My Son the Fanatic,

by Hanif Kureishi

i.

The mirror stage

I shall start with the mirror stage, as argued by Lacan, where the child's emergent sense of self was always formed in reference to some 'other', for instance its own image in the mirror, a friend, a sibling or any other alternative model which the child associates itself with (narcissistic identification, according to Freud). Lacan accounts the mirror stage as an origin of alienation in the individual sense of self. Because that self is oriented to the 'fictional direction' of an other who is perceived as omnipotent and thus as a potential rival to the self, the ego that emerges from this stage inevitably bears within it a hostility or 'aggressivity that threatens the very stability attributed to it. In the short story "My Son the Fanatic" there is a clear manifestation where the son's individuality is radically different from the role model ne associated wim during me mirror stage: the father's only ambition is to see his son as an emancipated Englishman and for that cause he provides him clothes, gadgets, education very common to his English peers. But his vision is completely ruined by his son's behaviour as an Islamic fundamentalist. "The law of Islam would rule the world: the skin of the infidel would burn off again and again: the Jews and Christers would be routed". So, the image of Ali as an English boy goes down the drain when he turns towards his Punjabi roots. The manifestation of alienation is clearly visible in those scenes where Ali harshly criticizes Parvez for his infidel way of life. Parvez drinks alcohol, eats pork, has a prostitute for a friend. "Each time Parvez took a drink, the boy winced, or made some kind of fastidious face...In a low, monotonous voice, the boy explained that Parvez had not, in fact, lived a good life. He had broken countless rules of the Koran... As if Ali had been waiting for this moment, he asked his father if he hadn't relish pork pies...?" From such scenes, Ali's character can be clearly seen: He's independent, self confident, determined, harsh towards what his dictionary defines as paganism. Analyzed from a different perspective, he's acting like a stubborn teenager. He doesn't care whether he'll hurt his parents, embarrass them or cause them trouble. He's blind towards everything aside from his religious cause. And the father is determined, self-critical, proud and worried, even afraid, for his son's future.

"But Parvez had been unable to discuss the subject of Ali with his friends. He was too ashamed. And he was afraid, too, that they would blame him for the wrong turning his boy had taken...While I'm here on earth I want to make the best of it. And I want you too, as well. You should enjoy yourself... Yes, enjoy yourself without hurting others. Life is for living". Parvez insists on his son living his life as a Westerner. He encourages him to play cricket, football, to go swimming to play an electric guitar and most of all, to study as an accountant. As if Parvez wants to accomlich his European dreams via his son. And his desire is threatened by his son's independence. 1. a) Theme of religion.
Two radically opposing views on this matter: Parvez, who's been avoiding all religions since, while in Lahore, studying the Koran, the maulvies would attach a piece of string to the ceiling and tie it to Parvez's hair, so if his head fell forward, he would instantly jerk away, and Ali, who prays five times a day, gives all his possessions in charity or just thlOWS them away, grows a beard and lives his life entirely to tk=- K.oro. *AJI .~&~a~ it -~ jthe verbal divine guidance and moral direction for mankind. These rather confronting views are a clear image of the alienation of the son from the alternative model it associated itself with during the mirror stage.

2.

The intertextual elements are also visible. The author himself identifies with

Parvez. Pakistani origin, implicated into Western civilization to that extend that both marginalize the Islam from their way of life. For instance, Parvez eats pork, drinks alcohol and Kureishi started his career as a pornography writer. Furthermore, both Parvez and Kureishi use members of their families to accomplish their personal goals. a) Parvez wants his son to be an accountant (Contrary to a taxi driver, accountant is a respectable and well paid job). "I will continue in you and in your grandchildren." Whereas, b) Kureishi fabricated the history of his family to become a successful playwright, screenwriter, filmmaker, novelist and short story writer.

3. Theme of nationalism.
Ali strongly identifies himself with a group of Islamic fundamentalists who are determined to fight against the rotten, corrupted and profaned infidel way of life. "All over the world our people are oppressed...The West is a sink of hypocrites, adulterers, homosexuals, drug users and prostitutes...My people have taken enough. If the persecution doesn't stop, there will be jihad. I, and millions of others, will gladly give our lives for the cause..." On the other hand, Parvez isn't quite sure who "his people" are. This is another strong implication that the father is so much into Western culture that he regards himself, in a way, as a European. 3. a) Stream of unconsciousness. Parvez is Punjabi, his origin is from Lahore, Pakistan, he is dark-tanned, patriarchally bred Muslim who immigrated in England. Yet, he isn't quite sure who his people are. His life routines of alcohol, pork, non-praying aren't the ones of a Muslim. On the contrary, he acts more like a blue-collar Westerner. '"All over the world our people are oppressed, was the boy's reply.' I know,' Parvez answered not entirely sure who 'our people' were." 3. b) Theme of feminism and patriarchy. Parvez's wife is mentioned only twice in the short story. And, as a background character, she doesn't utter a word. She is mentioned to be sewing. "Parvez hurried into his bedroom, where his wife, still awake, was sewing in bed. He ordered her to sit down and keep quiet, though she had neither stood up, nor said a word." I believe that "HIS bedroom" says a lot: it's not theirs, but his. His own private kingdom where he's the absolute dictator, who orders her to keep quiet. He implies his figure as the primary authority central to social organization and holds authority over women, children and property. He never discusses with his wife the problems he is facing. Instead, he is much more open towards Bettina, a local prostitute. She's his friend, therapist, a trusty companion who knows all of his secrets and problems.

4. Theme of race and immigration

Most of the characters are dark-tanned: Parvez, Ali, Parvez's co-workers at the taxi firm, Parvez's wife. And the main protagonists fell as if they alienated, marginalized, humiliated in the new environment in which they immigrated.

Parvez is trying hard to fit in the new society. Prays, Lent, beard are all in the past now. "He ordered his wife to cook pork sausages, saying to her, 'You're not in the village now. This is England. We have to fit in.'" Parvez is aware that the skin colour can be an obstacle to a normal life in England. The Oriental people, uneducated and discriminated, are working at the worst posts in the country. Realizing that, he wants his son to become fully emancipated in the British society. And Ali followed his father's advice: studied accounting, played an electric guitar, went swimming, played cricket, football, had an English girl for a girlfriend, but eventually his life came to a sudden twist: he throws away or gives to charity all of his possessions, breaks up the relationship with his girlfriend, puts an end to all contacts with his friends and replaces all that with the Koran canons.

5. Fanaticism
Ali intends to dedicate his life to fight against the infidels in order to stop them from oppressing his people and Parvez is ready to agree on anything just to make Ali live his life the way he never got the chance to live it. Both of them are in a pursuit of different dreams are extremely persistent in that race. Both of them are ready to give up on family, "I'm going to tell him to pick up on his prayer mat and get out of my house. It will be the hardest thing I've ever done, but tonight I'm going to do it " ooyc. Pat-war? and Ali is ready to give up even on his life: "I, and millions of others are ready to give our lives for the cause." None of them gives space for compromise and their fanaticism culminates when the father, powerless to change his son's mind and so obsessed to bring him back to what he believes is the right path strikes him several times and Ali is neither evading the blows nor retaliating. He doesn't feel fear, pain or suffering. He's above all that. Nothing can change his mind. His belief and obsession in the religious cause is so strong that absolutely nothing can distract him.

Stevo Bozinov Index number, 83