My Son The Fanatic - Hanif Kureishi - Analysis

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upbringing makes him turn to Islam, goes to the mosque often Arrogant, ignorant, ungrateful, rude, disrespectful, aggressive confidence, insults Bettina (prostitute), judgemental and blinded by his beliefs Wants his father to stop drinking,... (religious reasons) Wants the Islam to rule the world, Islam = real morality Only partly integrated and not assimilated Summary Parvez notices that his son acts differently (throws away his possessions and withdrawing from friends) Believes his strange behaviour can be explained with a drug addiction and talks to Bettina (prostitute and close friend) about it who agrees Soon he uncovers that Ali's behaviour is caused by his devotion to a radical and fundamentalist version of Islam Parvez attempts to convince his son to abandon his extreme beliefs and get back on track with his previous life path (to become an accountant and o assimilate into English culture) to show Parvez that immigration was worth all it cost him. Parvez increasingly depends on Bettina for advice and emotional support instead of his wife (does not want to burden her) Parvez wants to talk to him in a restaurant to which Ali reluctantly agrees. Parvez is confronted with harsh accusation by his son - Ali criticises the Western lifestyle (Oppression and hatred for Muslims). Ali demands his father to act according to his religion and talks about the negative effects of Western imperialism, white supremacy and the violence they inflict on others. Parvez tries to reason with him by expressing his personal philosophy of the world but Ali ignores him. Parvez fears he will be constantly criticised by his fundamentalist son and attempts to persuade his son to accept his philosophy of life. After picking Ali up from the mosque he insults Bettina after she tries to mediate between father and son. Parvez is enraged about his behaviour and physically attacks his son (slaps him in the face) although he knows that he cannot win his son back, no matter how hard he tries. Ali asks then: Who is the fanatic now? Role of religion in the story • Ali prays five times a day (Muslim, Koran) • Parvez avoids all religions due to embarrassment in youth • Ali does not like that his father drinks alcohol (forbidden) and looks at him full of disgust • Ali wants to be fully Muslim/ Punjabi and thinks his father is too implicated in the western civilization • Ali is ready/ wants to fight for his religion at any cost • "living in Britain has influenced Ali to be religious" Father-Son-Relationship • Past: close, intimate, warm-hearted, harmonious: they were not like father and son but more like brothers, were able to talk about anything • Present: distant and cold (Ali isolates himself, judging and cold towards his father), scornful and contemptuous (Ali looks at him full of disgust), strained, distrust • Radical cut between a time when they were as close as brothers and a time when Ali became unrecognizable • Parvez still loves him deeply and just wants the best for his son but cannot understand why Ali behaves so arrogant and rude • Becoming a radical Muslim, Ali starts to see his father differently and judges him for his non-religious behaviour. • Parvez' aim is to integrate into the society of his new homeland, Ali is no longer interested in following his path --> Differs from traditional father-son conflicts, as the roles are reversed (Ali develops contempt and hostility against his father) Fundamentalism • Ali is representative of a new generation of young Muslims • Many children lack the cultural heritage of their parents and don't feel wanted in the new country • No longer willing to adapt and put up with humiliation and discrimination • They repudiate capitalist ideals as well as the striving for material success, and condemn Western immoral and decadent behaviour, Distancing themselves from the rest of society Fanatic attitudes Aspect Ali Having extreme -believes in Jihad beliefs Extreme beliefs leading to change in behaviour Unreasonable and violent behaviour -law of Islam should rule the world -prepared to go to war for his beliefs/ die for it traditions) -rejects western culture (It's anti-religious) -anti-religious --> Uncritical devotion/ contempt for other ways of life -getting tidier, giving up sports, grows a beard -more alert and steady than usual -distances himself (breaks up with gf) Parvez -necessity to fit in western culture (forges his wife to fit in as well and to give up their -prays and goes to mosque -change in relationship and the way he talks to his dad -he does not fight back when his dad hits him -sharp tongue, arrogant, rude towards others -disrespectful, radical behaviour and aggressive confidence towards his dad .disrespects and insults prostitute Bettina -drinks alcohol, eats pork, gambling,... -avoids religion -hits his son -drunk driving as a taxi-driver -trying to convince his son of the western culture and that religion is wrong -searches his bedroom and suspects Ali doing drugs Definitions fanatic 1.) A person exhibiting excessive enthusiasm and intense uncritical devotion toward some controversial matter (e.g. religion, politics) 2.) A person who has very extreme beliefs that may lead them to behave in unreasonable or violent ways Conclusion-Who is the fanatic? • Ali shows signs of fanaticism • Parvez' behaviour in the end meets the criteria of unreasonable behaviour as well o Stops Ali from praying and hits him, Ali does not defend himself --> both can be regarded as fanatics in their specific fields (religion and son's treatment)