Reading Log
Author: Hanif Kureishi
Title: My Son the Fanatic
Setting: Northern Britain ; 1980s/1990s
Characters: Parvez, Pakistani taxi driver
Ali, his son
Bettina, friend of Parvez and prostitute
Themes: Hybridity/Identity
Clash of Cultures
Confrontation of generations
Islamic fundamentalism
Links to other stories: Clash of Cultures (Sharaz);
Generation gap (Sharaz)
Summary:
Parvez, a Pakistani taxi-driver in an English town, has worked hard for 20
years to be able to afford a decent life for his family and a good education
for his son Ali. Upon inspecting his son's room, the father is at a loss to
explain its sudden tidiness and emptiness as well as certain changes in
Ali's behaviour, for example his giving up his English girlfriend and
friends.
When, upon close observation of his son, Parvez realizes the drug theory
suggested by his cabby friends is wrong, he discovers that Ali is following
the strict rules of Islam. On being questioned by his father one night about
his return to religion, Ali explains that he is disgusted with Western
materialism and despises his father for his violation of Koranic rules and
his acceptance of Western culture. Parvez is humiliated and shares his
sorrow with Bettina, his prostitute friend, who advises him not to throw All
out of the house. When Ali insults Bettina due to her profession, Parvez
becomes so angry that, after a couple of drinks, he violently strikes his
son while the latter is at prayer, whereupon Ali simply asks the question
'So who's the fanatic now?'
Getting focused
Write the words 'a fanatic' on the board and have the students jot down
individually what they think a fanatic is. Collect the findings on the board.
A fanatic is someone who:
- is obsessed by one single idea, one specific view, is single-minded;
- doesn't notice or care about his surroundings or other people;
- pursues one idea with every possible means;
- tries to indoctrinate or convince others.
Working with the text
I. Guided Analysis
1. Ali's Metamorphosis
introductory passages: the students talk about their own room, tidiness
and about their parents intruding upon their personal space. A discussion:
- Do parents have the right to inspect their children's room or search
their belongings?
Worksheet 1: 'Character Studies' students note down what they learn
about Parvez and also collect evidence of Ali's metamorphosis.
possible creative task:
Ali's English girlfriend has talked to Parvez about his son's eccentric
behaviour. Now she writes a letter to Ali inquiring about him and
their relationship. Write that letter.
Parvez is a round character.
activity with Parvez asking about his youth in Lahore, his religious
education, his work as a taxi-driver, his family and friends. Prepare a
limited number of questions (about 3-5) each, which may also go beyond
the narrative scope of the text (Example: What role does your wife play in
your life?)
2. Father-son Confrontation
In this scene the conflict reaches a first dramatic climax. Note down the
steps that lead to their direct confrontation (for each character separately).
Parvez: he searches Ali's room
he is becoming afraid of his son
he starts to drink more
he confesses his defeat to his cabby friends
he talks to Bettina and takes advice from her
he observes his son closely
he tries to talk to him
he proposes going out with him
Ali: - he throws out his books, clothes. his computer equipment, even
his guitar
- he breaks up with his girlfriend and other friends
- he loses respect of his father ( develops a sharp tongue)
- he observes Islamic prayer rites
- he is growing a beard
- he refuses a meeting at first
Worksheet 2: 'Line of Argument'
Why have you thrown out your computer and even your guitar?
I don't need this stuff any more. There are more important things to be
done. And what sort of man are you? Don't you know Islam forbids the
consumption of alcohol?
What are you accusing me of? I've worked hard all my life and I have
earned money so that you are able to go to college. Surely l can enjoy a
drink once in a while.
You have to obey the rules of the Koran and avoid drinking alcohol and
eating pork. What you do is wrong.
You are too implicated in Western society The West is a sink of hypocrites,
adulterers, homosexuals, drug addicts and prostitutes. If the West goes on
like this, there will be Jihad.
But I like it here. They let you do almost anything here. That's why we
came here in the first place.
The Westerners look down on you and you grovel in front of them. The
West is morally empty and has no values.
l do have values. l believe life is about making the most of it and enjoying it
while you can.
Enjoyment is a bottomless pit. All over the world our people are
oppressed. It's about time we start doing something, take action. That is
what life for a Muslim is about.
A change of perspective
Imagine Ali is being questioned by one of his new Muslim spiritual
leaders about his father. Write Ali's portrait of his father; talk about the
following points:
- his outer appearance;
- his family, wife, early relationship to his son;
- Ali's job, daily routine, his friends, Bettina;
- his Pakistani background;
- his hopes for a life in England.
Worksheet 3: 'The Daily Life of a Muslim' relates to Islam and examines
Parvez and Ali in the light of their religion.
-although Parvez is a ''bad' Muslim, he is, basically a good person
- exactly the opposite applies to Ali
- Parvez adapts to the world around him and tries to come to terms with
it.
- Ali creates his own world, in which he isolates himself from the reality
surround him.
II. Overall analysis
In a way that is similar to a five-act tragedy the conflict in this short story
builds up to a first and then a second climax followed by a turning point.
Analyse the dramatic action of the short story and draw up a chart
indicating the successive steps.
Growing dramatic tension:
>Ali's room becoming tidy
> Restaurant scene:
The boy didn't even offer a hand; Bettina: but you mustn't give up on
him
> 2 weeks of talk and attempts at understanding: he even grew a beard
> Parvez hits the boy and kicks him during prayer
Comment on Bettina's role in the play.
she takes great interest in Parvez's son
gives valuable advice about drugs and deviating behaviour
insists on Parvez' not giving up on his son
acts as a real friend offering help in difficult situations
she is tolerant and even bears with Ali insulting her
she does not live up to conventional (and Islamic) stereotypes about
prostitutes but proves to be open-minded and discreet
Rounding off
Discuss what changes the author might have added after 11 September
2001 in order to make Ali a more comprehensible and convincing
character?
Discuss Bettina's view on religion: 'Many young people fall into cults and
superstitious groups. It doesn't mean they'll always feel the same way.'
Parvez and Ali meet again after the London suicide bombings in July
2005. Outline their discussion on the topic of terrorist attacks.
Worksheet 4: 'Down with Fanatics' It offers an interesting parallel to the
last line of the short story.
Cartoon: One man threatens another; a smaller man uses the same
means of violence as the stronger one who holds the smaller one in his
band; both sides are aggressive. It shows that everyone is a potential
fanatic whatever position they are in.
According to the poem, a fanatic is anyone who is willing to harm anyone
else in order to impose his or her view of the world on them.
The poem reflects the last sentence of the story. Up till then Ali had
appeared to be the fanatic, but by using violence against Ali, Parvez
reveals his intolerance towards others who think differently. But one must
also consider that Parvez's feels helpless and does not know what to do
when confronted with his son's convictions and his treatment of
somebody he is fond of (Bettina). So when he resorts to violence
towards his son, he seems to have become the fanatic that he accuses
his son of being. The poem suggests the idea that people who have a
strong dislike of fanatics may in fact be fanatics themselves. In the short
story one feels that Parvez is reacting emotionally towards his son, who
neither respects nor loves him. It is not the ideology that he rejects so
much as his son's behaviour. So it would not be true to call him a fanatic
in the sense that Ali is.