Summary of My Son the Fanatic

Plot:
Parvez is a Pakistani taxi driver who believes his son Ali is in trouble because he behaves strangely he doesnt meet his English girlfriend anymore and empties his room. His colleagues as well as the prostitute Bettina who is a friend of his try to help him: Parvez should watch Ali carefully and see if hes drug addicted. But Parvez finds out that his son has become a strict Muslim. When he talks to him Ali starts to accuse him of his living style that is against the Muslim rules. Parvez is shocked to be treated like that and gets so furious one evening that he beats Ali after he insulted Bettina.

Narrator: 3rd person narrator, from Parvez point of view Setting: some city in Britain Time: around the 1990s Characters:
Parvez: Immigrant from Pakistan who has adopted the Western lifestyle Worried father Works hard for his sons career Wants Ali to get a good job, marry the right girl and start a family (p. 196, l.31) Ali:
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Turns his back on Western lifestyle Becomes a strict Muslim Accuses his father of being too Western

Bettina: Prostitute, friend of Parvez Listens to Parvez, gives him advice Says that Parvez has to try to understand Ali Gets insulted by Ali
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Main topics:
Religion: Since Ali is a radical Muslim he has changed his personality. He distances himself from the Western culture around him and accuses his father of sinning. Parvez does not care about religion anymore, but he tries to go back to it after Ali told him so (grows a beard, doesnt drink that much alcohol anymore) Father and son relationship: Because of his religion, Ali feels superior to his father and the relationship is reversed: Ali tells Parvez how to behave and Parvez tries to please his son Parvez has projected his own dreams of a nice English life on Ali, but Ali took the opposite direction by going back to his Muslim roots