My Son the Fanatic

Parvez, a Pakistani immigrant living in England, works as a taxi driver and has assimilated to Western ways of life. His son, Ali, seems to have embraced the lifestyle of his British peers. Parvez, however, grows increasingly suspicious of his son as he notices apparent changes in Ali's behavior.

Parvez's Worries and Confidantes

The taxi driver discusses his worries with colleagues and with Bettina, a prostitute who has become Parvez's friend. Their relationship develops into an extra-marital affair within the film.

Crushed Dreams and a Son's Revelation

All of Parvez's dreams of success in England, including a happy wedding and a safe job in accountancy for Ali, crumble when his son confesses his disgust at his father's neglect of Muslim precepts regarding prayers, and his father's disregard for the ban on alcohol and pork.

Rising Fundamentalism and Parental Despair

Increasingly disturbed by his son's religious fundamentalism and contempt for assimilation, Parvez one night repeatedly hits Ali. The son's reaction is a single question: "So who's the fanatic now?"

Narrative Structure: In Medias Res

Opening the Story

"My Son the Fanatic" begins in medias res (Latin for "in the middle of things"), a technique that subverts chronological order. The narration starts at a point when important events have already occurred.

Ali's Transformation

The story thus begins when Ali's process of becoming a Muslim "fanatic" has been ongoing for some time. This stylistic choice is designed to capture readers' attention and involve them in the narrative.

Reader Identification

From the very first sentence, "Surreptitiously, the father began going into his son's room," readers become accomplices of the father. They closely identify with his point of view and his bewilderment at his son's fundamentalism.

Subverting Expectations

Readers typically expect the older generation to be tied to ethnic and religious traditions, while second-generation immigrants are more keen to assimilate. This subversion of reader expectations is taken to an extreme.

An Unresolved Ending

Hanif Kureishi's short story concludes with no immediate closure and no reassurance of any possible future resolution.