The Title-(“The Assault”)
The title, “The Assault” has connotations of bodily violence; however, there is no physical antagonism throughout “The Assault.” The ironic title instigates suspense that sustains the reader through the text to ascertain when the assault will ensue. The assault is the hypnotic predicament that the narrator goes through due to the woman’s reluctance to let her speak.
“She looks nice, the sort I might get along with”- (“The Assault”)
The narrator’s foremost inkling regarding the other woman is ironic because they do not ‘get along’ ultimately. Despite the superficial charm that the woman exhibits, her overbearing talkativeness offends the narrator. The narrator regards the woman’s extreme talking as an abuse because it terrorizes her and rebuffs her endeavors speak throughout the ride.
The Irony of Ali “throwing his possessions out”- (“My Son is a Fanatic”)
Kureishi expounds, “And so, for Ali, he had worked long hours and spent a lot of money paying for his education as an accountant. He had bought him good suits, all the books he required and a computer…The TV, video and sound system followed the guitar. Soon the room was practically bare.” Parvez goes out of his way to satisfy the substantial needs of his son. However, Ali does not acknowledge the materiality of all the items that his father purchases them. Ali’s ironic behaviors are certified by a fundamentalist mind-set that regards such items to be dispensable and decadent.
