Hanif Kureishi: Short Stories Literary Elements

Short Stories.

The settings of the stories are England, London and English countries. The stories have been written in the context of faith, family, an individual's life trials and the conflicts which he faces in his life.

The stories have been narrated from first person's point of view and the narration shifts from one character to another.

Solemn, Didactic, Revealing, Optimistic, Pensive.

The protagonist of the story "My Son is Fanatic" is Ali and the antagonist in the story is Parvez. In the story "with your Tongue down my Throat" the protagonist is Nina while the antagonist is Howard. In "The Buddhist of Suburbia" the protagonist is Karim while the antagonist is his father Haroon who leaves his wife and marries another woman.

The author has presented the conflict between parents and their children in the stories.The major conflict in the story "My Son the Fanatic", the major conflict is between Parvez and his son Ali. Parvez thinks that his son has become a fanatic and he suspects that he might be using drugs. In "with your tongue down my throat," the major conflict in the story is between Nina and her father.

The climax in the story comes when Parvez gets to know that his son is a practicing Muslim. The climax in "with your tongue down my throat," the climax occurs when Nadia comes to meet Nina. The climax in "The Buddhist of Suburbia" comes when Karim gets to know about his father's marriage.

Ali offers his prayers more than five times a day and his grown beard foreshadows that he is a practicing Muslim and he has not lost his faith after coming to England.

The understatement in the story "The Buddhist of Suburbia " is that we should surrounded ourselves with the people who love and care for us. The understatement in the story "My son the Fanatic" is that the younger generation remain firm in their faith while the older generation get assimilated in new culture and environment.

There are allusions to fanatics, prostitution, conflict between parents and children, tainted relationships, spying, alcohol, Islam, religious teachings, drugs, anger, driving, Buddhism, oppression, betrayal, step sister and domestic violence.

There are images of faith, prostitution, friendship, salvation, and alcohol. The author has shown that Parvez suspects that his son has forgotten his faith and he has become a drug addict. There are images of Parvez spying on his son and it has been demonstrated that Ali follows his religion. He has been depicted as offering his prayers more than five times a day and then helping an English girl. The girl was involved in prostitution and Ali saves him from wrong customers. There are also images of Parvez beating his son. There author has also presented the images of prostitution in the story " With your tongue down my throat." Nina was a prostitute but she yearns for her father. There are images of lack of love and oppression in the story.

The paradox in the story is that Parvez considers his son a fanatic and thinks that he would be using drugs but actually Parvez uses alcohol and drugs. He himself becomes a fanatic and beats his son. Ali remains firm in his faith while his father forgets his religion and its obligations. In "with your tongue down my throat" there is a paradox that Nina's father doesn't love her when she finds him after struggling for a long time. He knows that she is his daughter but still he doesn't accept or love her as his own daughter.

A parallel has been drawn between Parvez and his son Ali. As Ali remains intact and follow his religious teachings even after living in England, his father forgets everything and starts eating pork which is forbidden in their religion. Ali prays more than five times a day and doesn't get indulge in unhealthy activities while his father consumes alcohol and acts as a fanatic. Another parallel has been drawn between Nina and her sister in the story "With your Tongue down my Throat ."

An example of metonymy is Ali, who represents the younger generation which remain firm in their faith and follow the religious principles despite of living in a different country. An example of synecdoche is Parvez consumption of alcohol and pork which depicts that he has lost his faith and is becoming a fanatic by beating his son.

Alcohol, Drugs, prostitution and fanaticism have been personified in the book.