POSTCOLONIAL ANALYSIS OF THE STORY MY SON THE FANATIC BY HANIF KUREISHI

Abstract

This study aims to examine the short story My Son the Fanatic by Hanif Kureishi from the perspective of postcolonial study. The story portrays the struggles for an immigrant in the new country. This story reflects the conflict between a father (Parvez) and his son (Ali) due to their different approach towards hybridity. A father migrated to Britain and embraced their traditions and beliefs while his son on the other hand rejected it. These two relationships reflect the idea that hybridity does not solely lead to harmony every time. The research study uses qualitative data techniques to analyze the story while the insight has been taken form the theory of hybridity by Homie K Bhabha. While applying the concept of hybridity to the story the research examined how Kureishi represents the migration process as a complex and unsettled process. Thus, the father-son conflict identifies the broader tensions and conflicts faced by the immigrant families in the postcolonial societies. The study determines that the short story My Son the Fanatic isn’t just the portrayal of a simple family conflict but also demonstrates the larger historical and political problems for the immigrants to settle themselves in the colonial societies. The research also determines several problems as the result of hybridity that can cause tensions, misunderstandings and painful divisions