The most complex version is the script: the sexual complications are openly shown. In the short story they are only hinted at.
      Ali, the fanatic son in the short story, is much more cold, militant and humorless than Farid, his counterpart in the script. Farid's conversion to fundamentalism is based on the contemptuous treatment of his family by the white society.
    • Awards: The short story has not received any major literary awards.

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    • Characters
    • Character Analysis
    • Character Map

    • Cultural Identity and Integration
      The story centers on the clash between Parvez, a Pakistani immigrant in England who has largely assimilated into Western culture, and his son Ali who rejects Western values and embraces a strict interpretation of Islam. This conflict highlights the challenges of cultural integration for immigrant families and the tensions that can arise between generations.

      Generational Divide
      The father-son relationship between Parvez and Ali represents a broader generational divide. Parvez wants his son to succeed in British society, while Ali views Western education and culture as anti-religious and morally corrupt. Their conflicting values and worldviews create an unbridgeable gap that ultimately destroys their relationship.

      Religious Fundamentalism
      Ali's sudden embrace of fundamentalist Islam acts as a catalyst for the story's events. His rigid beliefs and rejection of Western society alienate him from his father and girlfriend. The narrative explores how religious extremism can disrupt family unity and fuel intolerance.

      Identity Crisis
      Both Parvez and Ali experience an identity crisis rooted in their cultural duality as Pakistani immigrants in Britain. Parvez struggles to reconcile his Pakistani heritage with his assimilation, while Ali completely rejects his Western upbringing. Their crises underscore the complexities of forging a cohesive identity across cultures.

      Developed by Perplexity AI

  • Articles
    • Author Hanif Kureishi talks about "My Son the Fanatic"; April 20, 2007