This story written by Hanif Kureishi tells us about the conflict between a father and his son. Parvez is a Pakistani immigrant who is living with his wife and his son, Ali, in London. The story begins with Parvez worries about his son´s behaviour which has changed significantly. Parvez discuss his worries with his friends and they come to the conclusion that Ali is taking drugs. On the contrary, Ali´s attitudes have nothing to do with drug´s adiction, but with the fact that he wants to keep his identity by practising his religion strictly. Besides, Ali is very upset with his father because he is "too implicated in Western civilization" and he breaks the Koran’s rules by drinking alcohol and eating pork.
Personally, I think this story is really interesting because it shows us that wherever you are you have to keep your own roots in order to avoid losing the characteristics, beliefs and feelings that distiguish you from other people in a society which is not yours. In other words, “keep your ancestors´traditions to avoid losing your identity.”
Bryana
Nationalities
2 years ago
I also enjoyed the story, mainly the way in which the writer develops the conflict between father and son. though I don't think that keeping your tradition is connected with losing our identity, since this is created with our experiences and the ones from our ancestors. It is not a matter of losing but changing or recycling.
ReplyDeleteIgnatius Relly
I disagree with you on this matter of losing identity. I think identity is a construction made of identifications. There's a dialectical relationship between what your parents taughted you, and what the culture your are exposed to teaches you. My two cents :)
ReplyDeleteEvan