MY SON THE FANATIC — READING NOTES

EXPECTATIONS and THEMES

With the texture of the story and the intense title, it proves the author’s expertise. An important reason why the title is significant because it is meant to be ironic. In the end, the father is more of a fanatic than the son. The father is the one who abuses a child who is praying and splits his lip open in a drunken rage. He is unable to communicate anything other than anger and wrath because of what his son has become: A devout Muslim. It is here where the title is most appropriate because the “fanatic” is not the son, but the father. However, society, as biased as it can be against things it does not understand, would most likely see the son as the fanatic and not the father, for it, too, does not understand why its values would be rejected. In this, further alienation of the youth is present, leading to greater labels of fanaticism for that which is not understood, making the title not only appropriate but quite prophetic and ambiguous. Thus, ‘My Son the Fanatic’ brings in themes both at an individual and a societal level, exploring the stereotypes and culture clashes apt not just for this sect of the society, but for the rest too.

- Purnasneha Sundar (1413055)

PLOT

The plot of the story revolves around Parvez, a taxi driver in England, who is struggling to provide the best for his family, and his son Ali, who is studying in order to become an accountant. Having noticed unusual behaviour shown by Ali, Parvez is now a tad bit worried for his colleagues and his lover are of the view that he’s addicted to drugs. On constantly observing, Parvez notices Ali’s strong inclination towards Islam. While Parvez is now living the life he has toiled for, Ali is digressing towards living a life of detachment. Parvez is following the kind of lifestyle he is in order to fit in, whereas Ali is living the pure life based on Islamic teachings in order to sense the feeling of belonging and receiving his ultimate reward in paradise. This leads to a cultural and identity conflict where in both of them are trying to impose their personal beliefs onto each other. This ends in an ugly spat where Parvez is under the influence of alcohol and hits Ali out of frustration. Also, it is a recognizable genre of story — short story. The story begins ‘in medias res’, which means into middle of things in Latin. The story abruptly begins and ends with no prior information given. The number of characters are also limited here.

- Anjali N. Jain (1413056)

NARRATION and CHARACTERS

This extract from ‘my son the fanatic’ is narrated in active voice, from the author’s point of view. The author has describes raw emotions portrayed by everybody. Ali, the fanatic son, who is rebellious and arrogant. Bettina, probably a prostitute who has been having an affair with Parvez, who the protagonist of the story. 
 The extract clearly shows that the narration is at a point when important events have already happened. 
 The story is narrated from third persons point of view hence not from any character in the story. Parvez, a cab driver is the lead of the story. The entire story is based on his thinking. After the incidents that take place in the cab, Parvez comes back home and is seen clearly distressed by previous events. The author clearly shows the thinking behind Parvez behaviour when he struck his son. But the thoughts behind Ali’s rebellion or him calling his father a fanatic is not described. The entire extract is narrated in present tense, starting from the scene where Bettina persuades Parvez to stop the cab for the Ali, to Ali being arrogant to Bettina and ending with Ali being hit by Parvez. 
 The characters that the story constitutes are Parvez, the cab driver who is settled in Britain and is now adjusted to the western world and has accepted thier principles; Ali, the son of Parvez who being the second generation of immigrants in Britain, is disgusted by his father’s negligence towards Islam religion, its morals and principles. Hence turning into a rebel towards his father and his friends. Bettina, who clearly plays a major role in Parvez life is probably a prostitute who is having an affair with Parvez. She seems to be genuinely concerned about Ali as it is troubling Parvez a lot. She also may be a contributing factor for Ali’s poison and hatered towards Parvez. Ali clearly doesnt approve his father hanging around with a women of this nature. He clearly describes that when he says ‘then why is he letting a woman like you touch him like that?’ 
 Initially Parvez seems like a man with genuine concern for both his son and his probable lover. He seems torn in-between them. He tries to stop both of them from getting down, but is unable to stop Bettina when she runs away from the car. Towards the end of the story Parvez seems almost helpless when he is drinking and didn’t see any other way than striking his son. His character changes from a protective father to a helpless one towards the end. Ali who seems like a rebel and an arrogant son, maintains the same character even in the end of the story when his father is striking him, and he doesn’t make any effort to defend himself but calls his father a fanatic instead.

- Anmol Thotal (1413057)

SETTING

The story, My Son the Fanatic by Hanif Kureishi is set in modern day England. The most diverse Pakistani population in England is in London, where there are Punjabis, Mirpuris, Pathans, and Sindhis. More than 90% of Pakistanis in England are Muslims; they are mostly Sunni. The protagonist, Parvez is a Punjabi taxi driver who lives with his wife and son, Ali in England. He saves most of his meagre income for his aspiration to see his son as a well settled accountant. The story begins in Parvez’s house where he notices a protruding change in Ali’s behaviour but is unable to comprehend reasons for the same. Most of the story is layed out in Ali’s room as that is where Parvez finds himself when his son is not at home. His desperation for seeking answers to his son’s newly developed eccentricity leads him to look for possible clues among Ali’s belongings (or what’s left of them). The author keeps oscillating the setting between Parvez’s house and his cab. Parvez has conversations with his friends and Bettina, a prostitute and a close friend who he drives home on several days. The cab is also where Parvez, Ali, and Bettina engage in a conflict-ridden conversation regarding Islam, religion, and life philosophies. Parvez and his cab-driver colleagues relax and socialize when they are not working or are waiting for customers in the office or in a coffee shop. In this setting, the men lead almost a boy’s life, playing cards and practical jokes, exchanging lewd stories, eating together and discussing politics and their problems.

The story covers a span of few weeks where Parvez attempts to figure out whys and wherefores of Ali’s sudden disinterest in studies and detachment to all his prized possessions. An interesting aspect related to the setting is highlighted in the narrative. Ali disconnects from his family and all other worldly pleasures as his becomes an ardent follower of Islam. He preaches the religion as if there is no tomorrow and looks down upon his father whenever he does something which is against the principles of Islam. Through Ali’s character, Hanif Kureishi emphasises the influence of West on people who have gone and settled there from the East. The story is set in this environment to highlight the cultural differences and generation gap often experienced among children and their parents. He is found repeatedly emphasizing that the western culture has taken the best of them and they have left behind their own identity, their true self. Kureishi also remotely takes us back to their lifestyle in Pakistan and gives us a glimpse of how the followers of Islam are strict and devoted towards their religion.

- Advika Agrawal (1413055)

STYLE

The short story ‘My Son the Fanatic’, portrays a father and son relationship imbibing Islam fundamentalist ideologies. It is clearly seen that this short story by Hanif Kureishi has a very simplistic style of writing. The style is that of of a novel, as this short story is derived from Kureushi’s novel. The words and the vocabulary, both being easily comprehendible are chosen in the perfect manner so as to weave the right sentence. Albeit the words being ordinary and that of a layman, there trends a background meaning that runs behind the lines of the story. Beautifully written by Kureishi, the story has an open ending, that throws ambiguity at the audience and makes them interpret conclusions for this father-son relationship. Coming to the tone of the short story, it majorly surrounds ambiguity and anonymity, mixed with a shrill sense of thrill.

On reading this extract from the original novel, the reader turns sad and melancholic for a while, but suddenly becomes curious to understand what follows in the life of the two protagonists. The simplistic story, captures the culture clash between two generations and allows the readers to interpret the understanding in his/her sense.

- Purnasneha Sundar (1413045)